Evening star., 1933-03-16
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES Z. TRACEWELL.

finding that the really beautiful things
Of the garden are difiicult to handle.
Not SO with the iris.
Here Is something lovely which is at
the same time as "sure IRE" in its way
as the petunia and the 1nnia.
The iris has its faults, Of course.
It can get the borer, and that sort OF
thing, as well as any Of them, but by
and large 1t Is a standard plant for the
newcomer, one which he ought to plant
even more than he does.
Thrusting up its clean leaves early, 1t
becomes q silent symbol Of all garden
Ing, as 1t produces its exquisite flowers,
which last Q long time, and then keeps
Its fine stih leaves all Summer.
It may be planted under trees with
success, since 1t flowers before most Of
them are in leaf. When such . situA-
ton Is chosen, however, care should be
taken to see that drainage Is good.
Thus q place along q driveway Is all
right. If the base Of the drive is some
sort Of cinders or other coarse material
which will permit good drainage.
We have spoken altogether Of the
so-called bearded or German iris, the
one best known to most persons. It
|
snese iris prefer soil with little lime
content: they like, too, a damp situa-
ton, such as along a stream or around
pool. Fortunately they do very well
In the average garden in almost any
situation, just as long as they are well
watered in dry spells.
There are other types Of iris, good for
the expert and any gardener who hap
pens to be specially interested, but the
German and the japanese will suface
for most home gardeners.
No one should be balked from plant
ing them because Of the specter Of the
iris borer and the iris rot, the one an
insect, and the other Q bacterial dis
ease.
Thousands Of persons enjoy these
plants without once ever knowing a
thing about either one. Cleanliness is
sufficient to keep both of them down
Cutting off old leaves in the very late
Fall, and the use Of lime where indi-
Gated, will do something toward con-
trolling the moth which lays the eggs
which develop into borers
Cutting OIL bad-appearing leaves al
all times-there will be plenty left-is
sort Of pruning which might be called
iris insurance. Never hesitate to yank
of bad-looking leaf in your garden
The chances are that It probably Is not
doing any good, but Is goieg to do q
lot Of harm. Do not be tender in re-
gard to bad-appearing leaves and shoots
Of all types. II they look Ill, remove
them. This sort Of piecemeal pruning
helps Q plant, stimulates 1t to new
growth, and, above all, prevents many
diseases from spreading. It also is the
lazy gardeners best preventive Of fu.
ture hard work.
Perhaps that Is one of the real
charms Of the iris, after all. It takes g
little work! No one who stews ant
stews around over q garden would ever
admit as much, for the world, but It u
true, Just the same, not because W.
happen to say 1t Is, but because It Is 3
fact easily observed by any one. The
iris, as most people know 1t, is almost
foolproof. Once planted. 1t goes alone
for years. gradually getting 30 thicl
that 1t blooms poorly. Then it must be
taken up. divided, and reset; II German
with part Of the rhizome above ground
This latter requirement is often over.
looked, with the result that the plants
will not flower. At least half Of the
rhizome should be above the level OF
the ground. We speak solely Of the
bearded iris, Of course. The japanese
varieties have roots.