4-13 
 R3M 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 ANNEX 
 
 2 
 
THE IRIS, 
 
 Oh beautiful! beautiful flower! 
 The ward of the sunbeam and shower 
 ' In garments of woven delight, 
 Of the sunset, Aurora and light. 
 While over thy beauty there plays 
 Such blending of color and shade. 
 Such delicate tinting and rays, 
 Well becoming a heavenly maid. 
 Ethereal lovely and sweet, 
 Thy presence we joyously greet. 
 
 Thy Mother, fair Iris, in beauty supreme. 
 Took all her rich fabrics of loveliest sheen, 
 The robes of the rainbow, flower garden of air, 
 Of bewildering beauty, resplendently fair, 
 And made for lier child such a dazzling dress 
 No daughter of royalty e'er could possess. 
 
 Though her form seems so fragile, yet wondrously bravi , 
 
 Away in the Northland where fierce tempest rave, 
 
 She wakes from her sleep in her cradle of snow 
 
 And beams on the world with a radiant glow. 
 
 Away on the plains in the drought and the heat, 
 
 Slie is cheerfully waiting admirers to greet. 
 
 To her fairy presence must ever belong 
 
 The tribute of praise and the rapture of song. 
 
 — C. S. Harrison. 
 
 TO BROTHER NURSERYMEN AND FLORISTS. 
 
 Why this almost total neglect of one of the most beautiful families 
 of flowers Qn which the sun shines? 
 
 A firm selling $200,000 worth of stock a year tell me "There is 
 no call for them. We hardly sell 100 a year." WHY DON'T YOU 
 MAKE A CALL? Fifteen years ago you could hardly sell a peony. Three 
 editions of the peony manual scattered broadcast have made a differ- 
 ence. Last fall we had to turn down a call for 35,000. 
 
 Is not your business something more than dollar chasing? Is it 
 right to let "Tom, Dick and Harry" set the pace and you fall in the 
 rear and let them run things. Why not enter on a wide campaign of 
 publicity. We have done something to introduce this flower. We 
 have found more cash and pleasure in it than in anything we ever 
 handled. We sell 25,000 a year. You could do as well or better. Why 
 ignore this boon to the public — this broad field of pleasure and profit. 
 
C. S. HARRISON 
 
 Author of Evergreens. Manual on the Peony, the Phlox and the Iris 
 Being complete up-to-date works. 
 
 25 Cents each in Stamps. 
 
FLOREKTIXA ALBA 
 
DEDICATED TO MY SONS 
 
 W. A. and H. S. Harrison who by persistence and untiring energy 
 have forged to the front in the ranks of Horticulture, winning a large 
 place in public esteem, doing their part to make this a more fruitful, 
 more beautiful and happier world. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 A TALK WITH MY FRIENDS. 
 
 Since 70 years of age, when worn with the arduous toil of pro- 
 fessional life I have been proclaiming the Gospel of Beauty which 
 stands next to the gospel of Grace. I write for papers having over a 
 million circulation, and have published the "Gold Mine in the Front 
 Yard, three editions of the Peony Manual, two of the Phlox, one on 
 Evergreens." "Adorning the Beu'ah Land of the Hither Shore" and 
 "How to be an Extinguished Minister," besides one edition of the 
 Iris Manual and now ready to issue another. 
 
 The Iris is such a num.erous family, continuing so long in bloom 
 and with some varieties of indiscribable beauty and as there is such a 
 broad field for new varieties that though nearly 83 years old I have 
 prayed that my life might be spared till I could introduce this wonder- 
 ful and charming family to the w;orId as the coming flower. 
 
 I am grateful for the cordial reception you have given my former 
 works and have endeavored to make "the last the best." 
 
 Beauty is Wealth. 
 
 Raise a plenty of it and be rich. No investment can pay better. 
 You build a new house at great expense and it begins to deteriorate 
 from the moment you enter it. In a short time your beautiful furni- 
 ture becomes second hand. 
 
 Out in your yard you plant a Silver Spruce or Radiant Concolor 
 which might cost $5. In a few years $100 could not buy it. You buy a 
 Chinese Tree Lilac for $1. It is destined to be a foot through and SO 
 feet tall, crowned with a mantle of snowy white, honey scented bloom, 
 one of the most attractive trees on earth. When in its fullness of 
 splendor money would not get it. 
 
 Peonies double every two years, which gives you SO per cent inter- 
 est on your money. And the radiant Iris in "garments of woven 
 delight" gives you ten from one in two years. Beautify your grounds 
 and double the value of your land. It makes a great difference 
 whether your yard is a landscape of beauty or a pasture for pigs or 
 a hospital for disabled machinery. 
 
 Flowers are an Aid to Health. 
 
 The happiness of the wife and mother depends much on her sur- 
 roundings. The soul of a woman hungers for the beautiful. Many a 
 woman has slowly pined away and died of starvation of soul. Give 
 her the companionship of the most beautiful, the purest, best dressed 
 and best behaved company on earth and her spirit is satisfied. 
 
HECTOR 
 
SHAKESPEARE 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 3 
 
 In the early days in a new country while my mother was raising 
 her children we did not know she cared much for flowers. But when 
 we were all gone she turned to their cultivation. One of the pleas- 
 antest memories of life was seeing her among her favorites who 
 welcomed her with their smiles. Her own dear white head like an 
 Eastern Lily among them and the fairest of all. She was preparing 
 to enter the land where "everlasting spring abides and never wither- 
 ing flowers.'' 
 
 We pity the noble women, heroines they are, who have helped 
 build the foundations of a mighty empire. How they have toiled and 
 suffered all along the line of the advancing frontier. Souls aching 
 for a little of the beauty which has been denied them. Do you know 
 a garden of flowers is the best Doctor a woman can have. Once on a 
 visit to Duluth I was invited to tea by one of the leading lawyers. His 
 wife was a charming and intelligent woman — a member of the Garden 
 Society. She used to be frail and sickly. I congratulated her on her 
 improved appearance. They had a new home with ample grounds 
 which they were improving. She said : "My flowers have done it. 
 I have gained 20 pounds working among them." 
 
 I had occasion to visit a young nurseryman whose mother had 
 a state wide reputation as a lecturer on Domestic Science. She was 
 among the foremost women of Minnesota. They were living in a log 
 house, rough on the outside but adorned with woman's skill till it was 
 homelike within. At the age of 66 she was in the best of health and 
 spirits. She had hired a woman to do the housework and she spent 
 her time out of doors. Her soul was responsive to the song of the 
 birds and the beauty of her flowers. 
 
 Coming home on that trip I saw a sad sight. A man was taking 
 his wife, the mother of six children to the Insane Asylum. Her life 
 had been one endless grind. Hers was a starved soul, nothing to 
 break the dull monotony of toil and there was one of the most piti- 
 ful wrecks as a result. A beautiful garden of flowers to break the 
 monotony would have saved herself and family. 
 
 I know a wealthy man who has a large family of girls but he don't 
 understand them or their soul needs. They love flowers and they 
 have ample grounds but he wants it all in glass. He pays thousands 
 of dolars for Doctor bills when $100 worth of flowers well arranged 
 woud buy far better results. When will husbands get acquainted with 
 their wives and fathers understand their daughters. 
 
 Beauty is for immortals. Did you ever see your horse or cow 
 go into raptures over the beauties of nature? 
 
 I have known the child of only 15 months who could not speak a 
 word of English go into raptures over the sunset when all the west 
 was flaming with splendor and the curtains of the evening were 
 painted with molten gems. And with the most graceful gestures, in 
 the unknown language of babyhood he poured forth the most elo- 
 
4 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 quent tribute to the "beauty of the Lord" to which we ever listened. 
 That thrilling oration of the baby boy was a revelation and an inspir- 
 ation. 
 
 We are destined for the Eternal Beauty. We spend but little 
 time down here. Up there we inherit the ages. Milleniums will come 
 and go but we will be young. The beauty of earth is prophetic of 
 what is in store for us. We are to stand on the shores of the glori- 
 fied vastness of God when the constellations will be like caskets of 
 gems, when the stars will shine in jewelled splendor. When the 
 Nebula will dissolve into gardens of delight reaching to the shores of 
 chaos and it will be harmony and beauty for ever. And the flashing 
 gems with their flames of splendor — the radiance of the morning and 
 the glow of evening, the vast fields of flowers God has planted from 
 the Tropics to the Arctics. The winsome loveliness of the rose, the 
 Peony, and the Iris with their neighboring flowers, the splendors 
 which crown the mountains, the tints and shades of cloud land are all 
 prophetic of the "Glory to be revealed." 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A Very Large Family. 
 
 There are about 170 native sorts. They belong mostly to the 
 Northern Hemisphere. You find them in Russia, Siberia, in the Hima- 
 laya mountains, in France, Germany, England, with numerous sorts 
 growing wild in North America. In New England, in Minnesota and 
 in Northwest Canada you see them in large quantities in their native 
 condition. They are by far the most numerous of all' the hardy per- 
 ennials. There are about thirty kinds of original peonies and nearly 
 SO kinds of columbines while there is quite a variety of the native 
 phlox. Though of so many species and varieties the Iris has not 
 received as much attention as others. Peonies have been improved 
 and multiplied till we now have about 3000 named sorts with a great 
 host to follow. For years experts have been at work on the phlox 
 with gratifying success. A new interest is being awakened for the Iris 
 and cheering results have been secured. Sir Michael Foster of Eng- 
 land has been an enthusiast with this flower and has produced some 
 fine crosses. Mr. C. G. Van Tubergen of Holland has also had splendid 
 success. W. J. Carparne of the Isle of Guernsey, has had encouraging 
 results in hybridizing the early Alpine dwarfs with later and stronger 
 varieties. We do not recommend the bulbous sorts for outdoor plant- 
 ing in the west or northwest. They will do well in some portions of 
 the east. But they do best in the green house. We do not recom- 
 mend the Japanese for the north, or the semi-arid regions. We have 
 had no end of trouble with them. In the open we have lost thousands 
 on thousands and now let them alone. We h?ve tried them under the 
 screen, and they have not been satisfactory. For a busy world we 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 5 
 
 want hardy things that will take an interest in the matter themselves. 
 If they are finical and fussy and want coddling all the time then we 
 want something else. However, the Japanese do well in California if 
 they can be shielded from the sun. Also in the moist and mild cli- 
 mate of the Atlantic states. Also in portions of the eastern middle 
 states, like Ohio. 
 
 In Minnesota people have planted them and gushed over them, 
 and had great hopes for them. Then some spring they woud never 
 wake from their death sleep. 
 
 We would say incidentally that there are other sorts that we 
 would not recomrnFnd though in themselves they may be very fine. 
 California Irises have been pronounced a failure by English experts. 
 They are all right in their own habitat but do not do well away from 
 home. The most beautiful Iris in the world is called Oncocyclus 
 from Palestine. Fortunes have been spent on them. They are very 
 particular and especially sensative. They must have their native con- 
 ditions. They must be grown in frames, must be watered while 
 flowering and as in the hot, dry climate they come from, they are 
 baked in the solid earth, they must have like conditions or they will 
 die. One writer says the beds must be very hard and firm. 'The Onco- 
 cyclus Irises never grant any pardon for an omission of duty regard- 
 ing them and we try to leave them no excuse for being sulky on our 
 hands. When the compost for the Irises has been prepared it is 
 thrown into the frames and then it is beaten down with spades with 
 all the force at our command and lest this should not be enough the 
 whole surface of the beds is covered with boards and I get men to 
 stamp on them and in this way compress the soil as much as possible." 
 
 If you want to buy lots of trouble you can get these fussy, dilet- 
 tante, particular flowers and exhaust yourself finding their caprices 
 and whims. Of course they are supremely beautiful but it don't pay 
 and you would stand nine chances out of ten for a failure. If one 
 is raising flowers one of the most important things is to learn what 
 not to do and then not do it. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Beauty of the Iris. 
 
