NATURAL ORDER TRIDE7E, 
6G 
Ferranti, 
Tigridia, 
H erbertia, 
Galaxia, 
Anisanthus, 
Watson i a. 
Gladiolus, 
Syrinotia, 
Heperantha, 
Geissofrhiza, 
Tricliouema, 
Crocus. 
Culture or the Genus Iris. —The name of Iris was given to 
the plant by Theophrastus and Pliny, from the variety of its colours. 
Th is well known but beautiful genus is rarely met with in America, 
but it abounds in Europe. The chief part are tuberous rooted, and 
are propagated by dividing the roots, but some are bulbous. The 
modes of culture, although in almost all cases simple and easy, vary 
considerably. Some species delight in exposed, and others in shady 
situations, some in dry and sandy soils, and dry situations, others in 
rich loamy soils, and moist situations, the greater part are perfectly 
hardy, but some few require shelter, having a variety of peculiarities 
which renders it necessary to mention the species rather particularly. 
A great number of them will grow without any particular care, in 
almost any soil and situation, as the hungarica, Nertchinskia, lurida, 
gerinanica, graminea, Xyphium, nepalensis, &c. &c. The hungarica 
does very well in a pot, but requires, in that case, to be planted in a 
rich and good soil. The germanica produces the colour called “Iris 
green,” to obtain which the flowers are macerated, and having been left 
to putrify, chalk or lime is added. This species, in connection with 
the florentina, are planted about the graves in Florence, as a token 
of respect to the deceased. The flowers of Xiphium have a scent 
greatly resembling coriander seed ; the xiphioides is a very free seed 
bearer; it is bulbous, as well as xiphium; the bulbs are imported 
annually from Holland, and should be planted early in the autumn. 
The biglumis, sisyrinchium, pallida, arenaria, tenax, persica. See. 
&c. must be planted in a light sandy soil, and in a situation where 
they will receive but little moisture, being for the most part very 
impatient of wet, particularly the pallida, arenaria, and tenax. The 
pallida should also be planted in a sunny situation, where it is shel¬ 
tered a little from cold winds, it being more tender than some of the 
other species. It is often called the Dalmatian Iris. The tenax 
grows in open parts of the woods of North California; from the veins 
of the leaves, the native tribes make fine cord, which is converted 
into fishing nets, and for its buoyancy, great strength, and durability 
it suits this purpose admirably. The persica will blow in w'ater 
glasses like hyacinths, but it flowers much stronger in a pot of sandy 
loam, sandy peat, or even pure sand; it has a most delightful fra¬ 
grance when in blossom, and a (lower or two expanded will scent the 
whole apartments. It is not hardy, although it will blow well 
