Juae 7, 1888 . 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
469 
commerce. Hendersoni has bright purple flowers with a dark 
centre ; gncca has bright lavender flowers ; Bougainvillea light 
blue ; Eyrei deep lavender shaded mauve, very pleasing. Beyond 
these are several very distinct, particularly A. violacea, having 
violet purple blossoms, and A. Leichtlini. It is this last named 
which may be seen nestling around the base of the Iris in the 
illustration. A more delightful plant it is next to impossible to 
conceive, both as regards its colour and freedom of flowering. In 
colour it is quite a departure from all else. Speaking from the 
m.asses as seen at Belvoir, the colour is lively rose, still deeper 
when in bud. This is the most effective of all, the plants repre¬ 
senting such a carpet of flowers in spring time that are not excelled, 
if equalled, by any others so easily raised and grown. 
Now a word or two respecting the dwarf Irises. The dwarf 
coerulea, ccerulescens, and bicolor, the last-named being faithfully 
represented in the engraving. The variety ccerulescens is of that 
clear almost transparent sky blue which renders it conspicuous at a 
glance, consequently a general favourite. The same remarks apply 
equally to the variety figured, in which the clear white of the 
standards shows to good advantage. These dwarf Irises have 
appeared to advantage in the Chiswick collection this spring, and 
with the glowing Aubrietia Leichtlini should find their way into 
many gardens.— A Londonei!. 
JSIY GREENHOUSE IN 1887. 
I SHALL not be in the least surprised or offended if many of the 
readers of tlie Journal will say to themselves, “ What do we care about 
Fig. G3.—AUBRIETIA LEICHTLINI AND IRIS PUMILA BIC'OLOR. 
your trumpery greenhouse ? You make as much fuss about it as if it were 
a whole range of elaborately arranged plant houses.” It may be so, but 
I am assured on the other hand that my small experiences have been 
helpful to many : and this I am convinced of, that no owner of his ranges 
of greenhouses has more enjoyment out of them than I have out of my 
single house, and although it refpiire.s some generalship to get all I do 
out of it, 1 am amply repaid for all my trouble : from early spring in¬ 
deed, from Christmas to the end of October my house is never without 
its interest to me. and whether I succeetl or fail in my culture there are 
lessons to me for the future. 
I made one alteration last year which cost me some pangs of con¬ 
science, but which I do not regret having made. I gave up after some 
twenty-five years or more the Camellias, in which I u.sed to take much 
pleasure. I thought, however, that there was more to be had out of pot 
Roses. The Camellias to ik u[) a good piece of the house and somewhat 
darkened it, whereas the Roses had light foliage, and at the time of the 
Iris, I. pumila or the Crimean Iris, has during the past week or two 
attracted more than usual attention. Several of the most distinct j 
varieties were well represented among the groups of hardy plants 
at the Royal Botanic and Inner Temple Shows, notably among 
those shown being I. pumila lutea and I. pumila coerulea. I. nudi- 
eaulis was also w'ell shown. This is a native of Southern Europe, 
and though a very dwarf Iris does not appear to belong to I. purnila, 
but is regarded as a distinct species. Few plants are more effective, 
however° than the deep violet purple flower of this. In some 
positions it is a day or two earlier to flower than I pumila varieties, 
and the last-named precede the section known as I. olbiensis, thus 
bringing the successional flowering well into June. In both the 
\mmila and olbiensis sections almost the same variation of colour 
may be found. The latter is, however, somewhat taller and a little 
later in blooming. Of the pumila section, the best are lutea, 