 "Behold the Lilies how they grow." It is supposed this refers to 
 the Oncocyclus Irises of Palestine the most radiant of all the great 
 family. Unfortunately they are not adapted to Northern climates. 
 They thrive in California. We have however among our own those 
 that will rival them so it is possible for the lover of the beautiful to 
 surpass the glory of Solomon. 
 
 You have heard of that wonderful Persian garden of flowers, 90 
 feet wide 400 feet long made of the most precious of gems. The rich- 
 est jewels of earth paying tribute to our floral treasures. That cost 
 
6 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 millions on millions of dollars. You may not be able to secure such a 
 prize or even to look at it but while they last j^ou can have a garden 
 of rarer and more voluptous beauty and above will float a fragrance 
 which will be the breath of your flowers. 
 
 Will it not pay to, feed your appreciative soul with a beauty which 
 will for the time transcend the splendor of courts and the opulence of 
 King's palaces? 
 
 Think of their fascinating and alluring loveliness. They are named 
 from the Goddess Iris, the rainbow personified, who combined the 
 beauty of heaven and earth in their matchless robes. It would seem 
 as if she gathered the glory of the sunset, the beauty of the sun man- 
 tles, the tinting and coloring and the shading which play on mountain 
 and plain and wove them all in those opaline and irridescent robes with 
 which she has adorned her children. The marvelous veining and trac- 
 ery, and the delicate intermingling of colors give them a charm no 
 other flower possesses. Many of them have a delicious fragrance. 
 Some have a charming reflex like the richest silks which gives them a 
 resistless fascination. In fact when you take a mass of them of a 
 hundred kinds and see them all on dress parade, each vieing with the 
 other to see which can put on the most radiant appearance they seem 
 almost human in their efforts to dazzle and attract. But they have 
 this advantage; no gathering of royalty, no efforts of the select four 
 hundred, none of the elaborate trosseaus of Paris can compare with 
 the skill and high-art of the great florist as He has adorned the bril- 
 liant host to charm the eye and feed the soul. All the rays and tints 
 and colors of the rainbow are here — the concentrated beauty of cloud 
 and earth united and blended in a harmonious whole. 
 
 They are the best drouth resisters we have. Last season was 
 very hot and dry. Often the burning sirocco winds were blowing 
 fiercely with the mercury soaring above a hundred. 
 
 Let us Mention a Few of Them. 
 
 Crimean Pumila is a little dwarf later than our own Pumila. In 
 flower it fairly floods the plant with a great mass of purplish blue. 
 
 Maxine of our own production is a little later, royal purple and a 
 prolific bloomer. 
 
 Prairie Gem is golden — a profuse bloomer. 
 
 And here is the sweet Dorothea with her broad bloom six inches 
 across and with a smile of welcome lasting a long time. How winsome 
 she is — you want to visit her every day. 
 
 Here is Loreley. You are arrested and held spell bound by her 
 beauty — petals sprinkled with violet, a large glorious flower. 
 
 Perfection, well named. Tall and queenly with a profusion of 
 bloom of radiant and glistening purple. 
 
 Elegans has white flowers dashed and splashed with violet. 
 
 Fairy is tall and queenly emitting the odor of peach blooms. 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 7 
 
 Her Majesty has large bright red and fragrant blooms. 
 Monsignor is rich satiny violet and velvety crimson purple. 
 English Black Prince is best of all, absolutely defying description.' 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A Word to Buyers. 
 
 You will probably have a list from a responsible dealer. Don't ask 
 for everything listed in this book. No dealer, either in Europe or 
 America can have them all. Write your name plainly. While your 
 handwriting and your name may be perfectly familiar to yourself it 
 may not be so to strangers. We often get letters with names so- 
 carelessly written that they would apply to half a dozen persons. 
 Some forget to sign their names at all. Some neglect to give their 
 postoffice address and then wonder why their letters are not 
 answered. Some, in packing season when time is worth at least a 
 dollar an hour will write a long letter and want $10 worth of informa- 
 tion for a two cent stamp and when we suggest a manual at 2Sc to 
 cover the whole ground and more, then we are grafters. 
 
 Should mistakes occur as they sometimes will, write toyour dealer 
 instead of going to your neighbor and cry fraud. 
 
 As to names it is barely possible that your dealer is better 
 informed than you are. Many kinds have half a dozen names and the 
 dealer may not know which to apply. This was the trouble with 
 Peonies until the matter was straightened out at Ithica when it was 
 found that Edulis Superba was staggering iinder 25 names. Among 
 the Iris Sans Souci has about six names. American Black Prince as 
 many more. Florentina Alba three. Some of the most reliable dealers 
 may make mistakes. A Philadelphia firm sent us Mad. Chereau for 
 Her Majesty. A Chicago firm sent us Palida Crusader for Palida Dal- 
 matica. Some times varieties are packed so carelessly it is impossible 
 to tell which is which. From one of the most careful dealers we 
 received Palida Perfecta for Palida Speciosa. In a shipment from 
 England we got by mistake an English Black Prince, the finest in the 
 world and we never registered a kick against it. Once we sent for 
 Caprice and got Mesopotamia worth three times as much. 
 
 -Again, Iris do not alway bloom alike. The}' vary witth the sea- 
 sons. One year which was moist and rainy we had a singular experi- 
 ence. Palida Dalmatica and Albert Victor seem to be twin sisters 
 with this exception. Albert Victor has paler blue flowers, is more 
 hardy, less subject" to root rot and a much better multiplier. But for 
 a wonder that season- Palida Dalmatica had the pale blue and Albert 
 Victor the deep blue. But this change of colors never occurred but 
 once. Often the buyer will sit in harsh judgment on matters he does 
 not understand. Sometimes a dealer when short will send to a 
 brother dealer and get "stock not true to name. He sells it and there 
 
8 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 is no end of trouble. But as soon as he finds out the mistake he is 
 glad to make good. So if trouble occurs report directly to him and 
 not to your neighbors for he and not they is the one to make good. 
 But first be sure you are right. You cannot always tell the first year 
 what you are getting — only if you have bought a red you do not want 
 a white. In that case you can tell with the first year blooms. 
 
 Your plants may fail to grow because you ordered them sent at 
 the wrong time. Often we get orders from the North to have Iris 
 sent the first of May — the worst season possible. They are then 
 ready to bloom and the shock of cutting them back and shipping is 
 too niuch for them. You blame the dealer when he has used the 
 utmost care and you are the one to blame. 
 
 Again perhaps you have planted them too deep. The German 
 family have a tendency to work out of the ground and expose their 
 roots to the sun. So in planting be sure and put the bud only two 
 inches below the surface. 
 
 Perhaps we have said too much about mistakes. Gradually as in 
 the case of the Peonies the names are being straightened out and 
 dealers generally test varieties before sending out. So great is the 
 improvemesnt on this line that a firm can send out thousands with 
 not a stray among them. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 To Growers and Dealers. 
 
 In packing it is highly necessary to understand the nature of the 
 Iris. We used to get packages from dealers who used wet moss and 
 they came rotten and had to be replaced. 
 
 In importing from Europe we always insist that they be packed 
 dry. Shavings are generally used and they will come from Holland 
 and England as fresh as if just dug. As the Iris gathers and stores 
 moisture in its roots it does not need damp packing like other per- 
 ennials. Once by mistake we left a bundle of King of Iris two weeks 
 on the ground in the sun, in early September. As they did not appear 
 greatly damaged we planted them and every one lived. 
 
 Often we keep Iris over winter. The best way is to take up the 
 clumps with the dirt on them and put them in a cool cellar. You 
 can throw leaves over them and let them freeze and the frost will 
 come out gradually without injury. If you ship to the North you can 
 keep them back in this way or if you ship to the South you can have 
 them ready before you can dig from the field. 
 
 August is the best time to plant them, especially in the North. 
 The}' should go by express in strong paper boxes such as are used by 
 grocers. You will not need any packing. If you use any use shavings 
 or dry excelsior. 
 
 Though August is the very best time yet you can plant on till 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 9 
 
 ground freezes except in the Northern states. When the ground is wet 
 we have successfully planted— cutting the tops off, while in full bloom, 
 sometimes you have a mixture and you know from the bloom what 
 they are and you can make sure in blooming time. The worst possi- 
 ble time for transplanting Iris is just before blooming when the shock 
 is too much for them. Early spring does very well. Be patient with 
 complaints. People will often judge the first blooms and think they 
 have ben defrauded. Let them wait another year to know what they 
 have. 
 
 We have done our utmost to get the tangle out of the names and 
 yet there will be dissatisfaction because so many names have been 
 applied to one kind. Take American Black Prince which is a glorious 
 fte>weF',--the earliest of the German*. It bassafhad a dozen names. We 
 have been censured for calling it. Black Prince because there is Black 
 Prince in England, the latest of all and the most beautiful of all. An 
 investigation proves that the American has indisputed possesion of 
 that name over 20 years and the English was born IS years ago and 
 should have had another name. American dealers to avoid confusion 
 have called it Black Knight and it should be changed to that. The 
 English is a very slow multiplier and our stock cost $2 per root. The 
 American is a very rapid multiplier and we have had it about 14 years. 
 It can now be sold for $2 per hundred. The American is the earliest 
 of the family and the English the latest and most glorious. 
 
 Do not plant too deep. Put the bud about 2 inches below the sur- 
 face and then some kinds will lift themselves up to get the heat and 
 the sun. 
 
 Be careful with your stakes. Have good strong ones, white pine 
 is the best. Give them a priming coat, write the names on the stakes 
 with a weather proof pencil. Then with a small brush just touch the 
 name lightly with boiled oil to keep the weather from wearing it off. 
 Keep watch of your stakes carefully. It is well to have a diagram also. 
 Sometimes a mischevious boy will think it great fun to pull up your 
 stakes or change them. 
 
 THE IRIS IS A BOON FOR AN IMMENSE REGION WHERE 
 OTHER FLOWERS CANNOT GROW. Without extra care you can- 
 not, in the semi-arid region raise roses, phlox or even Peonies. The 
 Iris will endure heat and drouth the best of any flower. One year we 
 had but two inches of rain during the three summer months. We dug 
 some in August when the ground was as dry as an ash heap just from 
 the furnace. We found the roots had gathered the moisture and held 
 it. They were full, plump and vigorous and when planted or shipped 
 they were ready for business. They grow in the cemeteries of Arizona 
 on those hot, dry mesas, on the sand hills of Northern Nebraska and 
 on the plains of Colorado, Idaho and Montana. They grow without 
 irrigation in many parts of California, gathering strength from winter 
 rains for spring flowering, though in these dry regions they need care- 
 ful cultivation to do their best. 
 
10 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Precautions Against Root Rot. 
 
 In the spring of 1915 complaints came from Northern Minnesota, 
 especially from Duluth that many Iris had winterkilled. I went up 
 and looked over the situation and found in those regions where the 
 greatest trouble existed that the soil was heavy clay which held the 
 moisture on the surface. Fields near deep ravines were covered with 
 water. The surface drainage was poor and as the clay was so reten- 
 tive the Iris roots which cannot endure much wet had succumbed. 
 There was no humus in the soil. I told them they must mix sand 
 with their clay and make raised beds about -ten feet wide and have 
 them rounded in the center so the water could run off. Rows could 
 be made 18 inches apart and put them 6 inches apart in the row so it 
 would take but a small space for a large number. I told them also 
 that they had better throw a light mulching over them in the winter 
 and spade it in in the spring and so give the land more humus. 
 
 Some kinds are more sensative to rot than others. The great 
 Palida Dalmatica cannot endure water soaked soil. One grower in 
 Minnesota has discarded them altogether. Maori King is another 
 which cannot endure wet feet. One year they were so bad I threw 
 them all away but there was such a demand for them that we got more 
 Holland and chose a spot where the soil was friable and porus and 
 put them in a raised bed and had no trouble. 
 
