GARDEN NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 10

GARDEN NOTES.

—The Iris.— In the wide range of our flowering plants few are more varied and attractive or more fit for economic uses than the iris (from "iris," the eye, referring to the variety ar>d beauty of the flowers)- In modern days the name given is tho rainbow flower, from the fact of its possessing all the hues and tints of that "permanent assurance symbol*' set up in the heavens as a guarantee of safety against another universal deluge. i The order Iridaeese contains the large number of 160 species widely diffused, and adapted for particular cultivation. Accord- : _ing to I. G. Baker's " Handbook," the outdoor garden has few genera which are richer in speoies and varieties than the iris, as there are few months in the year when one or other of its representatives is not in evidence. Even in winter the Lioom of several varieties may be enjoyed if they are planted in a sheltered, sunny spot, or, better still, upon the rockery. For this purpose stylosa, alata, and persiea are available. Of early spring-flowering kinds there are a great number, rich in colour "and fragrant in flower, and they should receive more encouragpment from gardeners than is usually accorded them. In late spring there are others quite os charming in their way, and a little later th» delicately-beautiful eristata is in flower. This last is one of the varieties that "annot be- too freely planted where a sandy peat soil can be given it. "May, however, is 'the' month of irises, as June is of roses; then the lovely Rhizomatous section generally, from the common blue germanica to the finer descendants of pallida, negleeta, squaleus, and variegata, is m full beauty. Nor is June without its special iris, for then the flat, Olematis-like flowers of laevigata commence to blossom,' and-- continue right on until the summer, while contemporary • with them are many little-known, but lovely, species in I. Boi3sieri, I. tingitana, and I. Juncea, and the familiar, but charming,,- 1. sibirica, and the English and Spanish irises in great variety." So says Nicholson,- in his supplement to the Century Diotionafy, and our readers can transpose the months, substituting) November and December for May and June. In earlier dictionaries the irises were divided into three classes — greenhouse herbaceous, hardy bulbs, and hardy herbaceous. Rich loamy soil suits the herbaceous, but the others should have a good proportion of sand, leaf- mould, and peat. Now the category is very largely extended. The flag: iris will fkmrish in any fairly rich soil. SomD deligh- in a rcasting during summer, and a light, well-drained soil. Many growers of this section advocate lifting the roots a month after flowering and placing 1 them on a dry, sunny shelf until ■ replanting in our month of June. The bearded irises, as a whole, delight in a fairly dry soil like a sandy loam, and the j best results are attained by not too freJ quent disturbance. The crowns may he broken up every third year, and the most . vigorous portions planted. This should be done as soon aftei flowering as convenient. For waterside planting a host of species are available. They should be pfan'ted a little above the water level, when a fine effect will be obtained. They are- also good border plants. The common water flag (I. pseudo acorus) and its variegated forms are by no means to be despised, as they flourish in marshy spots, where little else of the same bold and floriferous character .is to be found. The soft-coloured, robust hybrids, known as Monspur, are equally .well adapted for border or waterside, and the Japanese irises are equally accommodating so long as, when located in the border, . they are assigned n moist position. To- ; ccc them in their greatest beauty, however, they should be grown near the water, in company with other semi-aquatic kinds. Of the bulbous irkes, the English and the Spanish varieties are the most popular, for they yield Ihe most gorgeous colour effects at a minimum of cost. Whole beds may be and are, sometimes devoted to them, but ths painter alone can give an idea of tbeir brightness and beauty— a beauty which is bo longer continued if the beds are not exposed to the full sun. One frequently hears that the irises are too ephemeral to b-*s used for decorative- purposes indoors. This charge would not be- if the cultivator would cut them as buds and allow them to expand in water. For pot culture many of the irises are amongst the brightest flowerj under glass. Ttey should be potted up in autumn and afterwards placed in a cold frame. All bulbous irises, when grown outside, should bave a sandy, but fairly rich, Foil. No protection is needed in such a soil in winter, although a liftle lighflilter strewn over their quarters during severe weather will ensure them against bad: frosts. Irises have comparatively few pests. Slugs are troublesome to the early flowering sorts, and should be trapped: but the worst pest is a species of fungus found upon I. reticulara, known as Mystrosporium adnatum. It is characterised by inky-black patches upon thf> bulbs, which gradually rot, leaving an empty shell. Soaking- the bulbs for two hours in a solution of formalin, one part to 300 parts water, will destroy the fungus. All badly-infested bnlbs should be hize&aa. The fungus Is very common and very destructive-. The Irideas, so common in Europe ancl . South Africa, have not taken up their abode j to any extent in. New Zealand. According to Hooker, only one species is represented — libpriia, of which" h*» mentions three varieties. Nearly allied is the r&upo. so much, used by the Maoris for thatching

roofs and go indispensable to the cooper in the absence of the bulrush in making his casks both air and watertight. I. M. I.