4 -- 
THB GARDENING WORLD. 
July 20, 1907. 
Tall Bearded 
■ ■■ Irises 
fris barbata. 
There can be few flowers that appeal 
so strongly to lovers of hardy plants as 
the tall-bearded Irises. They seem to 
grow in nearly any situation, are no 
trouble when once planted, throughout 
the year their foliage is striking and 
forms a most effective contrast to other 
plants, while in late spring and early 
summer the beautiful and varied shades 
and delicate markings of their blossoms 
have earned them the name of “ Garden 
Orchids.” 
Though so accommodating with regard 
to soil and situation, to see them to per¬ 
fection they should be given a sunny posi¬ 
tion, where the soil is dry in autumn and 
winter, but can be kept moist in spring 
and early summer; they appreciate soil 
enriched with well-decayed manure, 
though fresh manure is positively in¬ 
jurious to them, and should on no account 
be used. In such surroundings they will 
flower much more freely than when over¬ 
shadowed by trees. The best time to 
plant is August and September, though 
they can be put in as late as March. A 
most important point is not to plant them 
deeply; the rhizomes, or root stalks, 
should be barely covered with soil. 
Before mentioning a few good varieties 
it will be useful to describe the principal 
sections into which tall-bearded Irises 
have been divided. In the Amoenj. sec¬ 
tion the standards (or upright petals) are 
white; in the Aphylla section the flowers 
are white, with a coloured edging to the 
petals. Those in the Germanica or May¬ 
flowering section, to which the common 
blue Flag belongs, are the first to bloom ; 
the others follow in June. The standards 
in the Neglecta section are various 
shades of lavender; the Pallida section 
has somewhat larger flowers, and is, per¬ 
haps, the most handsome class ; the 
Squalens section has. standards of various 
shades of bronze and fawn ; and the 
standards in the variegata section are yel¬ 
low. I would strongly advise intending 
purchasers to see a collection in bloom, 
for where there are so many varieties the 
kinds that take one person’s fancy may 
not appeal at all to another. However, 
the following are all beautiful and well- 
known kinds: — 
Amoena section: — Calypso, Mrs. G. 
Darwin, Mrs. H. Darwin. 
Aphylla section : — Bridesmaid, Madame 
Chereau, Sappho. 
Germanica section :— Alba, Kharput, 
Purple King. 
Neglecta section :—Black Prince, Cor¬ 
delia, Hannibal. 
Pallida section : —Dalmatica, Princess 
Beatrice, Garibaldi, Madame Pacquitte. 
Squalens section : — Harrison Weir, 
Monsieur Chereau, Mozart. 
Variegata section: — Alba, Chenedolle, 
Vondel. 
Miscellaneous:— Albicans Princess of 
Wales (pure white, early); Cypriana (very 
large lavender flowers, fragrant and late'); 
Flavescens (yellow, fragrant and early); 
Florentina (the Fleur de Lys, white, frag¬ 
rant and early). 
Irises are propagated by division of the 
roots, but seeing that old-established 
clumps flower best, it is not advisable to 
disturb them more often than necessary. 
When the foliage appears unhealthy it is 
time to replant and divide them, selecting 
a dull day in August for the work, and 
keeping them shaded and moist for a few 
days after removal. 
A. C. D. 
-f+4- 
History in Trees. 
It is not generally known that the 
famous Royal Avenue at Sandringham 
contains trees which have been planted by 
every important Royal guest of the King. 
This custom was inaugurated when their 
Majesties, as Prince and Princess of 
Wales, purchased the lovely Norfolk 
home. It is a curious coincidence that 
the only tree planted in this way which 
has not flourished is that planted by the 
late Duke of Clarence. He was no 
sooner dead than the tree showed signs 
of decay, and despite the utmost care, it 
withered to such an extent as to necessi¬ 
tate its removal. 
—- Q. W. —-- 
Prize Competitions. 
GENERAL CONDITIONS.— Competitors must 
write on one side of the paper only. Regular 
paid contributors to THE GARDENING- 
WORLD or other gardening journals are de¬ 
barred from entering, but occasional con¬ 
tributor may compete. The name and ad¬ 
dress of the competitor must appear on each 
article sent for competition. The Editor's 
decision is final, and he reserves the right 
to reproduce, in any way,l any article or photo¬ 
graph sent for competition. The conditions 
applying to each competition should be care¬ 
fully read. 