 I noticed in the North a great difference in the power of resist- 
 ance even in the Rhizomatous group. Chalcedonia did not mind condi- 
 tions that were fatal to others. The Siberian Iris were not at all 
 affected. The Acorus and Giganteas were entirely immune and Sylvia 
 Nymph was unharmed. While these kinds are not sensitive to cold 
 and wet they cannot endure the heat quite as well as the Germans 
 though I do not believe we lost any through our terrible drouths. 
 
 Protection. 
 
 When ever grown in the cold north,- or out on the plains or in the 
 south, the Iris should have protection. It is so etherially beautiful 
 and so delicately fragile it should not be subjected to rough usage and 
 the buffeting of the storms. Whenever seen in its native state it has 
 chosen some quiet spot, some sheltered space near some pond or in 
 one of natures silent places where it can make that beautiful toilet 
 without molestation. It is not found growing naturally in a bleak 
 and wind-swept spot. In fact all flowers should be protected. They 
 cannot be at their best when crippled and bruised by the fierce storms 
 which sweep^over the land. It is asking too much of them to go from 
 an embowered and secluded home out into the vast bleakness of the 
 naked prairies. 
 
AX IRIS FIELD 
 
ALI'JXE IRIS 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 11 
 
 Since the new process of propagating the Rouen Lilac on Ash 
 roots they can be multiplied with great rapidity and sold very cheap, 
 as low as $5 per hundred. This lilac is a cross between the Persian 
 and the old Vulgaris. It blooms later than the old sort and produces 
 an immense amount of flowers and while in bloom it is one of the 
 most attractive shrubs we have and it makes a splendid wind break 
 and is hardy in the extreme North. 
 
 A fine windbreak can- also be made from the Bush Honey suckles. 
 There are several kinds of the Tartarians, among them the golden 
 berry and the Grandiflora with itts large pink flowers and brilliant 
 red berries. 
 
 The Ruprechta. 
 
 This is a compact, rapid growing bush frorh Manchuria and is fast 
 coming into favor. It also is covered by a blanket of light colored 
 flowers, followed by masses of berries. It would take but a short 
 time for a splendid shelter. But we think the very best is Grandiflora 
 Rosea Tartarica. This is of upright habit, a rapid grower with large 
 bright red flowers, striped with white. The blooms are deliciously 
 fragrant, the flowers followed by large bright red berries. We can- 
 not emphasize this matter too strongly. Every spring you will note 
 the great difference between the protected and the unprotected flowers. 
 
 One year we had a clump of Festiva Maxima peonies south of 
 the house on which we counted 65 large flower buds, all striving to 
 open and cover the plant with a mantle of the purest white. Out in 
 the wind-swept field we had 500 of the same kind and it took on 
 the average three clumps to produce one flower. This is on account 
 of the full sweep of the fierce northwest wind which nips the flowers 
 in the bud. Irises open all right in the open but they are so etherially 
 beautiful, the wind soon despoils them of that exquisite delicacy and 
 fragile loveliness we so much admire. A royal family would not 
 think of buffeting the fierce storms out in the open in full court dress. 
 Your hedge will be in full leaf and bloom about the time many of the 
 flowers open. 
 
 First come the Columbines, such an immense family — all striving 
 to see which can attract the most attention. Like a troup of merry 
 little girls, each coyly inviting inspection of her pretty dress and 
 without saying it, rather hinting that hers is the finest. In that 
 secluded spot they grow taller and the blooms are larger and more 
 beautiful than in the open. We have had them grow four feet tall 
 under good protection, when without it they would not be over 
 eighteen inches. In fact, a flower to do its best should have the very 
 best chance. Here are the bleeding hearts and how they do enjoy 
 this serene quiet. Then come the glowing Oriental poppies (perennial) 
 wonderful flowers, some of them nine inches across — a bed of them 
 like a sea of fire. They do not like such heavy headgear to be buf- 
 
12 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 fetted by the winds any more than a girl with her two bushel hat 
 would like to be caught in a wind storm. 
 
 Then come the resplendent Irises. One looks at them, especially 
 the newer sorts in their quiet beauty, and language fails. They are 
 so winsome and etherially delicate. They give a hint of both worlds, 
 presenting us with the fairest this earth affords and at the same time 
 there is something prophetic about them of beauty not yet revealed. 
 
 This place is their paradise. They can put on their resplendent 
 garments without the rebuke of the storms. Here they unfold all their 
 charms. The lure of their beauty is indescribable. While in bloom 
 you hover over them and see that veining, interweaving and blending 
 of tint and shading you cannot describe. That irridescent glow we 
 imagine is the smile of the dazzling goddess from which they are 
 named. They hold and fascinate you and throw a spell over you. You 
 go and come again. You linger and ponder in delightful revery. You 
 are seeing them at their best. They much prefer to make their toilet 
 in seclusion than to dress in all out of doors. Here the peonies 
 begin to bloom until that large bed is overwhelmed with them. 
 There are lillies, the platycodons, the phlox, the stately bocconias 
 and lupines. You have a full menagerie of loveliness all your own. 
 
 While the flowers are at their best, the hedge seems to say 
 "Now I will take a hand at this myself" and lo it is covered with a 
 mantle of fragrance and beauty. Each bush in courtly dress keeping 
 guard over the charming wards within. The honeysuckle is very 
 fragrant — the perfume fills the arena mingling with the sweet breath 
 of the flowers and filling all the surrounding air. 
 
 And you have done all this yourself. You got four hundred 
 cuttings and planted that space and filled it with beauty. You stand 
 there with a higher appreciation of yourself and of your possibilities. 
 The trouble with the average man is he uses but a small part of 
 himself. Let him work up all his powers and reach out and take 
 his own and he will wonder who this fellow is and he will feel like 
 taking off his hat to himself. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Raising New Sorts. 
 
 Many kinds will not seed at all. Others seed sparingly. Pick off 
 the seed pods as soon as ripe. Don't put them in a can or tight box. 
 Spread them out to let them dry without moulding. Better keep the 
 seeds in the pod till you are ready to plant. 
 
 Some plant as soon as ripe. Cover them with about a half inch 
 of light earth or sand and then spread over them a light coating of 
 leaf mold. They will come up in the spring. Sometimes we keep the 
 seed until the ground thaws out in the spring and plant early, cover 
 lightly, and in both cases cover the bed with a screen. They bloom 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 13 
 
 in about three years and as they multiply very rapidly you will soon 
 find out what you are doing and I can imagine you hovering over 
 the bed enraptured by the view of your new treasures and shaking 
 hands with yourself. For you will rise in value in your own estima- 
 tion and what you have done will lure you on to yet greater triumphs.. 
 
 On the Verge of an Undiscovered Realm. 
 
 Several Iris growers have commenced the propagation of new- 
 sorts. In our own case we have been amazed at the results. We have 
 succeeded in raising some new dwarfs which surpass anything yet 
 put on the market. One year we saved seeds from the reds and raised 
 20 of that color, two-of them surpassing anything in our collection. A 
 successful and enthusiastic propagator in Minnesota has been sur- 
 prised by most encouraging results. Some of radiant, glistening sheen. 
 One with glittering silver which is dazzling in the sunlight. Another 
 of marvelous size. Others unique in form and color. Seeds of these 
 rare ones are to be saved so in a short time we will have a host of 
 splendid new ones surpassing the old. This man has a bed of mixed 
 ones of the old sorts but the new seedlings far surpass them, so many 
 that have been favorites in the past will give place to the newer and 
 finer ones and the process of growing new varieties is so simple that 
 a child can raise them and before you will be the charm of new dis- 
 coveries. Only don't put any but the very best on the market. There 
 is a tendency to flood the market with new ones regardless of their 
 merit, and then float them to popular favor with printers ink. Orig- 
 inators of Peonies' have greatly erred in this respect and the writer 
 among others. It is estimated among careful propagators that only 
 one in a thousand of seedling Peonies is worth saving. We have 
 saved only 30 out of 30 pounds of Peony seed. 
 
 I think the proportion among seedling Iris is somewhat better. 
 But unless you have something fully as good or a little better don't 
 save it. But I am sure that just over in the unknown there are 
 beauties no eye has yet seen and you may be the one to bring them 
 into notice. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Marvelous Diversity of Foliage. 
 
 While all the families of this flower show the same general 
 characteristics called ensiform or sword like, yet there is such a wide 
 divergence as between the little blue eyed grass Iris and the broad 
 Pallida Dalmatica that the diference is very striking. Some like the 
 Pumila are but six inches tall and others like the Gigantea and 
 Acorus will often be five and even six feet tall. The difference 
 between the Pallida and the Siberian group is striking. The wide 
 
14 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 diversity of foliage is one of the charms of this great family. The 
 colors also vary from light to deep green and we have the striped or 
 variegated forms as in the case of folis varigata, of the waterside 
 group, and the pallida variegated with its stripes of silver and gold. 
 
 There is often a prejudice against the Iris because some kinds 
 turn dingy in the summer which makes the beds unsignhtly. Espe- 
 cially is this the case with the Black Prince and the Florentina Alba. 
 But most kinds retain their freshness until late in the fall. Most of 
 the Palidas keep green. The charming Fairy and most of the Inter- 
 mediates, the Acorus, Monspurs and Giants retain their freshness all 
 summer. 
 
 There i.s an increasing family of the Dwarfs, many of them of rare 
 beauty. In blooming they follow each other in rapid succession. Then 
 come the growing family of Intermediates. They lead you on to the 
 early Germans, American Black Prince and Florentina Alba. 
 
 If you plant in a circle you can put the tallest in the center, then 
 those not so tall next, then the Interrhediates and outside the dwarts. 
 
 We are often called, to furnish diagrams for a succession of 
 blooms. This i)lan will take about 20 to 30 varieties. The rows are 
 numbered and then the plants are numbered to match the rows. The 
 first row will be Pumila. The next Pumila Golden, then some a little 
 later. Then come the early Intermediates, then the mediums. Next 
 the early Germans, then the medium Germans and next the lates 
 Germans. Then the Monspurs and last the Giganteas. This plan gives 
 an ascending series as to height and with it a succession of bloom 
 which continues over two months. If your bed is large enough, every 
 morning you may have a fresh visitor to greet you witth her winning 
 smiles. As they increase so rapidly, about ten from one in two years 
 you need but a few on the start and then you can reconstruct your 
 bed on a larger scale. 
 
 The Iris for Forcing. 
 
 Take some strong clumps, not too large, say two or three years 
 old. Leave the earth on them, take them up just before the ground 
 freezes, put them in large pots and place in a cool cellar. It will not 
 hurt them to freeze. If they do let the frost come out gradually. 
 Then bring them up to the light and put them in the South window 
 and you can have flowers through February and March, and by plant- 
 ing white ones you can have beautiful Easter flowers and with care 
 you can cover almost half the year with Iris blooms. Grown in the 
 house they will be more beautiful and delicate than if grown out of 
 doors. 
 
 You can force the different colors if you wish and have some of 
 pjnk, -some red, others snowy white and of various other shades. The 
 expense will be small and the results extremely satisfactory-. Shelt- 
 ered from the weather they will continue longer in bloom than out 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 15 
 
 of doors. Other winter flowers are expensive but these you can secure 
 at little cost and when you get started you can get them from your 
 own garden. It will be found that this immense family will furnish 
 such a variety in bloom and in color they will be a constslnt surprise 
 and delight. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 The Rapid Increase of the Iris is Greatly in its Favor. 
 
 Even the choicest varieties are seldom over SOc apiece and fine 
 common sorts can be had at from five to twenty-five cents each. For 
 $10.00 you can get fifty, two of a kind. In a little while one becomes 
 a large clump and then a divided clump becomes a mass. With 
 peonies it is different. The best kinds are expensive. We have paid 
 from three to ten dollars a root for them and if they will double 
 every year they will do well. Many kinds of the Iris will increase 
 ■ five times as fast. Take those standard sorts, the beautiful Chalce- 
 donia or -Delicata and you will often get thirty from one in two or 
 three years. 
 
