varieties. I like them planted in single clumps — used too profuse- 
ly they give the garden a sombre effect. Archeveque, a delicious 
shade of bishops-violet, the flowers are small but produced in 
prodigious quantities. Arnols is another dark one. Its affinity 
is Her Majesty; the two seem to belong together ; it is the taller 
and should, be planted back of his sweetheart. Kockii, which 
is very early, is good and so is M t. Penn. Dalila has red-purple 
falls and white standards flushed pink; it is a pleasing bi-color 
but is the frailest variety in this list, planted in the front of the 
border where it can get plenty of sun and air, it does well. 
If we confined ourselves to growing these husky varieties 
only, the zest of Iris culture would be lost. A garden fan likes 
to test her skill and there is ample opportunity. Lord of June 
and Neptune, both blue and very large, are fine varieties. They 
are said to be strong growers but I have not had them long 
enough to know. Crusader is one of the loveliest of all, its flow- 
ers are rich blue and of perfect form ; it is well worth the care, it 
needs. Anna Farr, white bordered blue, one of Mr. Farr's best, 
is slow-growing and subject to the rot. Alcazar, reddish-purple, 
similar to Lent A. Williamson, but a poor grower, and Isoline, 
a delightful pink and old rose, which blooms when it is so in- 
clined. Two of the most beautiful and the very crankiest in 
my garden are Kashmire White and Miss Willmott, both white 
and of such poor growth that they are only useful to the 
collector. Last year was a terrible season for Irises and yet 
Miss Willmott bore flowers larger than any other variety that 
I have. It was a freak performance and may not happen again 
for years. These Irises sometimes forget their mathematical 
duties and subtract when they should be multiplying. They 
should have a dry spot in the garden with plenty of lime in the 
soil, they must not be crowded by other flowers and must not be 
disturbed. I thin out the clumps by removing some of the 
rhizomes from the centre and fill in with good soil; they can 
grow on in this way for years. 
Irises want water during their growing seasons — early fall 
when the flower buds are formed and in the spring, and nature 
usually provides it for them at these times but after their blooms 
have passed they like to be dry. They came originally from 
countries that are dry in summer. Plant them with the rhizome 
or root stock partly exposed in well drained beds prepared as 
for other flowers. They want to be well fed — ground bone, 
pulverized sheep manure and barnyard manure can be worked 
in about the roots (don't put it too close to the plants) and lime 
applied in the spring seems to be beneficial. They are Sun 
Worshipers. 
Irises can be planted at any time, July and August are the 
months that most nurserymen like. When they are moved from 
one place to another in the garden I do the work before the last 
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