CULTURE OF THE IRIS BICOLOR. 30 1 
of plants is kept; and besides, it forms a necessary link in tlie large 
and beautiful family of Iridese. But first as to the identity of the 
species; and on this point it may be remarked, that in “ Sweet’s 
British Flower Garden,” Vol. 5. page 146, there is the figure of a 
species of snake’s head; yet that is not the plant in question. On 
the contrary, I believe the Iris bicolor to be identical with the Iris 
tuberosa in the Bot. Mag. page 531, though the figure of it there 
given is very poor. I got the plant from Pontefract eleven years 
ago, and this is the fifth intervening season it has bloomed under 
my care. I have about one hundred roots, and forty of them are 
now blooming. The soil consists of two parts of turfy peat, one of 
white sand, and one of completely rotted stable manure, all rubbed 
well together. It is not sifted, but a little of the finest is placed 
about the tubers when planted. They should be planted six inches 
deep, and there should be placed below the tubers a compost to the 
depth of at least nine inches. The plant is hardy, and should be 
placed in an open situation; it will require no protection except 
when in bloom, the flowers being often destroyed by spring frosts. 
I had twenty blossoms completely cut off in the year 1831. The 
best, and indeed the only time to remove the roots with safety, is 
when they are in a quiescent state. The foliage will be dying down 
from about the end of May to the middle of June, when they should 
be taken up, and kept in sand, in a moderately dry place, for about 
a month, and afterwards planted in compost as above mentioned.— 
If the plants be in pots, they may of course, be removed any time, 
but I have found that the species cannot be kept in health long to¬ 
gether in pots. Care should be taken not to break off the digitals of 
the root, in taking up and planting, for if that happen, the root will 
certainly not bloom. Something of this sort occurs, when the roots 
are left undisturbed the whole summer; for being fleshy, the worms 
and various insects are attracted to them, which gnaw and separate 
the digitals, if they do not destroy the roots. But there would be 
no chance of the plant living for a long time in a cool adhesive soil 
where worms, &c. would not be likely to abound. If you do not 
think me troublesome, I may write to you again on some subject. 
J. Plant. 
Cheadle, May 1 st, 1833. 