 Some people are born faddists. They take to one thing and 
 want nothing else. One is an expert with the roses. Another goes 
 into raptures over the Dahlia until you ask him about its fragrance. 
 Another wants nothing but peonies — another finds phloxes all he 
 needs. But we want them all. A well balanced flower garden will 
 have the best the world affords and it will be incomplete if any of the 
 successful standard flowers are wanting. And a person does not need 
 many things that must be nursed and coddled all the time. He wants 
 flowers that are interested in the matter themselves — that will not 
 be too sensitive or sulky if things don't go exactly to their liking. 
 Yet all plants have their idiosyncrasies or individuality. One needs 
 to an_d really delights to study their likes and dislikes and tries to 
 find out their preference as he would the wishes of invited guests. 
 There is an education which no one can have except he is in close 
 touch with his plants. It will help some to read up about them and 
 he may get some information from others but the very best informa- 
 tion he can get is from the flowers themselves. Here he gets his 
 knowledge first hand. For instance a man plants a fine lot of phloxes. 
 He puts them on a ridge. There comes a dry time. He has not culti- 
 vated the ground and he finds them drying up. He goes over to 
 a neighbor and finds his are all right. Phloxes are shallow rooted 
 plants and his neighbor planted them rather deep and in a depression 
 instead of planting shallow on a ridge. Then the ground was well 
 cultivated so the moisture was retained and these were enduring dry 
 weather all right. A man must watch things. I visited a friend in Chi- 
 cago. He was trying to raise grapes. Said he "they are not doing well, 
 I took the very best care of them, I had a load of manure put in each 
 hole and then had the grapes planted on it." Poor things, they 
 
L6 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 were dying with dyspepsia. He would have been sick himself if 
 he had to eat a whole ox at a meal. We get choice things and 
 want to do the best we can by them and over do it. 
 
 A gentleman in Minnesota bought a lot of peonies. A year 
 later he asked me to see them. - I went. They were poor dwarfed, 
 sickly things. Said I "I know just what you did. You dug a trench, 
 filled it with manure, fresh at that, then put in the roots and covered 
 them with manure in winter. You have surfeited them. This fall take 
 them up and put them in a fresh piece of ground that has not been 
 enriched lately and you will save them." I dug up one poor thing. It 
 had the club foot. It could not possibly throw out any young roots. 
 All the sustenance had to come through absorption from the old dis- 
 -£ased root. 
 
 In the case of Irises. A man will find the tops wilting and falling 
 ■nff the rhizome. What is the cause? Wet feet probably and too 
 much manure. Yet these perennials, are hardy and when you under- 
 stand their needs and keep on the right side of them 30U are all 
 right. You have two neighbors, one on each side of you. You wish 
 to be on the best terms with them, but they are entirely different and 
 "what would please one would not please the other. But you soon 
 find out their peculiarity and treat them accordingly. Some Irises, like 
 the Japs, want wet feet at blooming time. The same treatment will 
 not suit the German varieties. The Acorus family and man3' of our 
 wild native sorts will bloom in water, a condition which would rot 
 other kinds. The Germaiis like well drained ground on which water 
 does not stand. They require good cultivation and are the easiest 
 things to handle we have if we humor their peculiarities. You might 
 put the Pseudo Acorus up to its knees in water but you treat a peony 
 that way and you drown it in a week. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Twently=five Best Sorts and Classification. 
 
 DWARFS— 
 
 Cyanea. Indigo blue. 
 Maxine. Fine purple. 
 Prairie Gem. Golden. 
 Royal Purple. 
 
 INTERMEDIATE— 
 
 Loreley. Radiantly beautiful. Petals cream mottled. 
 
 Dorothea. White veined blue, large and lovely. 
 
 Halfdan. Creamy white. 
 
 Ingeborg. Large white. 
 
 Princess Victoria Louise. Primrose and purple. 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 17 
 
 STANDARD SORTS— 
 
 English Black Prince. Finest known. 
 
 Monsignor. Next in beauty. 
 
 Macrantha. Immense purple. 
 
 Caterina. New and fine. Lilac blue, very fragrant. 
 
 Nibelugen. Fawn and purple. 
 
 Atropurpurea. Large, brilliant purple. 
 
 King of Iris. Maroon and gold. 
 
 Caprice. Rosy red. 
 
 Queen of May. Pink. 
 
 Her Majesty. Large red. 
 
 Perfection. Large, brilliant purple. 
 
 Fairy. Tall white with odor of peach blossom. 
 
 American Black Prince. Early purple. 
 
 Florentina Alba. Large early white. 
 
 Palida Dalmatica. Tall blue. 
 
 Classification. 
 
 We have to take the established classification without knowing 
 why. 
 
 For instance Palida is palid or pale and Caprice, Mad Pacquette 
 and Perfecta are red. 
 
 Squalens seems a hard name for a beautiful flower. 
 
 Why Neglecta should be applied to Perfection and the English 
 Black Prince is beyond our ken for they are anything but neglected. 
 
 Why some of the latest and most beautiful should be called Spurea 
 we know not but we cannot revolutionize things. 
 
 We are indebted to Mrs. Jennie Dean of California for the lists 
 here given and express our thanks for her patient research. She has 
 secured the best works the world affords including Dykes great work 
 costing $35 and we are sure that the list and classification is as cor- 
 rect as can be made. 
 
 The Further Classification of the Iris. 
 
 These may be subdivided into four groups. The Bulbous, the 
 Spanish, English and Junos with bulbs like Tulips. 
 
 The Rhizomatous embracing what are called the Germans (though 
 most of them never saw Germany.) Also the dwarfs and Intermedi- 
 ates. Those spread from the parent plant like potatoes. 
 
 The Tufted are the Japanese and the Siberian. 
 
 The Fingered are the Longipetalla, the Monspur and the Sylvia 
 Nymph discovered by the writer growing on the bare bluffs of the 
 Black Hills where the mercury touches 40 below. 
 
18 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 Hermodactylus Tuberosa. 
 
 There is no accounting for the names botanists give to innocent 
 plants. Here is a variety Avith a fingered root sto'-.k, different from 
 the three classes we have given and it is called Hermodactylus, fingers 
 of Hermes. Who was Hermes ? One of the Gods of Grecian Mythology. 
 Tradition has it that the little rascal got out of his crade and stole 
 a drove of cattle and then lied about it. He was a cunning thief 
 and called light fingered. "What resemblance a scientist can find 
 between an innocent plant and the fingers of a thief we can not 
 understand, but the name is there and it sticks and we have to use it. 
 
 This is also called snake's head and sometimes the widow Iris. 
 We humbly confess we can't see the resmblance. When we see 
 a mourning widow, a snake's head is the last thing we would think 
 of. This mourning Iris, though very dark in color is regarded as 
 very beautiful. Some times the root is unbranched and often it will 
 have three or four finger branches. This is rare, and I know of 
 no one in American that keeps it. It is considered a- success in the 
 Botanic Gardens of Cambridge, England, however. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Irises for the Great Southwest. 
 
 "The Iris family is splendidly adapted to the semi-arid states, and 
 some of the species that do not thrive elsewhere unless protected or 
 grown under glass, do remarkably well with us in the open. The 
 Spanish Iris for instance, grows to perfection, as also others of the 
 bulbous species not so well known as yet. 
 
 There seems to be an impression that all Irises require a great 
 deal of moisture. As a matter of fact most of the Germanica type do 
 well with much less moisture than many other plants, as the large 
 fleshy rhizome stores up so much moisture, and the broad foliage 
 attracts much more moisture from the atmosphere than one would 
 suppose, if they had not deserved their habits during the dry season. 
 With some species it is necessary that water be withheld during the 
 summer months. The Spuria Group of Irises do not require much if 
 any more moisture than the Germanica type, and even Pseudo-acorus, 
 the water Iris, does well with a reasonable amount of irrigation during 
 the dry season. 
 
 In selecting Irises for the drier sections, it is best to plant the 
 stronger growing varieties, as they will give the best satisfaction. 
 Your grower can tell you which these are. 
 
 ^^'e visited a place last summer where we had sold a fine col- 
 lection of Irises three years previously, expecting to see some fine 
 plants. The gardener said the soil was not suited to them. It cer- 
 tainly looked as though something was wrong, for he showed us a 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 19 
 
 sickly looking lot of plants. They were planted in a bed on a large 
 lawn where they were kept thoroughly soaked with water, and also 
 to make matters worse, were heavily mulched with fresh horse 
 manure. The only wonder was a plant survived to tell the tale. They 
 could have stood the moisture if they had been given proper drainage, 
 but the bed was perfectly level. A short distance from this bed was 
 a Palm, and planted around it was a row of Irises as fine a lot of plants 
 as one would wish to see. They were planted two or three feet from 
 the Palm, with a shallow trench between the Palm and Irises, which 
 afforded sufficient drainage. 
 
 We received an order from a party in Montana two or three years 
 ago, for some Iris to plant in a cemetery. They said it was about 
 the only plant that wou'd do well there that was adapted to the pur- 
 pose, that did not require watering. We heard only a few days since 
 that the plants gave perfect satisfaction. 
 
 Seasons vary everywhere, and the rainfall varies,, and as almost 
 without exception, anyone who has a garden has some means of apply- 
 ing water, it is well to water the Irises as the plants make a better 
 appearance, and the blooming period in place of being a few weeks, 
 covers several months if one has much of a collection. Mrs. Allan Gray 
 for instance, blooms with us in June-July, and gives much better results 
 if kept fairly moist by irrigation, after the rainy season is over. Crim- 
 son King on the other hand does remarkably well without irrigation, 
 which makes its second crop of bloom at the same time as Mrs. Allan 
 Gray blooms. If irrigated however, it makes longer stems and some- 
 what finer flowers. The Germanicas and some others of this type will 
 bloom at intervals throughout the summer, some making quite a 
 full crop of bloom with the necessary moisture given them. 
 
 So many Irises are natives of a climate similar to our own, both 
 as regards wet and dry seasons, as well as temperature, that it is not 
 strange they readily adapt themselves to our conditions." 
 
 THE DEAN IRIS GARDENS. 
 
 Moneta. California. 
 
 Prof. J. J. Thornber, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona,, 
 writes that in the trying climate of his state it is impossible to raise 
 peonies and phloxes, but he has nearly 100 varieties of Iris that are 
 making good He says : 
 
 "Irises constitute one of our largest groups of hardy perennial 
 flowers; there are in cultivation now more than 170 species, with 
 varieties almost too numerous to mention. When once established, an 
 Iris bed should not be disturbed any more than is necessary, since 
 ordinarily the plants do not blossom well the first year after being 
 set. 
 
 Because of their general hardiness, and especially the drought 
 resistant qualities of a large number of them, particularly the German 
 Irises, they are admirably adapted for planting in southwestern 
 
20 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 gardens. There are few flowers that are as uniformly successful in 
 Arizona, with our wide range of growing conditions, as the Iris. They 
 can 'endure some alkali, strong light, thrive in heavy or light soils, 
 grow with much or little irrigation and endure prolonged drought and 
 heat. With their surface growing rhizomes they can even tolerate 
 poor drainage. To be moderately successful, they require only the 
 most ordinary culture. On account of the ease and success with which 
 they grow, they should find a place in every garden. It is interesting 
 to know that a number of rare Irises from Palestine and Syria which 
 are grown with difficulty in the Eastern states, blossom and come to 
 perfection in the mild climate of Arizona and California. 
 
 The writer knows of plants that have grown for several years on 
 dry Arizona mesas with only the scant rainfall and the occasional 
 flood water that collected in the basins surrounding them. In the 
 heavy red clay soil in the cemetery of one of our larger Arizona min- 
 ing towns. Irises are much planted and succeed beyond expectation. 
 When established there, they grow and blossom year after year with 
 little care, and they have come to be known to the children as "Easter 
 Lilies.'' I know of no other flower that would thrive so well under 
 the same trying conditions. 
 
