58 
and they have already collected over 
2300 names for the check list. 
R. S. Sturtevant, Sec’y- 
THE IRIS. 
Irises in April. 
I W ritten expressly for The Flower Grower. ] 
I N MASSACHUSETTS this is true, 
but elsewhere perhaps not so at all, 
and immediately we see one of the 
difficulties in forming a Classifica- 
tion of all Iris, suited to all climates. 
Horticulturally these early Iris fall into 
two groups, delicate growers of the 
Juno, reticulata, or pogon groups and 
the pumila hybrids that thrive in any 
garden, make splendid edgings, and in 
great masses of purple, white, or pale 
yellow add greatly to the spring color 
scheme. 
The Junos; bucharica, orchioides, 
sindjarensis, and the fascinating winged 
alata which in some climes joins stylosa 
in winter bloom, always remind me of 
thrifty dwarf corn plants with delicate 
Iris flowers, sometimes terminal, or 
more often tucked into the axes of the 
leaves. I have had a number, but they 
do not take kindly to my thin, gravelly 
soil and shortly vanish; they are charm- 
ing, but so lush that the spring frosts 
have a pitiful effect upon their frail- 
ness and I leave them to others who 
will protect them with frames or are 
blessed with better weather. The reti- 
culata group, histrio, histoides, and 
reticulata in its varieties are low, with 
needle-like leaves at blooming time and 
remind one of the Spanish forms; often 
we find them well-established in old 
gardens, they thrive so well. Krelagei is 
later blooming a bit, and a slightly red- 
der purple and in England we find men- 
tion of many named varieties. Of all 
these I can say little, but like the equally 
dwarf true pumilas their place is with 
other treasures in the rock-garden 
where the struggle for survival is less 
intense. There are many colors among 
these last, coerulea, a delightful blue 
tint that we can often purchase true to 
name, but for atroviolacea, atropur- 
purea and others, sturdier hybrids are 
often substituted, to the advantage 
(I must acknowledge) of all but the 
most careful gardeners. I think these 
true pumilas should make some fasci- 
nating drifts of color, but so far I have 
had only incidents, touches of frail 
bloom in combination with the straw- 
toned Crocus stellaris or the fading 
lavender of C. Thomasinianus, both of 
extreme delicacy. 
The subject of the origin of the many 
pumila hybrids, sometimes called 
Alpine or Crimaean, I dare not venture 
into, many of them we owe to W. J. 
Caparne, but so gaily do they seed that 
now there are some 300 named va- 
rieties, each firm has its selected forms 
and you may as easily raise your own. 
The pure white Schneecuppe is lovely 
and the clear yellows are charming, 
but many are only near whites or 
yellows and have smootches of olive or 
gray that mars their purity, and makes 
care in selection desirable. The vary- 
Tlower (Browet 
ing shades of purple are almost all 
worthy, some deep claret, some blue- 
purple with white beards, some with 
bronzed lights, all are additions. 
Whether you select the plants in the 
nursery or from seedlings of your 
own raising, they should be made 
a part of your spring garden. I tuck 
them in odd corners along the stone- 
edged paths where their color can show 
in contrast with lavender Phlox, White 
Arabis or Candytuft, and early Tulips 
of many hues. Plant them at any sea- 
son, 4-6 inches apart for massing, and for 
amusement you may dig them after 
the first hard frosts, set the clumps 
next the glass or even in a sunny 
window and in mid-winter their delicate 
flowers will be appreciated. Try a few, 
forget about them, and in April, per- 
haps even in October, suddenly you will 
realize their fine effect. 
Grace Sturtevant. 
Bearded Iris — Dimity. 
This very beautiful form needs to be seen 
in the garden even more than some of the 
others in order to see and appreciate all 
its good points. It is of the Mme. Chereau 
type, and remarkable for freedom, among 
other good points. A glance at the illustra- 
tion will show the vastly improved branching 
habit of Dimity, in common with not a few 
of these modern Irises, an attribute which, 
in conjunction with new color shades and 
handsomer, more firmly textured flowers, 
B»ar 
April, 1920 
renders them of a far greater garden value 
than their predecessors. The object of the 
cross, Mr. Bliss tells me, was to obtain a 
paler I. plicata than Mme. Chereau or pos- 
sibly a white. The result was about as 
hoped for, but the specially fine veining in 
Dimity was a quite unexpected feature. The 
Mme. Chereau character of finely penciled 
violet or other markings on the standards 
and falls is not seen in the illustration, nor 
is the veining made possible. These not- 
withstanding, it is a charming and distinct 
variety, its patch of almost wholly white a 
welcome change amid the clouds of blue, 
lavender, and shades akin. — E. H. Jenkins in 
Gardening Illustrated. (English.) 
The Montbretia, a 
Cousin of the Gladiolus. 
[Written expressly for The Flower Grower . ] 
How many know the Montbretia ? 
Some of you may know it as Tritonia, 
for that is the name given to it by our 
botanist friends, but Montbretia is the 
commoner name. It is listed by some 
of the larger seedsmen, but without 
any special words of commendation, 
and yet it deserves to be well known. 
I would like to propose it as a mem- 
ber of Gladiolus society. It is a near 
relative of the Gladiolus, with foliage 
almost identical in form, though the 
leaves are not so large, and the tips are 
not quite so sharply pointed. The plant 
is not as tall as the Gladiolus; from 
the ground to the tip of the flower 
spray it is two feet or less in height. 
The loose branching spikes, or sprays, 
are gracefully formed — the individual 
blooms not close set as with the Gladi- 
olus, and considerably smaller. In 
form, too, the blooms are unlike the 
Gladiolus, being more like miniature 
Lilies. 
There is no wide variety of color — 
yellow, orange and red, in various 
shades and combinations, being all 
that have developed thus far — so that 
in planting with Gladioli it is necessary 
to have an eye to the proper color com- 
binations ; but, especially around a bed 
of Primulinus Hybrids, the lower grow- 
ing Montbretia makes a very effective 
border plant. 
Growing on the sunny side of a shrub- 
bery border, or in a perennial garden, 
the Montbretia adds a touch of color 
in the late summer and fall that j 
brightens up the planting considerably, 
but it should not be planted close un- 
der or among shrubs, for, like its 
cousin Gladiolus, it is at its best in the 
full sunshine. 
As the Montbretia is not an early 
bloomer it should be planted early— at 
least by the middle of May— and it 
should be given clean cultivation. It 
is as hardy and vigorous as the Gladi- 
olus, and will respond to similar treat- 
ment— it does not need coddling. 
If you are not acquainted with the 
Montbretia it will be worth your while 
to make the acquaintance. A half 
dozen sprays of these graceful flowers 
make a cheerful table decoration, and 
their long-keeping qualities make them 
doubly desirable. They will more than 
repay you for the small amount of 
labor involved in their growing. 
Thomas M. Proctor, 
