330 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. [ October^, isso. 
the practical gardener in charge, evidently, however, knows what 
he is about, being well aware that the Vines could not long stand 
such a heavy strain upon their resources without extraordinary 
compensation being given at the roots. 
The borders are inside of the house, and are composed almost 
entirely of strong loam, and to these are given liberal top-dress¬ 
ings of strong unexhausted manure, and frequent heavy waterings 
varied with strong liquid manure, the latter not merely during 
the times the fruit is being perfected, but after it is all cut, as at 
this time the root-action is still going briskly on, and the Vines 
are thus enabled to feed on and to assimilate the rich supplies of 
food frequently placed at their disposal. It is this knowledge of 
their recuperative power that justifies Mr. Phillips in thus heavily 
cropping his Vines ; and there is no reason why others may not 
also crop their Vines heavily, provided they are well established 
and receive similarly liberal treatment. 
My advice—far from being original—to all, whether their Vines 
have been heavily or lightly cropped, is to give them abundance 
of moisture at the roots after the fruit is cut till the foliage has 
changed ; varied, in the case of heavily cropped Vines, with 
strong liquid manure. This has the effect of “plumping ” up the 
buds, and also insures a good start being made the following 
season. Of course, where the borders are outside, in most in¬ 
stances the autumn rains will be found sufficient. It is the inside 
borders that are most frequently neglected after the fruit is cut.— 
W. IGGULDEN. 
PELLIONIA DAVEAUANA. 
On visiting Kew a few days since I was much struck with the 
beauty of this plant. It is a native of Cochin China, and by its 
pendant habit is admirably adapted for basket work for the green¬ 
house. The leaves much resemble Tradescantia zebrina in shape, 
but are much more handsome. The centre of the leaves is light 
green, with a broad band round the margin of dark brown or 
chocolate. At first sight it would easily be mistaken for one of the 
fine-foliaged Begonias, but it is quite distinct from that genus. 
It is growing in a shallow pan suspended from the roof, and 
judging by appearance the treatment it receives seems to suit it 
well—W. K. 
IRISES.—No. 12. 
Still continuing the consideration of the great Apogon divi¬ 
sion of Irises we come to the three remaining groups, one of which 
only contains a single species, and the others are not large, but 
they comprise some of the most beautiful and most interesting of 
all the beardless forms. Here it may be remarked that it is one 
of the very agreeable peculiarities of this genus that large numbers 
of the species are individually marked by such qualities of beauty 
that all comparative terms of excellence are useless, as each one 
seems in itself to stand unrivalled. Some particular gracefulness 
of form or striking combination of tints characterises all the most 
noteworthy forms. The groups now to be described are chiefly 
distinguished by the possession of ensiform leaves, and in addition 
certain minor peculiarities of the perianth aid in the classification 
of the species. The first group consists of a single dwarf species 
with sword-shaped leaves named I. maculata ; it is not marked 
by any special excellence, and is, I believe, not in cultivation at 
present. Then follow the two groups of caulescent forms—one 
with very small inner perianth divisions, and the other with falls 
and standards spreading, and in some instances nearly of equal 
size. The most attractive of the species included in these two 
sections I will now refer to without following the precise order of 
their arrangement. 
By far the most interesting, historically at least, is the native 
species I. Pseud-acorus, the yellow Iris or Fleur de Luce, of which 
so much has been written. This is one of the only two forms 
found wild in the British Islands, and is distinguished by its large 
yellow flowers and its frequenting the margins of lakes or similar 
moist localities. When growing luxuriantly, as it does in a suitable 
position, and bearing the fine yellow flowers in abundance, its 
beauty is of no mean order, and in many gardens it forms, where 
judiciously employed, a beautiful margin to artificial lakes. 
Gerarde wrote concerning it in his quaint manner—“ The yellow 
Flag prospereth well in moist meadows, and in the borders of 
rivers, ponds, and standing lakes ; and although it be a water 
plant of Nature, yet being planted in gardens it prospereth well.” 
It must have been the remembrance of some happy spot where it 
was in its best condition that prompted Charlotte Smith to write— 
“ Amid its waving swords, in flaming gold 
The Iris towers.” 