 Irises are used to_ advantage in many kinds of planting, including 
 massing, setting along borders of walks and drives, and also for natur- 
 alizing in back yards, in woods and along brooks. With their showy 
 flowers and strict habit of growth, they are excellent for formal bed- 
 ding and they l6nd themselves well to artistic effects. In addition to 
 Irises heretofore mentioned should be noted the several dwarf Irises 
 which are splendid for low borders, and the Spanish and English Irises, 
 the two latter bulbous indigenous to Spain. 
 
 It is only within the last few years that Irises have begun to 
 receive the attention from florists they merit. The large number of 
 varieties, their artistic qualities and their wide range of color insure 
 for them a permanent place in our gardens as well' as in the heart of 
 the amateur gardener. 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 21 
 
 CLASSIFICATION, 
 
 List Prepared by Mrs. Dean, Monita, California. 
 DWARF BEARDED IRISES. 
 
 There are probably 75 to 100 named Irises which are catalogued 
 under this group, and the list constantly growing. They vary in height 
 from three to four inches to a foot or over. They are excellent to 
 edge borders, for the rockery, or for ground cover anywhere, requir- 
 ing the same conditions as the larger Irises of this character. The 
 flowers are nearly as large as the Germanicas, and there is a wide 
 range of color to select from. They are among the earliest to bloom. 
 The following list comprises but a few, but is representative of the 
 group. 
 
 S represents upright petals and F the drooping ones. 
 Balceng hybrids. Ground of white, sulphur or primrose, suffused 
 
 green, flaked and marked with purple or blue. 
 Citrea. Pale yellow and citron. 
 Cyanea. Indigo blue. 
 Eburnea. White. 
 Excelsa. Pale lemon yellow. 
 Florida. Citron yellow. 
 Floribunda. Fine yellow. 
 Formosa. Dark blue and violet. 
 Gracilis. Silver grey, blotched purple. 
 Orange Queen. Golden yellow. 
 
 Schneekuppe (Snowcap). Fine white. , 
 
 The Bride. Choice white. 
 Alaxine. New beautiful purple. 
 Prairie Gem. Golden 
 Royal Purple. Rich glistening purple. 
 
 INTERMEDIATE IRISES. 
 
 These hybrids are crosses between Dwarf and Tall Bearded Irises. 
 They are medium in height, flowers large, some unusually so. Free 
 and very early bloomers. 
 
 Bosniamac. S. Cream; F. Pale levender cream, orange beard. 18 in. 
 Brunette. S. and F. soft primrose-yellow, F. shot with olive and 
 
 marbled violet, beard rich orange-yellow, large flower. 22 in. 
 Canari. S. and F. canary-yellow, beard orange-yellow. 18 in. 
 Ceres. S. and F. pearl white, beard orange, large flower. 21 in. 
 Charmant. S. silvery blue ; F. pearl-blue, with deeper blue markings, 
 
 beard orange-yellow. 21 in. 
 Constance. Pearly white, F. shaded with blue. 2 ft. 
 Dauphin. Rich purple, with very distinct dark fall. 18 in. 
 Delicata. Lavender white. 9 in. 
 
 Diamond. Pure white, blue staining on falls. 18 in. 
 Dolphin. S. light blue; F. velvety violet-purple. 18 in. 
 Dora. Rosy lilac, showy. 21 in. 
 Don Carlos. S. blue ; F. violet. 
 
 Dorothea. S. white with blue markings; F. soft blue. IS in. extra fine. 
 Eclipse. Reddish purple. 9 in. 
 Empress. Creamy yellow. 
 Etta. Soft yellow, beard orange. 
 
22 
 
 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 Freya. Porcelain gray, shaded with violet. 18 in. 
 
 Fritzof. S. soft lavender; F. soft purple, shaded lavender, large 
 
 flower. 
 Gerda. S. cream; F. darker. 
 
 Gorgeous. S. violet blue; F. rich purple. 18 in. 
 Halfdan. Creamy white. 
 Helge. Lemon yellow, orange beard. 2 ft. 
 Hereward. S. lavender white; F. bluish violet. 2 ft. 
 Horace. White, tinted blue, beard orange. 
 Ingeborg. White. Large flower. 
 Ivorine. Ivory white with gold markings at base of petals, orange 
 
 beard. 
 King Christian. Large sulphur-white, with yellow markings at base 
 
 of petals. 
 King Humbert. Good dark blue. IS in. 
 La Ptrle. Soft yellow. 12 in. 
 Margaret. Pale lavender. 18 in. 
 Niphitos. White, beard yellow. 20 in. 
 Obelisque. Rich purple self, small white throat. 12 in. 
 Odin. S. wliite ; F. lavender-white, fine form. 2 ft. 
 Prince Victor. S. l)lue ; F. dark violet. 
 
 Queen Flavia. Large flower, one of the best, primrose-yellow self, 2 ft. 
 Reinette. White, suffused pale lavender. 2 ft. 
 Royal. .S. soft violet-blue ; F. velvety purple. 14 in. 
 Sarah. Pearl white. 22 in. 
 Solfatare. Pale sulphur, tinged pale blue. 
 The Bride. Pure white, primrose colored beard. 2 ft. 
 Una. Soft primrose, base of petals yellow, orange beard. 21 in. 
 Walhalla. S. lavunder-blue ; F. violet- purple, paler toward edge. 2 ft. 
 
 GERMANICA GROUP. 
 
 F. rich velvety black. Very early. 
 2 ft. 
 
 Alba (This is probably but not certainly Albicans-Dykes). 
 
 Askabad. Pale blue and purple-blue. 
 
 Amas (Macrantha). A handsome giant flowered form from Asia 
 
 Minor. S. rich blue; F. violet. 2 ft. 
 Argus. S. violet : F. purple. 
 Am. Black Prince. S. purple-lilac ; 
 
 24 in. 
 Crimsfin King. Rich claret-purple. 
 Fontarabie. S. violet-blue; F. rich violet-purple. 18 iu. 
 Kharput. S. violet ; F. velvety violet-purple. 2 ft. 
 Kochii. Rich claret-purple. 30 in. 
 
 Magna. Bold massive flower. ,S. clear metallic blue; F. purple. 
 Major. S. purple-blue ; F. dark purple. 
 Nepalensis (Atropurpurea). Dark and rich purple-black with a little 
 
 white at throat. 
 Oriflamme. S. light blue; F. rich violet-purple. Immense flowers. 
 Purple King. Full purple. Very effective. 2 ft. 
 Siwas. S. violet-blue; F. violet-black. 30 in. 
 Sperling. Same color as Kharput but a larger flower. 
 Violet Queen. S. violet-blue; F. violet-black. 2 ft. 
 Vulgaris (Common Blue Flag). S. blue; F. purple. 2 ft. 
 
 Pallida Group. 
 
 The^e are some very choice varieties found in this group, with 
 their delicate o.paline colors. There are the lighter tints of blue, blue- 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 23 
 
 lilac, lavender, rose-lilac, mauve and lavendcr-purplc, as also the 
 
 darker shades. Most of them have large flowers with tall flowering 
 
 stems. The plantts make a fine appearance with their tall, broad foli- 
 age The flowers are VERY FRAGRANT. Time of blooming of most 
 
 ot this group is a little later than the Germanica Group. 
 
 Albert Victor. S. soft blue; F. beautiful soft lavender. Very fine. 40 in. 
 
 Angelo. b. rich rosy plum; F. crimson-purple, yellow beard. 
 
 Archeveque. S. deep violet-purple; F. deep velvety violet. 
 
 Assaurez. S. bright violet; F. crimson-purple. 26 in. 
 
 Astarte. S. rosy-lilac; F. claret-red. 2 ft. 
 
 Barbara. A pretty form of Gengialti with the soft blue color of A. 
 Victor. 
 
 Brionense. Pale violet. Free flowering. 2 ft. 
 
 Caprice. S. rosy red; F. deeper rosy red. Free flowering. 
 
 Celeste. Pale azure blue. 30 in. 
 
 Celia. Blue-violet. 
 
 Chameleon. Lavender blue, with dark blue markings. 
 
 Cherubin. S. pale lilac; F. thinly veined purple. 
 
 Commandant Betti. S. rich purple ; F. deep violet. 
 
 Crusader. S. light violet-blue ; F. deeper shade, orange beard. 40 in. 
 
 Dalmarius. S. pale blue; F. darker with brown shading. 
 
 Delicata. A pretty soft shade of French grey. 2 ft. - 
 
 Dalmatica-Princess Beatrice. S. soft lavender; F. clear deep lavender. 
 Extra fine. 40 in. 
 
 Dr. Parnet. S. soft rosy lilac; F. shading to white. 
 
 Edward VII. S. blue ; F. pale reddish-violet. 
 
 Ed. Michel. F. true purple, shaded darker. S. not quite so bright. 
 
 Florence Wells. S. soft mauve; F. deeper mauve. ly>. ft. 
 
 Garibaldi. Rosy pink. 2 ft. 
 
 Garrick. S. rosy pink; F. darker. Medium. 
 
 Glory of Hillegom. Lovely rich blue. Very broad foliage. 40 in. 
 
 Goldcrest. . Bright violet-blue, yellow beard. 2}^ ft. 
 
 Guinevere. Soft lilac self, beard yellow. 2 ft. 
 
 Her Majesty. S. soft rose;'F. deeper rose, heavily veined. 
 
 Homer. Dark lavender-blue. 
 
 Isola. S. light blue ; F. violet-purple. 2^4 ft. 
 
 Isolene. S. lilac-pink; F. purplish old-rose, yellow beard. 
 
 John Bull. S. soft lilac; F. delicate mauve lilac, beard orange. 2 ft. 
 
 John Foster. Pure white, pale cream beard, with purple veins. 
 
 Juniata. S. and F. clear blue. 42 in. 
 
 Kathleen. A soft rose-lilac. 2 ft. 
 
 Khedive. Beautiful soft lavender. 30 in. 
 
 Lady Foster. S. pale blue; F. light bluish violet, ZYz ft. 
 
 Leonidas. S. soft lavender-grey; F. rosy manuve. 40 in. 
 
 Lohengrin. S. mauve; F. Chinese violet. Han-dsome. ii in. 
 
 Mad. Pacquitte. Bright rosy claret. Handsome. 30 in. 
 
 Mandraliscae. Rich lavender-purple. Early and handsome. 3 ft. 
 
 Mikado. S. heliotrope; F. darker. 2J/2 ft. 
 
 Mirage. S. lavender-white; F. lilac. 
 
 Miriam. S. palest lilac; F. a pale lilac, ground richly veined reddish 
 
 purple. 
 Mist. Lavender-blu'>. 
 
 Monte Baldo var. Purplish violet, conspicuous yellow beard. 
 Mt. Penn. S. la\'ender-rose; F. crimson-lilac, deep oranse beard. 
 
 30 in. 
 Mrs. Allan Gray. S. light mauve; F. Chinese violet, shaded darker. 
 Oporto. Rich purplish mauve, with conspicuous yellow beard. 
 Pallida (type). S. lavender; F. lavender with rosy tinge. 40 in. 
 Pallida Speciosa. S. dark lavender; F. lavender, shaded light purple. 
 
24 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 Pallida, fol. var. Soft blue. Foliage variegated gold and silver. 
 
 Penge. S. light violet; F. violet-purple. 30 in. 
 
 Princess Royal. Soft blue. Extra tall growing and free-flowering. 
 
 Plumeri. S. coppery-rose; F. velvety claret. 
 
 Queen of May. Soft rose-lilac. 32 in. 
 
 Racemosa. Sky blue, branching stems. 20 in. 
 
