February 6, 1904, 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
121 
The Herbaceous Border. 
Early Spi'ing Flowers. 
Crocus Imperati. 
For the sheltered part of rockeries the above species is 
suitable for localities where no heavy fall of snow may be 
expected during the winter. It, is practically a wid-winter 
blooming species, though the precise date of the flowers will 
very much depend upon the character of the season. In a 
sense, it may be said to select its own time for blooming, that 
is a favourable one, though there can be no dependence upon 
the duration, of the tine weather after tire plants have come 
into bloom. It is a vigorous species, however, and stands up 
well, considering how fragile all of the Crocuses really are. 
With the exception of tire young leaves, all that rises above 
the ground is the flower, supported by its own tube, there 
being no footstalk above the ground. The height of tihei 
flowers to, some extent also depends upon the weather for some 
time previous to their expansion. Flowering conns will seed 
up, from one to three or more flowers. The back of the outer 
segments is pale yellow or greyish-yellow, with, three dark 
purple feathered nerves. When these expand the flower 
appears of an entirely different character, being lilac-purple 
internally, with the purple nerves on the back showing more 
or less conspicuously on, the face. As a contrast to this again, 
the anthers are golden and the styles saffron. The species i,s 
a. native of Southern Italy. 
Iris Vartani. 
The usual time of flowering for this specie® is during the 
three last months of the year, but, the temperature has been 
rather against it,, and now it may be placed amongst early 
spring flowers. It belongs to the same 'section, as the well- 
known Iris reticulata, though the flowers are not fragrant like 
those of the latter. The glaucous leaves are long, slender, and 
four-sided. The flowers when fully expanded measure 3 in. 
or 4 in. across. The lamina is blotched with violet, round the 
crest, while towards the apex the blotches arei much paler on 
a light blue ground. The lower part of the falls, or claw is 
striped with blue-purple on a pale ground that is nearly white. 
The standards are similar to those of I. reticulata,, but wholly 
blue in the upper 'half and deepening to purple on the lower 
half. Tire stigmatio crests or petaloid arms; of the style are 
of large size and palei blue. The species is valuable on account 
of its flowering at a, season of the year when real showy hardy 
flowers are scarce. Owing to the uncertain character of our 
winter, it should bei grown, in, pots in cold frames, and brought 
into the greenhouse when in bloom in tihei absence of a, suitable 
and special structure. 
Crocus chrysanthus. 
t In the absence of frame protection this will not, bloom for 
some weeks yet cut of doors,, but under ordinary circumstances 
it is an early flowering species, comparable to C. susianus, but 
having a, greater amount, of colour. The flowers vary in the 
depth, and amount of colour from imported bulbs,, though it 
would seem that the, originally described form must have been, 
-mere or less of a golden-yellow. The paler flowers are usually 
of an orange hue overcast with a shadei of brown. The latter 
colour is often intensified, however, to a, velvety orange-brown 
on the outer face, the colour extending over the whole of the 
back of the flower, instead of being confined to the nerves a,s 
m C. susianus. It is -also a smaller flower and dwarfer, though 
pretty and interesting at this 'season of the year. It, is a 
native of Asia, Minor, from whence so many of our interesting 
early flowering subjects co-me. 
Iris stenophylla. 
In gardens this 
I. Hendreichi or I 
that first, given, 
of the flower and 
Amina'ri of lai'ge 
-ipex. Below this 
splendid early flowering Iris is often named 
. persiea He-ldreichi, but the correct name' is 
The falls are the most conspicuous, feature 
have a,n, expanse of 4 in. or more. The 
size, with a, large violet-purpjle blotch at the 
the blade is striped with the same colour on 
a pale lilac ground. The claw is nearly white and without 
markings, except the yellow crest along the middle, which is 
finely spotted. The standards a,re very small and reflexed. 
On the other hand, the -stigma,tic crests are very large and 
lilac-purple. A striking feature of this species is the side lobes 
or auricles of the falls;, which bend inwards and grasp the 
styles after the expansion, of the flowers. It is seldom the 
auricles are so well developed as in this case. The species 
comes close to I. persiea,, but is larger in its parts and richer 
in colour. It would therefore be classed as one of the Juno 
Irises. 
Narcissus Bulbocodium monophyllus. 
This may not Ee the most conspicuous of the forms of the 
Hoop Petticoat Daffodils, but. it ils certainly one: of the most 
refined and interesting. It also blooms earlier than the other 
large forms, which mostly wait- until our winter has entirely' 
departed. It, is necessary, therefore, to grow the white one 
under protection to make sure that its flowers will not be de¬ 
stroyed by either frost or heavy rainfall. A cold frame would 
furnish the protection, but it is worthy of a comer in the 
Apple Hormead Pearmain. (See p. 115.) 
greenhouse near the glass, so a,| to bring it more prominently 
under the eye. T'hei white crown is finely cremate or notched 
on the edges with yellow anthers of different, lengths and form¬ 
ing- a fine contrast to the purity of the rest of the flowers, 
three of them just overtopping the large crown. 
Iris Histrio. 
The deepest colour on the falls of this beautiful but early- 
flowering species is confined near the margin of the blade of 
the falls, this being a purple-blue. Inside this border the 
ground colour is creamy-white, with numerous blue blotches 
scattered over it." The creist consists of a, yellow ridge running 
along the centre and spotted with little black tubercles or 
raised points. The standards and styles are pale blue. Some¬ 
times this plant is classed as, a variety of I. reticulata, but 
seems as worthy of being kept separate a,s several others which 
have more recently been named. It. comes from Palestine and 
the mountains! lying- to the north of that, and should flower in 
this country some time between December a,nd March, accord¬ 
ing to the weather. It forms, in fact, a succession to Iris 
Ya-rtini above mentioned, which comes from the same country 
a,n :l would indicate that spring therei is much earlier than, here. 
Crocus laevigatus. 
The back of the three outer segments of this Crocus are 
pale lilac striped with vio-let-purplei with two grey bands be- 
