Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-07


Most of the IRIS grown in this localit!
is of the Germanica type that bloom;
z in MAY. The German group is so com.
mon that the ordinary laynan has ac'
cepted it as the principal and mos
valuable type. Yet upon looking ovel
small planting of japanese iris a.
Cameronia, the home of j. A, HySlop
president of the Takoma Horticultural
Club, one is impressed with the merit
Of these iriSeS The flowers are really
very beautiful differing from the Spring
sriSeS. in that the bloom is broad anc
fiattened and borne at right angles tc
the stalks The stalk is more slender
than in the common irises, and gives
the flowers a daintier appearance. In
length Of stem the japanese are as tall
as the talleSt Of the common iris. The
color ranges from almost pure whites
through 10 deep blues. A white variety
with a gold throat was peculiarly at
tractive.
Unfortunately, the japanese iriSes
carry unpronouncable japanese names,
= fact which. from the viewpoint of the
ordinary gardener. is decided han6i-
CAP. II Is 10 be hoped that some one
capa bic Of tranSlating the names into
our language will Straighten out their
nomenclature. The japanese iriSeS
really are not competitors with the
German iris. because their times Of
blooming Go not even overlap. Late
June appears 10 be the normal season
Tor the japanese varieties. Mr., HySiop
states that the japanese lTSlS thrlVcS
best in moist soil toleTateS partial
shade. and unlike the German iris. does
not enjoy tranSplanJlnE. ClumpS once
established should be allowed to stand
TF- NssflrNc ca
divisions should not be made as small
rs is commonly practiced with the Ger
man group.
The gorgeousnesS of the blooms and
the profuSion with which they are
horne would seem 10 suggest that the
Japanese iris group is certain to become
popular in this locality.
PerennialS from Seed.
Herhaceous perennials. such as column
bIne. Canterbury bells. hardy plnks,
cnracpSis. IarkSpur. foXsloye. gaillardla,
oriental poppy and pyrethrum, may be
quite easily and quite inexpensively
grown at this season. Seed is readily
procurable at any of the seed stores
and may be purchased in small packets
in a quantity suitable for the home
garden. Preferably the seeds should
be sovn in rows in cold frame where
the Young plants may be watered and
partly shaded with a lath or cloth
screen. Adding sand to the soil will
favor termination and better root for
nation in the seedlings. However
good results may be expected in any
fertile garden soil.
Practically the only care needed VIII
be TO keep out weeds, especially while
the plants are very small, and to water
occasionally If the soil becomes dry.
AS the plants develop, it viii become
necessary TO transplant them espe-
ciaily if they are crowded. Or the
rows may be simply thinned TO furnish
the necessary spacing. The young
plants NAV be carried over the Winter
in the frames and set out IN the early
Spring or may be set out in late
Autumn Just before the soil freezes.
Raising perennials Will be found
both interesting and profitable and will
supply a prolific source OF Spring and
Summer flowers.
Sweet Peas.
For some unknown reasons sweet
meas do not seem 10 do at all well in
this locality. Whether this is matter
Of temperature or disease or Of both
there Is no definite evidence at hand
to prove the case. One thing is GER
tain. sweet peas do well in various
localities much farther south than