September 8, 1881. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 221 
flowers. I observed last May that Mr. Barron was following the 
same practice in the large house at Chiswick, where, although the 
Vines are not a great distance from the glass, the sides of the 
house being almost upright, the leaves cannot press against it with 
their whole surface, as they do in comparatively flat houses. It 
has been noticed by many that, although there are very great 
disadvantages to contend against in growing Grapes in this said 
house, yet it generally finishes off a heavy crop marvellously 
well ; indeed, very much better than the best practitioners 
amongst us would predict if we had not seen what can be done 
there. Good attention aside, may not the position of the leaves I 
have mentioned—he., not pressing their surfaces against the glass 
—have something to do with it ? —Wm. Taylor. 
IRISES. 
(Continuedfrom page 331, Vol. /., New Series.) 
To conclude the brief review of the chief species in the beauti¬ 
ful genus Iris, only one section, the Pogoniris or Bearded kinds, 
now remains to be considered, and though this contains a number 
of really ornamental forms, and some of the best known in 
English gardens, the most distinct can be described in few words. 
In treating the genus systematically—that is, under the several 
divisions to which the numerous species have been allotted, there 
is one disadvantage—namely, that the order of flowering cannot 
be so clearly indicated as might be desired by some growers, To 
rectify this, however, the list at the conclusion of these remarks 
will probably be found useful, as the most attractive or interest¬ 
ing forms in flower during seven or eight months of the year are 
there named. 
In the classification adopted by Mr. Baker, which has been 
followed throughout these notes, the division Pogoniris is defined 
as including those species that have the falls bearded down the 
claw and the standards beardless, the root, like many others in 
the genus, being a rhizome. The various species are then arranged 
in five groups, chiefly distinguished by their relative dwarfness of 
habit, the typical forms chosen being I. pumila, I. biflora, I. varie- 
gata, I. germanica, and I. pallida. As each of these includes 
several species of more or less interest and beauty we may devote 
a few remarks to them in the order named. 
First respecting the I. pumila group, which is marked by very 
dwarf habit, the flowers being produced early in the spring, and 
includes several species ; but one of the best known is the type I. 
pumila. This is one of the dwarfest of the genus, scarcely exceeding 
5 inches high, with short tapering leaves, and is compact inhabit, 
bearing bi’ight purple flowers which are very attractive in spring, 
generally April, though they are of short duration. This may 
claim a place amongst the oldest of our garden plants, for it was 
known to Parkinson, who described it in his “ Paradisus ” as the 
“ Lesser purple dwarf Flower de Luce,” and also enumerates six 
varieties, more even than are found in cultivation at the present 
time—at least, really distinct forms. One of the most pleasing 
varieties now known is I. pumila coerulea, which has a prepon¬ 
derance of a bright blue tint in the flowers. The species is a 
native of hilly situations in central and south-eastern Europe, but 
it is not at all particular as to soil under cultivation, thriving in 
any that is not very heavy or wet, and it is easily increased by 
division of the roots. Passing I. chamseiris, which does not 
possess remarkable beauty, I. olbiensis is the only other form in 
the pumila section that needs special notice. This, though ordi¬ 
narily regarded by growers as a distinct species, is considered by 
Mr. Baker as simply a variety of I. chamfeiris. However, that is 
a matter of small importance, especially as several of the forms 
in this section come near in characters. It is something like a 
slightly enlarged I. pumila, having rich purple flowers, which in 
some cases are varied by the introduction of bright yellow hues 
that contrast very strikingly. The flowers, moreover, possess a 
very agreeable fragrance—a quality of no mean importance. 
The I. biflora group has similar characters to the preceding, 
only a few unimportant botanical peculiarities serving to distin¬ 
guish them. The type named above is the most attractive in the 
group ; it is of medium height, rarely exceeding a foot, and has 
pretty flowers, the falls being veined with lilac or various shades 
of purple, some very rich on a lighter or nearly white ground. 
It has been not inaptly described as a dwarf I. germanica, for it 
bears some resemblance to that well-known species. One variety, 
I. biflora gracilis, well merits its name, being slender in habit and 
delicate in colouring, the tints being lighter than in the ordinary 
form. Other species in this group are I. lutescens and I. arenaria, 
neither very beautiful, the latter being chiefly noteworthy for its 
spreading roots and the dry sandy positions in which it is found 
growing naturally. 
The I. variegata or I. aphylla group is not a very remarkable 
one. The plants composing it are better known than those of the 
two previous groups, sometimes reaching nearly 2 feet, the flowers 
being borne on stems that are but little taller than the leaves. 
The chief garden form is I. variegata, and this has received much 
attention by growers, something like twenty named varieties 
being catalogued and described by various firms. It also is one 
of the “ kindes of Flower de Luce” known to the old writers. 
Parkinson mentions it and says, “ The yellow variable Flower de 
Luce loseth his leaves in winter contrary to all former Flower de 
Luces, so that his roote remaineth underground without any show 
of leafe upon it; but in the beginning of the spring it shooteth 
out faire broad leaves.” Continuing his description of the flower 
he says, “ The falling leaves are of a reddish purple colour, and 
the three that start upright are of a smoakie yellow.” This is 
not a very glowing description, but is truthful as applied to the 
Fig. 37.—Iris squalens. 
original form, though some much more richly coloured varieties 
are now in commerce, the standards being various shades of 
yellow, and the falls crimson or purple veined or mottled in a 
very diverse manner. The peculiar tinted I. lurida takes its 
position in this group, but now so many brilliant Irises are known 
such as this can well be dispensed with in most collections, except 
where it is desired to have as many representative species as 
possible. 
The I. germanica group includes several of the best in the 
whole Pogoniris section, the first-named alone being entitled to 
a high position amongst garden plants, and perhaps there is no 
other species in the genus that is so largely represented in town 
gardens, especially in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. The 
varieties, too, are now very numerous and beautiful, but as a 
selection was given some time ago when considering another sec¬ 
tion it would be unnecessary to refer to them again, and the type is 
so well known that it does not need description. Unquestionably 
it is a useful addition to any garden, fine bold clumps having a 