Yet it is chiefly in the historical memories connected with Iris 
Pseud-acorns that interest centres. The Fleur de Luce, Fleur de 
Lis, or Floure de Luce everyone has heard or read of as the blazon 
that was chosen by King Louis VII. of France when he com¬ 
menced his crusading expedition, and from which circumstance 
it was designated Fleur de Louis, ultimately transformed into the 
unmeaning name it now bears. All, too, have heard how our 
English Edward III. adopted the Fleur de Lis after the battle of 
Cressv and incorporated it with the Royal arms. These are facts so 
well known as scarcely to bear repeating except in the way of 
incidental reference. But that is only the pleasant part of the 
history of the Fleur de Luce. It is to the French Revolution 
that we must look for the counterpart of that history, when the 
passions of an infuriate and ignorant mob were directed to the 
total destruction of every emblem of royalty. Then not only 
was the harmless insignia torn down and obliterated wherever 
it was present, but the crime of wearing or preserving any article 
marked with it was punished with death. Even in the present 
advanced times this spirit still seems to prevail, for not many 
months since it was announced that the Municipal Council of 
Paris proposed to erase the Fleur de Lis from all public buildings. 
So much for what may be termed the romance of this interesting 
species of Iris, which, though less gorgeous in the colouring of the 
flowers than some of its more favoured relatives, it yet surpasses 
all in its suggestiveness to a contemplative mind. As regards 
the properties of the plant little need be said. The leaves possess 
a peculiar odour as of rancid bacon, but less powerfully than I. 
feetidissima, while the juice of the root is very acrid and is said 
to be a strong aperient. A variety with finely variegated foliage 
is in cultivation. The leaves are broadly margined with yellow, 
the flowers being large and similar to the type in colour and form. 
Both of this and the species the colour of the flowers sometimes 
varies to nearly or quite white. 
I. ochroleucais a stately species, somewhat resembling I. Pseud- 
acorus, but rather more attractive. The stems rise to the height 
of 3 or 4 feet, and bear very large yellowish flowers marked with 
white. A still later variety is known by the appropriate name of 
gigantea, which reaches the height of 6 feet, the flowers being 
pure white. Both these produce their flowers comparatively late 
in the summer, and are worth growing, as they succeed in any 
moist position. The typical species is well figured in the first 
volume of the “ Botanical Magazine.” I. Monnieri'is a species 
from Crete, allied to the last two but with paler flowers; it is very 
rare, being found in few collections. Its chief recommendation is 
the lateness of the flowering, particularly in the neighbourhood 
of London. I. versicolor, a native of the United States, especially 
in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, has been some time in 
this country, and is justly admired for its beauty. The stem has 
a peculiar crook or elbow, which is a distinctive mark of the 
species. The flowers are produced in June ; they are of medium 
size, and have small pinkish or flesh-coloured standards, white 
stigmas, and rounded rich purple falls veined with a darker tint. 
It is extremely attractive, and like many others thrives freely in 
almost any soil and position except the driest. Several varieties 
are in cultivation, the best of which are Violacea with violet- 
coloured falls and standards, the former being of the deepest 
shade. Purpurea has rich purple falls and rosy white standards. 
Atro-CEerulea has violet standards and fine blue falls ; while Pallida, 
as its name implies, has light-coloured flowers, the predominating 
tint being lavender. I. virginica is said to have been cultivated 
in 1758 by Phillip Miller, and it therefore takes rank among 
the old inhabitants of our gardens. It is a pretty species and 
appears especially happy in a moist position, but it must not be 
a stagnant moisture, as that is destructive to this and all other 
similar forms in cultivation. Michaux found it abounding in the 
marshy districts of Virginia, which sufficiently indicates its re¬ 
quirements ; it flowers in June, the falls being of a deep clear 
purple hue beautifully veined, and the standards bluish. The 
varieties Columnm, Hansoni, and pulchella are deserving of a 
place in gardens ; they chiefly differ from the type in their light 
or dark shades of purple, blue, and lavender. I. spuria is an old 
and well-known species with handsome flowers, the falls of which 
are rich purple, with blue upright standards. It was known to 
Parkinson, who describes it under the name of the “ Greater blew 
Floure de Luce with narrow leaves.” The specific name was 
given by Linnaeus from its not furnishing any decided characters 
to aid in its determination. About half a dozen varieties are 
grown, all very beautiful, the best being cmrulea, iilacina, halo- 
phylla, pallida, and desertorum, which vary from purple to 
lavender, yellow, and white. It does not require any special 
treatment. In concluding this section Iris feetidissima, the Stink¬ 
ing Gladdon, may be noticed as the only other British species. 
It does not possess any particular attractions, but there is a form 
with finely variegated leaves which is useful as a decorative plant. 
