September  27,  1900. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
287 
Iris  puinila. 
Theee  are  few  more  interesting  flowers  than  the  Irises,  and  few 
which  better  repay  a  close  investigation  of  their  form  and  wonderfully 
varied  colouring.  The  Iris  has  been  called  the  “poor  man’s  Orchid,” 
and,  although  Orchids  are  now  so  cheap  as  to  be  almost  within  the 
reach  of  everyone,  they  need  more  care  than  Irises,  which  can  be  grown 
in  almost  any  garden  without  glass  or  covering  of  any  kind. 
The  one  under  notice  is  commendable  on  account  of  the  dwarfness 
of  its  habit,  as  well  as  for  its  intrinsic  beauty.  It  is  one  of  those 
^included  by  Mr,  J,  G.  Baker  in  his  “  Handbook  of  Irideae  ”  as  being  in 
with  flowers  of  the  same  form  as  the  well  known  “  German”  Irises,  bnt 
large  in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  plant  upon  which  they  are 
produced.  It  only  grows  some  4  or  5  inches  high,  and  there  are  several 
varieties,  including  blue,  greyish  lilac,  and  yellow.  Very  frequently 
I.  pseudo-pumila  is  grown  for  the  true  pnmila,  but  it  is  a  taller  plant, 
and  supposed  to  be  either  a  hybrid  or  a  form  intermediate  between 
I.  pumila  and  I.  pseudo-pumila.  This  dwarf  Iris  is  not  very  particular 
as  to  soil,  but,  like  almost  all  the  Irises,  does  much  better  with  me  in 
full  sun  than  in  shade.  This  point  is  the  cause  of  many  unsatisfactory 
results  with  Irises.  I.  pumila  may  be  propagated  by  division  or  by 
means  of  seeds.  It  is  widely  distributed  over  a  considerable  part  <  f 
Europe  and  Asia  Minor. 
Fig,  77._IRIS  PUMILA  BICOLOR  AND  AUBRIETIA  LEICHTLINI. 
■“  Series  I.,”  which  is  composed  of  the  Irises  which  have  for  “  rootstock 
a  short  thick  rhizome.”  It  is  further  placed  Tn  Sub-genus  VII.  or 
Pogoniris,  the  characteristics  of  the  sub-genus  being  given  by  Mr. 
Baker  as  having  the  “  outer  segments  with  the  beard  down  the  claw 
and  lower  part  of  the  blade.”  It  again  is  placed  in  the  “  Group  of 
I.  pumila.”  “Dwarf;  spathes  one-flowered,”  with  the  “tube  long,” 
this  latter  feature  distinguishing  this  species  and  I.  pseudo-pumila, 
I.  suaveolens,  I.  Regeli,  and  I.  Potanini  from  several  others  in  the  same 
group  which  have  a  short  tube. 
This  information  is  perhaps  a  little  tedious,  but  may  be  of  value  to 
some,  as  giving  an  indication  of  some  of  the  features  of  the  modes  of 
classiflcation  adopted  by  the  eminent  botanist  who  has  studied  the  Irises 
with  such  valuable  results. 
For  the  reader  who  prefers  a  simple  account  of  the  flower  and  what 
it  is  like,  it  may  be  said  that  Iris  pumila  is  a  dwarf  Flag-leaved  Iris, 
A  most  charming  and  somewhat  novel  manner  of  utilising  I.  pumila 
var.  bicolor  with  Aubrietia  Leichtlini  is  shown  in  the  illustration 
(fig.  77).  The  typical  Iris  pumila  can  be  employed  in  a  similar  manner, 
and  in  either  case  the  effect  is  sure  to  please.  As  is  well  known  both 
plants  are  hardy,  and,  what  is  even  more  desirable,  they  will  thrive  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  towns. — A. 
- - 
Curl  In  Peach  I,eaves. — Prof.  Tait,  of  the  Michigan  Experiment 
Station,  says  that  he  has  perfect  success  in  preventing  leaf  curl  in  the 
Peach  tree  by  the  use  of  a  solution  of  1  lb.  of  sulphate  of  copper  in 
26  gallons  of  water,  used  as  a  spray  from  four  to  six  weeks  before  the 
buds  open,  and  if  every  bud  is  reached  there  will  be  no  curled  leaves. 
An  application  two  or  three  weeks  before  the  buds  open  would  be  less 
effectual,  and  should  not- be  relied  upon.  After  the  fruit  has  set  use 
Bordeaux  mixture  and  arsenic  for  curculio,  brown  rot,  and  leaf  blight. 