 Rembrandt. Soft lilac-blue. 
 
 Rhoda. Delicate shade of clear blush pink and rosy mauve. 
 
 Riva. S. rosy purple; F. large, standing almost at right angles. 
 
 Ringdove. S. pale violet; F. a shade deeper. Distinct variety-tall. 
 
 Rose Unique. Bright violet-rose. 
 
 Rubella. S. rose-lilac; F. crimson-purple. 3 ft. 
 
 Saracen. S. violet ; F. deep purple-violet. 3 ft. 
 
 Sarah. Pearly white. Free flowering and very early. 
 
 Selnla. S. light- purple; F. rosy purple. . Very early and free. 
 
 Shelfofd Chieftan. -S. light blue; F. deeper shade of bright violet. 
 
 4 to 5 ft. 
 Standard Bearer. Rosy mauve. 38 in. 
 Sybil. S. blush; F. brigrt rosy red. 26 in. 
 Tineae. S. soft lavender-blue; F. deeper shade. 40 in. 
 Topaz. Soft rosy lavender. Unique. 
 Trautlieb. A uniform soft rose. 
 Viola. Light blue-violet. 
 
 Windham. S. soft lavender-pink; F. heavily veined a darker shade. 
 Walner. S. lavender; F. purple-lilac. 30 in. 
 Zanardelli. Fine bright blue. 
 
 VARIEQATA GROUP. 
 
 Standards are various shades of yellow. 
 
 Abou Hassan. S. yellow; F. yellow, mottled brown. IS in. 
 
 Ada. S. bright canary-yellow; F. white, reticulated madder-brown 
 20 in. 
 
 Adonis. S. clear yellow; F. primrose, freely tipped and veined mad- 
 der-red. 18 in. 
 
 Apollon. F. crimson-madder. 32 in. 
 
 Aure'a. Rich chrome-yellow. 20 in. 
 
 Berchta. S. olive-buff, slightly flushed violet; F. dahlia purple, 
 reticulated white, edge olive-buff. 
 
 Bismarck. S. yellow; F. white, freely reticulated madder-brown. 
 22 in. 
 
 Brilliant (Charlotte Patti). F. yellow, veined white. 20 in. 
 
 Butterfly. S. bright golden yellow; F. rich crimson-brown. 22 in. 
 
 Chelles. F. bright red-purple, beautifully reticulated. 
 
 Chenedolle. F. white, reticulated maroon. 
 
 Dandy. F. velvety purple. Showy. 16 in. 
 
 Darius. F. lilac, margined primrose. 20 in. Very fine. 
 
 Dawn. Sulphue yellow. Bronze .veined at throat; beard orange. 
 
 Ed. Simmons. S. yellow, flaked purple ; F. dark velvety violet. 26 in. 
 
 Enchantress. F. primrose, reticulated and tipped madder-brown. 30 in. 
 
 Favorite. F. lilac, margined white. 2 ft. 
 
 Foster's Yellow. Creamy yellow. 
 
 Fro. F. reddish-brown. 
 
 Gagus. F. crimson, reticulated white and edged primrose. 2 ft. 
 
 Ganymede. F. white, reticulated maroon-black. 2 ft. 
 
 Gold Crest. F. yellow, reticulated bronze. 
 
 Gracchu?. F. crimson, reticulated white. 18 in. 
 Hector (Conspicua). F. velvety crimson-black. 30 in. 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 25 
 
 Honorabilis. F. rich mahogany-brown. 18 in. 
 
 Humboldti. F. velvety-black. Showy. 2 ft. 
 
 India. F. dark crimson-brown. 
 
 Innocenza. S. and F. white. 2 ft. 
 
 Iris King. F. rich maroon, border yellow. Very fine. 
 
 La Neige. Pure white. 
 
 Louis Meyer. F. velvety crimson, veined white. 
 
 Loreley. F. ultramarine-blue, bordered cream. Distinct and hand- 
 some. 
 
 Magnet. F. purple, reticulated white. 
 
 Malvina. F. veined and tipped madder-brown. 
 
 Maori King. F. rich velvety crimson. 18 in. 
 
 Marenco. F. rich crimson-brown. 18 in. 
 
 Margolin. F. yellow, interlaced magenta. 30 in. 
 
 Marie* Corelli.- F. rose-purple; reticulated primrose. 2 ft. 
 
 Minor. F. bright lilac, margined yellow. 
 
 Miss Eardley. F. rich madder-red, bordered yellow. 
 
 Mithras. F. reddish maroon, border yellow. 
 
 Modeste Guerin. F. mauve. 28 in. 
 
 Mrs. A. F. Barron. F. rose-violet, margined yellow. 18 in. 
 
 Mrs. Neubronner. Deep golden yellow. Very fine rich color. 18 in. 
 
 Orangeman. Rich orange yellow. 
 
 Orphee. F. white, delicately traced crimson-brown. 
 
 Ossian. F. light claret-red. Showy. 2 ft. 
 
 Prince of Orange. S. yellow, prettily veined; F. golden yellow. 
 
 Princess of Teck. F. deep purplish rose. Distinct and handsome. 
 
 Princess Victoria Louise. F. deep violet-blue, with white edge. Extra 
 fine. 
 
 Regina. F. white, conspicuously veined lilac, edged primrose. 20 in. 
 
 Rigolette. F. deep crimson-purple. 
 
 Robt. Burns. F. bright velvety maroon with golden margin. 20 in. 
 
 Samson. F. crimson. 
 
 Sans Souci. , F. yellow, elegantly reticulated crimson-brown. (True 
 Sans Souci — not Honorabilis). 
 
 Shelford Yellow. Yellow with brown veining at throat. 
 
 Type. Small yellow flowers, mottled brown. 
 
 Vondel. F. velvety maroon. 
 
 Walter Reuthe. F. rosy lilac, beard golden. 
 
 AMOENA GROUP. 
 
 The standards in this group are white. 
 Calypso. F. white, reticulated blue. 
 
 Comte de St. Clair. F. violet, margined white. 20 in. 
 Donna Maria. F. white, tinged lilac. 2 ft. 
 
 Due de Nemours. F. violet, edged and reticulated white. 2 ft. 
 Elegans. F. white splashed with violet. Very fine. 
 Eugene Sue. F. violet, edged white. 20 in. 
 Glorietta. F. white, heavily traced purple. 14 in. 
 Morpheus. F. white, heavily traced and tipped violet-purple. 2 ft. 
 Mrs. G. Darwin. F. white, upper half veined lilac; orange beard. 27 in. 
 Mrs. H. IDarwin. F. white, upper part reticulated gold and violet. 28 in. 
 Penelope. F. white, delicately veined' violet. 
 Poiteau. S. white, tinged lavender; F. maroon-purple, reticulated 
 
 white. 
 Reticulata Alba. F. violet, edged and reticulated white. 
 Rhein Nixe. F. mauve, edged and reticulated white. Distinct and 
 
 beautiful. 
 
26 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 Thorbeck. F. rich clear violet-purple, reticulated white at base. 
 
 Victorine. F. violet-blue, mottled white. 
 
 ^Yyomissing. S. blush white; F. deeper, shading to flesh colored border. 
 
 NEGLECTA GROUP. 
 
 The standards in this group range from lavender to purple. 
 
 Albatross. S. white, shaded the palest blue; F. white veined and 
 tipped rich pitrple. Handsome. 
 
 Amabilis. S. pale lilac; F. velvety crimson-purple. 2 ft. 
 
 Atrocoerulea. S. pale blue; F. violet-blue. 30 in. 
 
 English Black Prince. S. intense deep violet-blue; velvety purple, 
 edged lighter. Very beautiful and rare. Slow to increase. 
 
 Boccage. S. lavender; F. claret-purple. 2 ft. 
 
 Brooklyn. S. porcelain; F. light blue, veined russet. 26 in. 
 
 Candelabre. S. silvery mauve with purple markings; F. violet, reticu- 
 lated white. 33 in. 
 
 Candida. S. pale lavender; F. lavender, streaked white. 24 in. 
 
 Chalcedonia (Johan d' Worth). S. light mauve; F. purple, heavily 
 veined. 
 
 Ghas. Dickens. S. light violet; F. indigo, violet at base. 30 in. 
 
 Clarissima. S. lavender; F. reticulated purple on white ground. 2 ft. 
 
 Clio. S. lavender, passing to white; F. rich velvety violet. 2 ft. 
 
 Cordelia. S. rosy lilac; F. dark velvety crimson, edged rose. Beau- 
 tiful. 
 
 Cottage Maid. S. silvery blue; F. white, freely reticulated violet. 22 in. 
 
 Cythere. S. fine lavender-blue ; F. rich blue. 2 ft. ' 
 
 Du Bois de Milan. S. white, tinged lavender; F. crimson-purple. 30 in. 
 
 Edith. S. porcelain blue; F. velvety blue, veined white. 22 in. 
 
 Esmeralda. Purple-violet. 
 
 Frederick. S. lavender-blue; F. lavender, veined brown. 
 
 Fairy Queen. Lavender, tipped and reticulated violet. 22 in. 
 
 Hannibal. S. lavender; F. dark-purple. 2 ft. ' 
 
 Harlequin Milanais. S. white, flaked violet ; F. rich violet-purple. 3 ft. 
 
 Herant. S. bluish lilac with blue edge ; F. lavender. 30 in. 
 
 Laura. S. lavender, shaded white; F. rich velvety purple. 30 in. 
 
 Lavater. S. lavender, veined purple; F. white, traced and tipped violet. 
 
 Miss Maggie. .S. silvery lavender; F. suffused soft rose. 30 in. 
 
 Mr. Gladstone. S. lavender white,- splashed purple; F. i ich purple. 
 
 Mons de Sible. S. lilac; F. deep crimson-purple. 30 in. 
 
 Monsignor. S. rich satiny violet; F. velvety purple-crimson, with 
 lighter veining and margin. Handsome. 2 ft. 
 
 National. S. violet-blue; F. rich velvety violet-purple. 30 in. 
 
 Osis. S. lilac; F. violet-purple. 20 in. 
 
 Othello (Sappho). S. rich blue; F. very dark velvety purple. 30 in. 
 
 Perfection. S. light blue; F. dark velvety violet-black. Handsome. 
 30 in. 
 
 Radiance. S. silvery mauve ; F. rich velvety purple, reticulated white 
 at claw. 
 
 Shelford. S. dark lavender-blue; F. dark velvety crimson-purple, 
 reticulated white at base of falls. 
 
 Sweetheart. S. silver, overlaid pale lavender; F. dark velvety crim- 
 son purple, reticulated white. 
 
 Sympathy. S. silvery lavender; F. violet. 30 in. 
 
 Teresita. S. lavender, flushed lilac; F. crimson-purple. 28 in. 
 
 Thora. S. white, tinged blue ; F. deep purple. 
 
 Verbena. Dark velvety ptirple. 
 
LORELEV 
 
MRS. H. DARWIN 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 27 
 
 Virginie. S. soft blue ; ,F. bright viplet-blue, orange beard. 22 in. 
 
 Wagner. S. lavender, F. lavender, edged violet. 18 in. 
 
 Willie Barr. S. French grey; F. white, freely traced violet. 20 in. 
 
 PLICATA GROUP. 
 
 The flowers have a beautiful colored frill-like margin on a white 
 ground. 
 
 Admiral Togo. S. pure white, penciled lavender at edge; F. ivory- 
 white. 24 in. 
 Agnes. S. white, frilled and shaded lilac; F. white, traced lilac. 2 ft. 
 Assyrie. White, pencilled violet-blue. Large flower. 
 Bariensis. Delicately edged and dotted pale lilac-rose. Beautiful. 
 Bridesmaid. S. white, shaded silvery lilac; F. white, reticulated at 
 
 base, and slightly frilled soft lilac. 2 ft. 
 Comtesse de Courcy. S. white, shaded at edge soft mauve; F. white, 
 
 shaded lavender at base, large flower. 3 ft. 
 Delicatissima (Gazelle). White, heavily frilled lilac. 2 ft. 
 Elizabeth. S. white, heavily shaded lilac; F. white, shaded lilac at 
 
 margin 
 Fairy. White, delicately bordered and suffused soft blue. Beautiful. 
 
