The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-04

soon as ripe, It will terminate the fol-
lowing spring. Sow in a seed bed out
or doors. A layer Of leaves forms the
most desirable protection, care being
taken that the soil has good drainage.
AS soon as the leaves commence to
show they should be transplanted,
three inches apart in rows foot apart
Bone meal is the best fertilizer, and
Lime can be used when necessary.
! While It is generally considered that
iris requires three years to mature
before blossoming, IT is an acknowl-
edged fact that bed a year old con-
tang 100 little plants can produce 100
blossoms the first season, many of
them very beautiful and differing de-
cidedlY from those shown on the pa
rent stock. With proper selection of
varieties blossoms can be obtained In
the early summer or before, until late
in the midsummer.
The first to show blossom is the
dwarf Reticulata. 1t should be grown
in we'll prepared soil, enriched with
humus. and is q tiny dainty thing.
deep blue purple, and in form some
what like the Spanish iris. but much
smaller. Like most early boomers, 1t
Is short stemmed, but has the advan-
tage of being able to be moved when
in flower providing the plants are
kept moist while out of ground. This
first Of irises is shy and capricious and
needs loving care and attention.
Next in the floral procession follows
the Pumila, which resembles the Ger
man iris. in miniature, and ranging
from its deep rich purple to the lovely
sky blue of the Pumila Goerulea, and
| the new hybrid or large white lowered
variety known as the Schneecuppe.
! The Pumilas are quite hardy and
flourish best in sunny, dry portion Of
the garden. They are extremely at
tractive for borders and can be used
advantageously in fat drifts near
rocks.
| The Alpine and Crimean hybrids fol-
low close upon their heels and are both
larger Towering and longer stemmed.
The Bride, which Is Of course white. is
particularly lovely. and the Gracilia,
silver gray and lavender, Is a sweet
scented beauty. These all require
practically the same home conditions
as the Pumilas.
The intermediate irises are crosses
between the tall bearded German va
riety and the various Crimean hybrids.
They are larger Powered, of medium
height and sweetly scented. and bloom
between the early dwarfs and later
Germans. They are happiest II planted
in long natural looking groups. with
delicate green or open background. for
If placed by a stone wall they lose n
great part of their charm. They
should be intermixed with a generous
use of feathery plants to give them a
light, delicate tone.
Nothing is more enchanting than
the Elusive mourning iris" with its
delicate brownish gray coloring with a
pink cast. 1t is usually about two
sizes larger than the typical German
iris and is borne on an eighteen inch
stem. They should always be planted
in a we'll protected spot. the ground
enriched with a generous supply Of
bone meal and also goodly amount Of
lime, either old mortar pounded UP or
| air slaked lime. They should have
their surface raised slightly to drain
| both properly and promptly. After
their short season Of bloom cover the
| bed with old glass sash or boards to
protect them from rains, as the roots
must be kept thoroughly dry during
| their dormant season. They are par
ticularly effective when planted in
front of the pale pink Darwin tulips
or the deep mauve variety known as
Chester Jay Hunt and make a delight
full color scheme In the garden bed.
The name German iris is in reality a
misnomer, since very few irises are
native to Germany, and those few are
not the parents of those that We know
| by that name. OF these the Pallidas
are the most wonderful OF the bearded
variety, and vary in color from grayish
blue to lovely lavender flowers. and the
foliage has a gorgeous. glacous gray
cast. The variegated are brilliant
yellow and are very lovely when IN
blossom, and the Maori King is con-
sidered to be one of the most brilliant
of these yellow crowned irises. The
| Mrs. II. Darwin has q network Of fine
| of various shades Of lavender and pur-
pie.
These so-called German irises are
hardy and should be planted in dry,
drained soil. with plenty OF sun. AL
varieties. however. prefer to be left
undisturbed, but they increase so rap
idly that after year or two they can
easily be separated and used for new
beds. Care must be taken to pull the
roots apart and not to cut them. the
early fall being the best time for NOV
ing or separating.
The beauty OF the iris garden is the
variation of types. which seem almost
! innumerable. for they have been