Evening star., 1943-05-30

ilhc d IdlIlDOW dlLeT Ul6 SUOTI0
the iris after an unusually unfavor-
able winter are putting on one of
their loveliest displays-as fine as
any in recent years. The cool
weather and the recent showers
have combined to produce large
blooms on long, fine stalks. Their
bright colors we'll justify the nick
name of poor mans orchid"
Every garden should have a num-
ber of varieties of iris, so that this
hardy, dependable perennial may
contribute to its beauty. Several va
rieties give range in color and per-
haps bit longer Towering season.
Iris are available in an infinite
variety of colors and shades. Indeed
they make a rainbow of color in
the garden.
The iris is not difficult to grow
nor is it troubled by many enemies
that are difficult to eradicate. Some
say they have trouble in growing
iris In the heavier clay soils, but
this is largely due to excess moisture
around the crown of the plant. BY
raising the beds slightly or 3
inches-this trouble can be easily
overcome. The thick, fleshly roots
of the iris, commonly called rhi-
zones, must have dry situation.
Sweet Soil Is
Not Essential.
Iris are supposed to require
sweet soil, but they are quite tolerant
and are often to be found thriving
in soils acid enough for azaleas.
While they are usually we'll fed for
large size and they repay good cul-
ture, it is not difficult to find them
growing in beds that have had little
or no care for a decade or more.
Ordinarily most gardeners who grow
choice iris prepare bed for them
by digging a shallow trench and
filling it with well-enriched COM
post. The soil from the trench is
then piled on top of the compost
and this makes raised bed. The
iris rhizomes are then placed in
the soil, the roots are pushed
straight down into it and the rhi-
ZONES are CON6I6u. LIE
soon grow out of the soil.
Probably the biggest job in con-
nection with growing iris is the
lifting and dividing that should be
done every three to five years. Iris
are rapid multipliers and soon ex-
haust the soil, at the same time
becoming too crowded to thrive.
For this reason a periodic dividing
and reworking of the soil is neces-
sary. This may seem quite a chore
to some. To others it will mean
that though the cost of new and
highly desirable variety may be
rather steep, yet with its rapid
growth into fine, large clump in
two or three years the cost is not
prohibitive.
iris Do Not Need
Spraying.
Iris are one of the few flowers
that we may grow without having
to spray to protect them from in
sects and diseases This is not to
say that they do not have enemies,
for they do. But they do not need
spraying for protection. The iris
borer works in the rhizomes and
may bring root rot. This may be
prevented by watching for its tell
tale marks on the leaves. The egg
of the iris borer is laid on the
leaves. 1t soon matches and works
its way down through the leaf
sheaths into the rhizome. By watch
Ing for signs of the worms prog
ress into the leaf sheaths it may
be killed by stripping the leaf be-
tween the thumb and forefinger.
The iris borer is seldom active
until after the Towering season.
If the borer gets into the rhizome
the only means of eradication is to
lift the clump and to break the
rhizomes apart until the borer is eX-
posed. The borer is a large worm
easily seen and killed. After re-
moving the worm allow the roots to
dry in the sun for two or three
days. Dipping in bordeaux or sulphur
Qiquid or POWDER gives additional
protection against the root ro1s.
Root RotS and
Leaf Spot.
The root rots soft and corky are
not generally encountered but when
they are discovered immediate eradi-
cation should be attempted. Cen
orally digging, pruning out all in
fected tissue and disinfection are
practiced.
The leaf spot disease is fairly
common. While not serious on most
varieties, it is to be avoided if pos
sible. 1t does not show up on the
foliage in most seasons until after
the Towering season. 1t disfgures
the foliage during the summer when
the borders should benefit from the
healthy glossy green. Leaf spot
weakens the plant to certain eX-
tent thus reducing the strength and