Evening star., 1934-05-27

The Iris.
Under the effect OF almost tropical
temperatures, the iris season has
passed with unusual rapidity. yet
rarely has there been a more beautiful
display Of iris than this year. The
cold Winter, which caused much in
jury to many kinds of plants, did but
little harm to the iris and in fact may
have been beneficial by killing some of
its enemies, such as the borer.
The number of new irises to appear
each year is unbelievably large, but
as Of permanent value. Some Of the
leading varities Of iris have been orig
mated in this vicinity by strictly anna
teur breeders who follow flower breed
ing simply as a hobby. Among such
varieties may be mentioned Morning
Splendor, Tropical Seas, Arlington and
Cockatoo. Those who have attended
the National Capital Dahlia and Iris
Society exhibits at the Carlton Hotel
have seen many new varieties In the
process of winning favor and a name
There Is such a myriad of varieties
that 1t now must be a striking seed
ling. indeed, that gains wide recog-
milton.
June and July are ideal for trans
planting iris and plants set out at
that time will bloom next year. About
the third season after setting, iris
plants reach their prime and shortly
afterward should be divided and re-
set in carefully prepared soil. Few
plants surpass the iris in sheer abil-
ity to live, for example, q piece Of
rhizome with a bud will sometimes
root on sod. This, however, is not ad-
vising such careless methods for the
iris that wins prizes at the flower
shows has received real care. Among
new irises that have made much ap-
peal are Rosy Dawn. flesh pink. and
Midgard, combination of pink and
yellow tones. and purissima. the clear
est tall growing white that has been
evolved.
ANIMALS in the R0ckery.
4 WRITER in Wisconsin Horticul-
- ture suggests the following an
nuals as supplements to the peren-
malls IN the rock garden: Anagallis
grandif1ora, Antirrhinum Sutton's
Little Gem, Cheiranthus Allioni, Di-
anthus Chinensis Tom Thumb, DIAN
thus Sweet Wivelsfield, Gazania longi-
scapa. Gyposophila muralis, Ionopsid-
lum acaule, Leptosiphon hybridus,
Lmum grandihorum, Mesembryan-
themum crystallinum, Nolana, Place.
liza campanularia. Portulaca, Sanvita-
liza procumbens. Saponaria calabrica
and Verbena venoSa. Most of these
are dwarf plants and would supply
color in Summer when the regular in
habltants of the rockery are resting.
The list Is offered as q suggestion
with the idea that only a few of the
species would be tried in any single
season.
New Books.
4 MONG new books appearing this
Spring is an abbreviated and less
costly edition of "Hortus," written by
DR.. L. H. Bailey. the dean of Amer
ican horticultural writer's: DAY
Lilies" by DR.. A. B. Stout of the New
York Botanical Garden, and Small
Fruit Culture by J. S. Shoemaker of
Ohio State University.
DR.. Stout's book tells of the won.
derful improvement made in day
lilies (hemerocallis) in recent years.
It Is now possible to have flowers of
this genus from May to September
and In many new color combinations.
Garden Notes.
2 OSES need extra care this Sprinp
particularly those varieties which
were frozen back to the soil level.
Cultivation to keep out weeds Is i'm
portant and fertilizing needs consid-
Grafton. Many different sources of
plant food are utilized readily by the
rose, bone meal, super-phosphate, ami
NAL manures and so-called complete
fertilizers. In the absence of manure.
the complete fertilizer is possibly the
more certain to supply the roses
needs. Rather than to apply one
heavy amount of fertilizer, it is safer
and more effective to feed moderately
after each flush of bloom throughout
the Spring and Summer.
One of the most beautiful exhibits
at one Of the recent Takoma Horti-
cultural Club shows was a branch of
beauty bush, Kolkwitzia amabilis, dis
played by c. c. Thomas of Takoma
Park. Mr.. Thomas states that the
plant seems to have a low fertility
requirement and blooms best on
poorer quality soils. Beauty bush is
said by Bailey's Encyclopedia of Hor-
ticulture to be related to the abelia
and indeed a comparison of their
blooms will bear out this statement.
Exhibiting blooms to advantage is
an art of which the possessors should
feel great deal of pride and satisfac-
ton. Striking examples of the art
and lack of art may be seen at any
flower show. Too often the person
without knowledge of correct exhibit