WEEKLY 
PRIZES. 
A PRIZE OFTEN SHILLINGS will be given 
for the best paragraph or short article on any 
gardening subject, such as hints of practical 
interest to gardeners, notes on the propaga¬ 
tion or cultivation of flowers, fruits or vege¬ 
tables, eradication of pests, etc. The para¬ 
graph or article must not exceed a column, but 
value rather than length will be considered in 
making riie award. Mark envelopes “ Com¬ 
petition,” and post not later than the Monday 
folk wing date of issue. Entries received later 
thrn Tuesday (first post) will be left over until 
t) je following week. 
Two prizes of 2s. 6d. will be awarded each 
week for the two best letters, not exceeding 
150 words, on any interesting gardening sub¬ 
ject. 
RESULTS OF 
LAST WEEK’S 
COMPETITIONS. 
Some of the best papers in this competition 
are too. long, and we desire readers to keep 
within a column. 
The prize in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “ G. A. E.” for the article on 
“ Flower Seeds and Seedlings,” page 474. 
In the Prize Letter Competition a prize 
was awarded to “ Prunus ” for the article on 
“Humeas” ; and another to “S. G. T.”' for 
the article on “Early Town Roses,” page 466. 
Streptocarpus. 
/-\ 
/ ' 
Culture 
and Propagation. 
This beautiful coolhouse subject has 
been vastly improved during the last few 
years, both as regards size of flower, and 
brightness of colour, the new hybrid 
forms being remarkable for the wealth 
of bloom, and the continuous succession 
in which the same is produced. 
If a packet of seed be procured from a 
reliable firm a fine stock of plants can 
easily be raised, which, apart from the 
trouble necessary in the earlier stage of 
their growth, will need but compara¬ 
tively little attention to successfully cul¬ 
tivate. If bloom is desired the first year 
it is necessary to sow the seed in Janu¬ 
ary with a temperature of 60 deg., but 
where this heat is not available, May to 
July is the best time, the resulting plants in 
this case flowering the following season. 
The pans in which the seeds are sown 
should be well drained, and nearly filled 
- with a compost of equal parts loam and 
leaf mould, and half a part of silver sand, 
the top layer of same being finely sifted 
and pressed down level. 
Sow the seeds thinly, and cover them 
with a light dusting of silver sand, and 
after placing a piece of glass on each of 
the pans stand them in a shady position 
in the coolhouse, supplying water when 
necessary and wiping the moisture from 
the underside of the glass daily. 
On germination taking place, remove 
the pieces of glass, and when the seed¬ 
lings are large enough to handle, prick 
them out in other pans prepared as be¬ 
fore. After a short time in these, pot up 
singly in thumb pots, and later on into 
3 in. pots, using a compost of equal parts 
loam, peat, and leaf mould, with a good 
proportion of silver sand. 
During the winter, when a minimum 
temperature of .45 degs. is necessary 
great care should be taken not to over 
water the plants, but with the return 0 
spring liberal supplies of root moisturs 
are required, but syringing the foliag* 
should on no account be practised. 
Early in the. New Year give the fina 
move into the flowering size pots (5 in. 
cr : -'g the compost' as in the previous pot 
ti^' s, with a sprinkling of a reliabh 
ch'emical fertiliser added. 
During the flowering period occasiona 
applications of weak liquid manure i 
beneficial, and all faded blooms shouh 
be removed, except those required fo 
providing seed. 
If the plants be given a dry position i. 
the coolhouse during the summer th 
grower can save his own seed, but as th 
Streptocarpus is not self fertilising it i 
necessary to perform this operation, b 
hand. This should be done on a fine dr 
day by' carefully transferring the polle 
on to the stigma (when the same is ripe 
with a camel hair brush. 
A greater yield of seed will result if th 
flowers on different plants are crossed, bu 
if it is desired to perpetuate any' particu¬ 
lar variety the flowers on the same should 
of course, be used only. 
Albert Edward. 