 30 in. 
 Jeanne d' Arc. White, frilled lilac. Beautiful. 
 Madam Chereau. White, elegantly frilled with a wide border of clear 
 
 blue. Beautiful. 30 in. 
 Ma Mie. White, frilled blue. Beautiful. 
 Maritana. S. and F. white, finely frilled rose-lilac. 2 ft. 
 Mrs. Reuthe. S. white, shaded and veined bliie-grey; F. white, frilled 
 
 soft blue. 2 ft. 
 Ophelia. S. white, heavily frilled and shaded blue; F. white frilled 
 
 soft blue, large flower. 
 Parisiana. White, frilled blue. Large flov.er. 
 Sappho. S. white, frilled lilac; F. white, frilled and reticulated at 
 
 claw lilac. Large flower. 2 ft. ., 
 
 Swerti. White, frilled blue, petaloid stigmas lilac. 30 in. 
 Sylphide. White, frilled and shaded soft rose. 30 in. 
 
 SQUALENS GROUP. 
 
 The standards are cluoded shades of copper, bronze and fawn. 
 Abdul Aziz. S clouded gold and lilac; F. rich violet-purple, reticulated 
 
 white. IS in. 
 A. F. Barron. S. dark bronze; F. white, veined and tipped crimson- 
 brown. 
 Alcazar. S. light bluish violet; F. deep purple with bronze veined 
 
 throat. Large flower. 40 in. 
 Arnols. S. rosy bronze; F. rich velvety purple.. Handsome. 30 in. 
 Bariensis Elizabeth. S. iridescent yellow: F. white, shading to blue, 
 
 veined brown. 
 Britannia. S. sulphery white; F. purple. 
 
 Bronze Beauty. S. clouded yellow; F. ruby-lavender. 2 ft. 
 Chas. Darwin. S. cream, spotted bronze ; F. white reticulated bronze 
 
 and purple. 
 Cherion (Gypsy Queen of some catalogues). S. smoky lavender; F. 
 
 violet, veined white. 30 in. 
 Copperman. S. rosy fawn; F. violet, reticulated white. 30 in. 
 
28 * MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 Dr. Bernice. S. coppery bronze; F. velvety crimson. 2 ft. 
 
 Dove (Rosamond). S. lavender buff; F. darker. 30 in. 
 
 Dusky Prince. S. light coppery yellow; F. dusky purple, shading to 
 
 coppery yellow. 20 in. 
 Eldorado. S. yellowish-bronze shaded beautifully with helitrope; F. 
 
 bright violet-purple. Style arms gold. 
 Eleanor. S. silvery grey; F. purplish-crimson, edged and lined white. 
 Eleon. S. old-gold, flushed and spotted purple-bronze; F. dark 
 
 maroon, reticulated white. 
 Exquisite. S. clouded yellow; F. rose-lilac. 2 ft. 
 Gen. de Witte. S. silvery smoke color; F. deep mauve, beard orange. 
 
 30 in. 
 Gen. Grant. S. light sulphur; clouded; F. light yellow, veined plum 
 
 color. 24 in. 
 Gold Bound. S. golden yellow, shaded smoky; F. reddish madder. 
 
 18 in. 
 Goliath. S bronze; F. deep purple. 
 Gypsy Queen (La Prestigieuse). S. old-gold, shaded smoked pearl; 
 
 F. black-maroon, reticulated light yellow. 30 in. 
 Harrison Weir. S. yellow-bronze; F. velvety crimson. 20 in. 
 Jacquesiana. S. bright coppery cririison; F. rich maroon. Handsome. 
 
 30 in. 
 Judith. S. sulphery; F. violet-purple, reticulated white. 30 in. 
 Lady Jane. S. coppery rose ; F. madder-red, reticulated white. 30 in. 
 Lady Seymour. S. lavender, flushel sulphur; F. netted violet and white. 
 La Tendre (Edina). S. clouded porcelain; F. blue with light base. 
 
 24 in. 
 La Prestigieuse. See Gypsy Queen. 
 Lord Grey. Clouded rose-fawn. 2 ft. Late. 
 Lord Rosse. S. lavender, flushed bronze; F. violet with central white 
 
 band. 2 ft. 
 Loute. S. light blue, shaded heliotrope; F. deep reddish purple with 
 
 bronze sheen. 
 Lucretia. S. pale primrose; F. shading to silver, with orange beard. 
 
 2 ft. 
 Lucy. S. sulphur, splashed lilac; F. lilac. 30 in. 
 
 Mad. Blanche Pion. S. bronze yellow, shot helitrope ; F. rich purple. 
 Mrs. Keith. S. white, shaded blue-grey; F. white, frilled blue. 
 Mons. Chereau S rich bronze-gold ; F crimson-maroon 20 in. 
 Mr. Shaw. S. fawn, flushed rose-lilac; F. reticulated purple on white. 
 
 21 in. 
 Mrs. Arthur Dugdale. S. rich old-gold, flushed bronze; F. rich claret, 
 
 veined white. 
 Marmora. S smoky lavender; F. violet, richly veined. 30 in. 
 Mozart. S. bronze-fawn; F. purple-fawn, netted white. 3 ft. 
 Murat. S. fawn, shot rose; F. rich velvety purple. 2 ft. 
 Miralba. S. bronze-fawn ; F. purple-fawn netted white. 30 in. 
 Nibelungen. S. fawn-yellow; F. violet-purple with fawn margin. 
 
 Handsome. 30 in. 
 Nuee d'Orage (Storm Cloud). Greyish slaty blue with bronze shad- 
 ing; F. purplish. 
 Pfauenauge. S. light fawn-yellow; F. ruby-purple, yellow margin. 
 
 20 in. 
 Prosper Laugier. S. lighht bronze-red; F. velvety ruby-purple, orange 
 
 beard. 
 Queen Alexandra. S. fawn, shot lilac; F. lilac, reticulated at base with 
 
 bronze. 2 ft. 
 Rachel. S. old gold; F. violet, reticulated gold. 30 in. 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 29 
 
 Sappho. S. yellow, flushed lavender; F. straw, heavily tipped and 
 
 reticulated violet-purple. 
 Salar Jung. S. gold-bronze ; F. tipped and reticulated maroon-black on 
 
 white ground. 2 ft. 
 Shakespeare. S. bronzy yellow; F. maroon, reticulated yellow. 
 Sir Walter Scott. S. bronze yellow; F. rich crimson-brown. 2 ft. 
 Tamerlane. Deep purple-violet falls; paler standards. Tall and early. 
 The President. S. light copper flaked bronzy purple; F. velvety 
 
 maroon. 
 Van Geerti. S. clouded lavender; F. purple-black, reticulated white. 
 
 34 in. 
 Venusta. S. sulphur, shot bronze ; F. maroon. 34 in. 
 Walneriana. S. lavender, flushed bronze ; F. pale violet. 30 in. 
 
 BEARDED IRISES— VARIOUS SPECIES. 
 
 Most of the Irises listed here have large flowers and some are 
 very tall. The flowers are distinct from the Germanica Section. 
 Albicans. Pure milk white throughout. Sometimes called Princess 
 
 of Wales. 
 Benacensis. S. violet ; F. deep rich purple. 
 Carthusian. New, handsome hybrid. S. clear lavender-blue ; F. darker 
 
 blue, reticulated brown at claw. Flowers large and fragrant. 30 in. 
 Catherina. Another handsome hybrid. S. clear light blue ; F. soft 
 
 lilac-blue, deliciously fragrant. 4 ft. 
 Cengialti. S. lavender-blue ; F. soft violet-blue. 
 Cengialti Loppio. Clear deep blue. 18 in. 
 Cengialti Zephyr. Clear lilac-blue. 2 ft. 
 Flavescens. A delicate shade of soft yellow. 
 
 Flavescens Munite. S. chamois yellow; F. primrose, reticulated laven- 
 der. 
 Florentina (Silver King). Creamy white, flushed lavender. Very 
 
 fragrant. 
 Florentina (Queen Emma-alba odorata). Pure white, flushed blue. 
 Kashmiriana (Miss Wilmott). White, lightly and variably washed 
 
 lavender. F. stands at right angles, and the petals are of stout 
 
 texture. 30 in. 
 Madonna Supposed to be type from which Albicans is white sport. 
 Mesopotamica. (Sometimes ' Hsted as Junonia — probably the true I. 
 
 cypriana). This is one of the large Irises of the Syria and Asia 
 
 Minor group. No doubt the stateliest Iris grown. The massive 
 
 flowers, 6J4 in. deep are borne on stems 4 and S feet tall. S. lilac; 
 
 F..-pale blue-lilac overlaid with reddish shade. 
 Kashmir White. Differs from Kashmiriana in being taller, more flori- 
 
 ferous, and of purer white. 
 Sambucina. S. coppery-rose ; F. rosy purple. 2 ft. 
 Sambucina Beethoven (syn. Miss Brough). S. rose-lilac; F. purple 
 
 with orange beard. 2 ft. 
 Sambucina La Vesuve. S. lavender flushed bronze; F. violet. 2 ft. 
 Sambucina Mephistopheles. S. clouded laveiider; F. rich purple, 
 
 flushed blue. 
 Trojana (Sometimes listed as I. Cypriana — sometimes as I. .Asiatica). 
 
 S. pale blue; F. violet-purple. Very distinct, tall and late bloomer. 
 Trojana superba. S. soft blue : F. rich clear violet. 
 Trojana celestial. Handsome blue flowers. 
 
30 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 EVANSIA SECTION. 
 
 There is a small group of rhizomatus Irises called "Crested Irises." 
 They are distinguished by a crest on the blade of the falls in place of 
 a beard. Probably with the exception of the American species, they 
 are not so well adapted to our climate, except the milder portions in 
 the South and the Pacific Coast States. 
 Cristata. Lilac-purple, orange crest. A dainty creeping American 
 
 species of the Eastern States. Small flower and short stem. 
 Japonica (fimbriata). Pretty lavender-blue flowers, standards frinzed 
 and gold crests. The pretty little flowers are freely produced on 
 an 18 in. stem. Leaves evergreen, some 2 ft. in length. 
 Tectorum. A beautiful Iris-lilac, veined and mottled darker shades, 
 
 white crest. 12 in. Not hardy in the north. 
 Milesi. Purple-lilac, crest orange. Very tall flowering stem. 
 Verna. Another American species which we describe here for con- 
 venience, but which . does not properly come under this group. 
 Also a native of the Eastern States to the South. Blue-lilac in 
 color, dwarf, foliage resembles a Pumila. 
 
 APOQON SECTION— BEARDLESS IRISES. 
 
 This is a very interesting section and contains some very beauti- 
 ful species and varieties. Some are as easy of culture as those in the 
 Bearded Section, while some require more moisture and different 
 treatment. Some of them are much more difficult to establish than 
 the Pogoniris, but when once well established will withstand a great 
 deal of drouth. 
 
 The grouping of this Section in "The Genus Iris" is followed here. 
 
 SIBERICA GROUP. 
 
 These have narrow grass like foliage, and the flowers are borne in 
 great profusion on tall flowering stems. Very satisfactoiy and suit- 
 able for all locations as they are perfectly hardy. 
 Acuta. Blue, interlaced with white. 2 ft. 
 Alba. White. 3 ft. 
 
 Alba Grandiflora. White — flowers larger than former. 
 Atropurpurea. Deep, rich purple. Large flowers. 3t ft. 
 Baxteri. S. blue'; F. white, veined blue. 4 ft. 
 Blue King. Beautiful blue. Very choice. Tall. 
 BuUeyana. Pale blue. 
 Chrysographes. Purple. 
 Coerulea. Bright blue. 3yi ft. 
 
