J. WILKINSON ELLIOTT, PITTSBURGH, PA. 
15 
JAPANESE IRIS FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN IN A FAMOUS BOSTON GARDEN. 
The Japanese Irises are without question the most unique and beautiful hardy plants in cultivation. What the Orchid 
is to the conservatory the Japanese Iris is to the garden, and it is perfectly hardy and of the easiest culture. I cannot under¬ 
stand why millions of Geraniums and other commonplace bedding plants are used annually in this country and the exquisitely 
beautiful Japanese Iris is rarely seen. Men build expensive conservatories to house plants not half so beautiful or so rare. Yet 
the Japanese Irises are as low priced as the poorest bedding plants, as hardy as oak trees and as easily grown as anythrng that 
can be planted. In a few of the finest private places in America, they are grown by the hundred and thousand. Nothing in 
these places creates more enthusiasm and admiration, not even a greenhouse full of Orchids in bloom. 
Japanese Iris. 
Three years ago, a set of Japanese Irises (Iris Kaempferii) were sent to me from Japan to test, which were said to be 
identical with the collection in the Royal Gardens- I cannot vouch for this statement, as I have never been in Japan, but I 
have never seen another collection in America or Europe that would equal it in any way. The collection contained many 
colors and varieties I had never seen before, and the flowers were of remarkable size and beauty. When these Irises were in 
bloom they excited the greatest admiration and enthusiasm, and it was hard to convince people that these unique and exquis¬ 
itely beautiful flowers were as hardy as apple trees, and as easily grown as potatoes. They will thrive in any good garden soil, 
but if the soil is made very rich and deep and flooded with water for a month before and during their blooming season, they 
will produce flowers of wonderful size, sometimes ten to twelve inches across. These Irises should be planted in full exposure 
to the sun. 
As the Japanese names are unintelligible and impossible to remember I have renamed this collection. 
(Japanese Iris continued on'uext page.) 
