THE IRIS. 
67 
Apricots should be pruned and nailed. 
Buds of tender wall -fruits, such as 
Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, &c, should be 
protected from frosts, especially if they are 
advancing rapidly. Many protecting materials 
are recommended, and generally that which is 
presented by local circumstances may be 
chosen : the small branches of spruce fir-trees 
stuck tcp downwards among the shoots of the 
wall-trees, efficiently protect them, and have 
this advantage, that the leaves of the fir fall 
gradually, and then the trees are gradually 
uncovered. 
Raspberries. — The tops of the canes, which 
should have been selected, and tied to the 
stakes in autumn, may now be cut off level 
with the stakes, and the ground forked between 
the plants. New plantations may be made. 
Espalier trees should have been pruned, 
and the branches are now to be trained in, as 
soon as possible, if not already done. 
Filberts, and other nut-trees', are worthy of 
being more generally cultivated. They bear 
abundantly when kept dwarf, like a currant 
bush, (though somewhat larger ;) the centre of 
the trees should be kept open like a cup. 
Walnuts and Chestnuts may be planted any 
time during the winter season. If introduced to 
orchards, they ought to be confined to the out- 
sides, so as not to injure other trees by their 
naturally large growth. In this situation, 
their size may be a recommendation to them, 
for if collected on the exposed side of an 
orchard, they may be so arranged as to afford 
beneficial protection to the other trees, which 
is often of much importance. 
Iris pumiUi. 
THE IRIS — ITS HISTORY, VARIETIES, AND CULTURE. 
The Iris, (Fleur de Lis, or Fleur de Luce,) 
or the Flag, is the heraldic emblem of France. 
It was introduced to the French coat of arms 
by Louis the Seventh, who, when he joined 
the romantic expedition of the Crusaders, as 
was customary in those times, chose the Iris 
flower as an armorial ensign ; and from that 
time it has been called Fleur de Louis, which 
was contracted into Fleur da Lure, and still 
further, afterwards, into Fleur de Lis, or lily- 
flower, although it has no direct affinity with 
the lily. The Iris-flower soon became cele- 
brated in France as the Fleur de Lis. Dr. 
Turner, in 1.568, says the Iris is called Flower 
de Lyce; but Gerard and Parkinson write it 
Flower de Luce. 
The Iris, which the English florists have 
taken under their especial care, is commonly 
called the English Iris ; and many very beau- 
tiful varieties have been named, and exhibited 
in collections at the various horticultural 
shows. They have much larger flowers than 
the Spanish or Persian, as well as larger 
bulbs. The old gardening works mention 
eighteen species, but the last three are the 
only bulbous-rooted kinds mentioned ; the first 
fifteen being tuberous-rooted, and propagated 
by parting the roots, or rather, by taking 
nil' the natural suckers or offsets ; for the roots 
will grow rapidly, and every new shoot of 
them throws up leaves, and forms a plant on 
being separated. The principal bulbous-rooted 
one is a native of Spain, one is a native of 
Persia, and one of Spain and Portugal. 
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