96 
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS. 
The “ Oncocyclus ” Irises have very large and 
gorgeous blossoms, but unfortunately are not so easily 
cultivated in the open air as the other groups. To 
secure anything like satisfactory results it is abso- 
lutely essential to have a very sandy, well-drained 
soil, enriched with leaf mould, into which the root- 
stocks should not be planted too deeply. The plants 
should not be disturbed every year, and should be 
protected from cold rains in winter. The best 
time to plant is about the first or second week in 
June. The reader may try the following Oncocyclus 
Irises, and if they succeed it is possible that a larger 
number of plants will be grown afterwards. 7. atro- 
fusca, deep violet-purple ; 7. atropurpurea, blackish- 
purple ; 7. Barnumx, wine-purple ; Bismarcldana, a 
splendid Iris with yellowish falls beautifully veined and 
netted with deep red purple, the creamy white stan- 
dards being veined with blue ; I. Gatesi, creamy white 
delicately veined and dotted with purple ; 7. Helenx , 
bright lilac, purple, and black ; 7. iberica, pale lilac, 
veined and speckled with purple ; there are several 
varieties ; 7. Jjorteti, pale pink or delicate rose, veined 
with purple, the pale-blue “ falls,” being veined and 
blotched with deep purple ; 1. lupina, creamy yellow, 
veined with blackish purple ; 7. Manx, lilac, veined 
with deep purple ; 7. meda, pale lilac, blotched with 
deep purple ; 7. paradoxa, deep violet ; 7. Sari, soft 
violet-purple distinctly spotted and veined; 7. Sofarana, 
creamy- white ground heavily netted with deep purple ; 
and 7. Susiana, blackish purple veins and speckles on 
creamy- white ground. This is a remarkably handsome 
Iris — but, indeed, so are all the others in the group. 