 Corean species. S. intense blue ; F. Ijlue, veined white. 
 Distinction. S. lilue ; F. white, veined and tipped blue. 3J<2 ft. 
 Delavayi. Violet. 4 ft. 
 
 Duke of Norffilk. Blue. Distinct variety. 
 Flore pleno. Deep blue, semi-double. 2J4 ft. 
 Forresti. YelloAv. 
 
 Geo. Wallace. S. deep blue; F. blue, veined white and yellow. 3 ft. 
 Grandis. Deep blue. 
 
 Haematophylla. S. light blue ; F. white and blue. 4 ft. 
 Lactea. A tall growing milky white. 
 Lady Godiva. Blush white, flushed rose. 
 Lilacina. Clear lilac. 
 Maritima. S. lilac blue ; F. rich blue. 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 31 
 
 Maxima. Rich true blue. 
 
 Snow Queen. Large white. One of the best. 
 
 Superba. Large violet-blue flowers. 4 ft. 
 
 Orientalis. Violet. 
 
 Wilsoni. Yellow. 
 
 CALIFORNIA GROUP. 
 
 Natives of California, some extending into Oregon and Washing- 
 ton. Very beautiful and hardy, but somewhat difficult to establish. 
 Colors range from cream to pale yellow, through lavender, lilac and 
 purple, etc. The group contains Bracteata, Douglasiana, Hartwegii, 
 Tenax. and others. 
 
 UNQUICULARIS GROUP. 
 
 A group of Irises native of Algeria, Greece and Asia Minor. Being 
 winter bloomers they are suited only to the milder portions of our 
 climate. 
 
 There are several forms, the best known- being: 
 Stylosa. Lilac-blue. 
 Stylosa alba. White. 
 
 SPURIA GROUP. 
 
 The flowers of this group are ver}^ distinct from that of the Ger- 
 manica type, resembling in form that of the bulbous Spanish Iris. 
 They are such handsome ornamental plants with their tall rush like 
 foliage, and as easy of culture as the Bearded Irises, that they should 
 be widely grown. They are among the latest to bloom, although 
 there are some forms of the smaller flowering varieties not commonly 
 in cultivation that come into bloom very early. We list the later 
 flowering and best of the group. 
 
 Aurea. Handsome yellow. Native of Himalayan Mts. 3 ft. 
 Monaurea. Large yellow flowers with deep orange lip. S ft. 
 Monnieri. Handsome yellow — not so deep in color as Aurea. 3 ft. 
 Monspur. Violet blue. Handsome. 4 ft. 
 Ochroleuca (Gold-Banded Iris.) White, with orange-yellow blotch 
 
 on falls. A grand Iris. 4 to 5 ft. 
 Ochroleuca Sulphurea. Sulphur yellow form of above. 
 Ochroleuca snowflake. White with gold blotch on falls. Free 
 
 bloomer. Not quite so tall as Ochroleuca and flower somewhat 
 
 smaller. 
 Spuria. Bright lilac-blue. 3 ft. 
 Spuria Mrs. A. W. Tait (Longipetala superba). S. porcelain-blue; F. 
 
 long pale blue, with gold blotch. 3 ft. 
 Spuria alba. New white flowered form. 2 ft. 
 Spuria Flaked Beauty. Blue, with deeper blue markings. 2 ft. 
 Spuria lilacina. Free flowering lavender form. 
 
 Spuria fol. var. Foliage a beautiful golden in early summer. Lilac. 3 ft. 
 Spuria notha. S. rich violet; F. blue. 3 ft. 
 Shelford. Giant. One of Foster's hybrids-Ochroleuca X. Aurea. S. 
 
 creamy yellow; F. cream with orange blotch. Very handsome and 
 
 tall. 
 
- 32 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 LAEVIGATA GROUP. 
 
 This group comprises Laevigata and Kaempferi, and the hybrids 
 
 known as Japanese Irises. The lists are long, and where Japanese 
 
 names are given they mean little to the average person, so that in 
 
 ordering it is best perhaps to be governed by description. We select 
 
 a few names at random from several lists. 
 
 Blushing Empress. White ground, suffused rose edge, double. 
 
 Cherry-Blossom Festival. Soft pink, double. 
 
 Golden Purple. Rich velvety purple, orange center. 
 
 Crimson Tuft. Three crimson-purple falls, with white center, radi- 
 ating narrow white lines; petaloids white, tipped -purple. 
 
 Jewels and Flowers. Helitrope, beautifully veined and suffused with 
 purple. Single. 
 
 Lavender Queen. Beautiful deep lavender. 
 
 Kumoma-no-Sora (Sky Amidst the Clouds). White with strongly 
 marked sky-blue zone in center; S. white, margined sky blue; 
 three immense falls. 
 
 Mammoth Blue. Very large violet-blue. 
 
 Maroon King. Very rich velvety maroon. 
 
 Peace. Large rich red-purple. Double. 
 
 Purple Gem. Violet purple, veined white. 
 
 Silver Stars. Pure white. Double. 
 
 Silver Waters. Pure white. Single. 
 
 Tokyo. A splendid pure white. 
 
 Yezo-Nishiki. Deep purple maroon. Single. Tall. 
 
 PSEUD0=ACORUS AND VERSICOLOR. 
 
 Pseudo-acorus. Distributed over the whole of Europe and extends 
 also into North Africa and Asia Minor. There are several forms in 
 cultivation. The foliage varies as also the tones of color, some 
 being of a much deeper yellow than others. There is also said 
 to be a white flowered form. By nature it is a water-loving 
 plant, but does well with same treatment given I. Siberica and 
 some others of this Section. 
 
 Versicolor (Virginica). Distributed widely throughout the Eastern 
 and Central States, and from Hudson Bay to Texas. It seems to 
 be the American counterpart of the European I. pseudo-acorus, 
 and grows under similar treatment. It varies in color, size of 
 flowers and height, in different localities. There are different 
 shades of violet and blue and some forms of a rich red-purple. 
 No doubt white forms also, although we do not know of any in 
 cultivation. 
 
 HEXAQONA GROUP. 
 
 This group consists of three American species distributed through- 
 out a few of the Southern States. 
 Hexagona. Varies in color from pale blue to dark lilac, and also a 
 
 white form. Tall growing. 
 Foliosa (Hexagona Lamancei). Closely related to I. hexagona, but 
 
 of dwarfer habit. 
 Fulva (cuprea). Very unusual in color in an Iris, being of an inter- 
 mediate shade between a scarlet and brown. Culture sarne as for 
 the others of this group. 
 
MANUAL ON THE IRIS 33 
 
 LONGIPETALA GROUP. 
 
 This group is distributed throughout the Pacific Coast States and 
 two of the species extend into Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah Ari- 
 zona, Colorado, New Mexico, Dakota and Wjomintr 
 Longipetala. White, veined lilac. 2 ft. 
 Missouriensis (Tolmieanna). Resembles Longipetala, but more slender 
 
 m form and the leaves die down entirely, whereas those of the 
 
 former make some growth in the late summer. 
 Montana. These vary in lilac and violet markings and shades, and 
 
 also there is a white form. 
 I. Ensata, an Asiatiac species stands alone, but resembles the above 
 
 group in some respects. Color varies from pure white to dark 
 
 blue or red-purple. 
 
 TRIPETALOUS GROUP. 
 
 Setosa (Hookeri). Distributed throughout Northern Asia, Japan, and, 
 extends into Alaska, also found on East Coast in Labrador and 
 Maine. It varies in height and color, and requires considerable 
 moisture when growing. 
 
 Tripetala (Tridentata). Distributed throughout the Southeastern 
 States. This is of bluish purple in color and requires same treat- 
 ment as Setosa. 
 
 FOETIDISSIMA. 
 
 These are natives of Europe, have handsome evergreen foliage, 
 and are more prized for the scarlet seeds than for the flowers, 
 although they are not to be despised. 
 
 There are three forms, one, the type, of a dull blue slate color; 
 one with variegated foliage, and a yellow form, or two possibly. 
 
 ONCOCYCLUS AND REQELIA SECTION. 
 
 These are all right for California but worthless in the North. 
 
 These species are from Asia Minor, and are very weird and fas- 
 cinating and some very beautiful, but are somewhat dificult of cul- 
 tivation, particularly the Oncocyclus. There is a group of hybrids, 
 called Regeliocyclus, being hybrids between the Oncocyclus and 
 Regelia, which are comparatively easy of cultivation, and are very 
 beautiful and interesting. Like bulbous irises, they require a rest dur- 
 ing the summer and must be allowed to dry off. We mention only a 
 few of this section. 
 
 Atrofusca (oncocyclus). Rich deep brown, falls nearly black. 
 Atropurpurea (oncocyclus). Black-purple. 
 Susiana (oncocyclus). White ground thickly dotted and veined 
 
 brown-black. 
 Korolkowi (Regelia). White, veined brown. 
 
 Stolonifera (Regelia). Brown, blue and yellow beautifully combined. 
 Eucharis (regelio-cyclus). Silver grey, brown veined, large central 
 
 brown blotch. 
 Hera (regelio-cyclus). Very robust growing variety; standards and 
 
 falls rich ruby-red with bronze and blue hues. 
 Mars (regelio-cyclus). Dark violet-blue veined on a pale blue ground^ 
 
 black central blotch. 
 
34 MANUAL ON THE IRIS 
 
 Thetis (regelio-cyclus). Brown and old-gold on yellow ground. 
 Urania (regelio-cyclus). Vigorous plant. Soft lilac-blue, dark blue- 
 violet, veined and blotched. 
 
 BULBOUS SECTION. 
 
 JUNO GROUP. 
 
 These consist of bulbous Irises with fleshy roots instead of fiber- 
 ous. Most of them are natives of Asia Minor. Some of the later 
 blooming ones are hardy, but others would have to be protected with 
 a frame or grown under glass. . 
 
 The most common in cultivation are perhaps I alata, I. Buchanca, 
 I. orchoides and I. Persica. They are a very interesting group. 
 
 XIPHIUM GROUP. 
 
 ,This group comprises the Spanish Iris in some 75 or more vari- 
 eties, also Juncea, Filifolia, Tingitana, and the hybrids known as Dutch 
 Irises. The latter bloom earlier than the Spanish Irises. We name a 
 few of the best known of the Spanish Irises. 
 Alexander von Humboldt. Fine blue. 
 Cajanus. Large clear yellow. 
 Chrysolora. Large bright yellow. 
 King of the Blues. Fine blue. 
 King of the Whites. Pure white. 
 Louise. White and light blue. 
 L'Unique. Dark blue, falls pale blue. 
 Souvenir. Soft pale blue. 
 Thunderbolt. Bronze-brown. 
 W. T. Ware. Pale primrose yellow. 
 
 RETICULATA GROUP. 
 
 In this section or group we have the small netted bulbs of such 
 as I. Bakeriana, I. Danfordiae, I. reticulata and I. histrio. 
 
 XIPHIOIDES GROUP. 
 
 These bloom several weeks later than the Spanish Irises and no 
 doubt' are better adapted to culture in the open in the Middle and 
 Eastern States than the former. Unlike the other bulbous Irises they 
 do not require a rest; that is, do not need to dry out, and will stand 
 considerable moisture. They are very handsome and worthy of cul- 
 tivation. 
 
 There are some 100 varieties or more in cultivation. We name but 
 a few. 
 
 Anton Mauve. Beautiful lavender, with rose flakes. 
 Fairy Queen. Soft blue and white. 
 Johanna. Pure white, pale blue flaked. 
 King of the Blues. Fine dark blue. 
 Montblanc. Fine white. 
 Psyche. Pale blue. 
 
 The Giant. Rich deep blue, extra large. 
 Zephyr. Pale blue. 
 Zulu. Deep purple-red. 
 
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