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THE CULTIVATION OF THE
TALL BEARDED iRISES.
By G L. PILKINGTON.
Some observations regarding
soil--its effect on growth and health and some
remarks on Rhizome Rot.
THE Tall Bearded Irises
are admittedly impartial as to soil, provided good drainage and
ample sunshine are afforded them. The presence of lime is also
known to be beneficial. The effect of poor and light (sandy) soils
as compared with rich and heavy (clay) soils on the growth, blooming
and health of these Irises is, however, noticeably different and
it is of these two conditions, in their extremes, that I propose
to write, having given both types of soil a somewhat lengthy trial
during the past fourteen years. The natural soil of my garden
was a rich loam with a sub-soil of red clay and the drainage,
in consequence, was very indifferent.
.....After
a visit to Holland in May, 1911, where I saw Bearded Irises growing
and blooming profusely in more or less pure sand I was tempted
to try and reproduce the same conditions in my own garden in the
hope of obtaining similar results.
.....The
garden in question was a natural "sun-trap" facing due
south and protected from the north, west and east by thick shrubberies.
.....The
design of the garden comprised a large circular bed of some thirty
feet diameter rising to a central point and intersected by flagged
paths, thus giving me seven beds.
.....Recognising
that drainage was most essential, the first difficulty to be overcome
was the clay subsoil. I, accordingly, set to work first to remove
the top layer of loam and, having done this, I then proceeded
to dig nut the clay to a further depth of a foot and, having replaced
it with broken bricks and old turf, I put back the original loam,
adding an equal quantity of sea-sand.
.....I
also laid land-drains round the circumference of the bed to carry
away any surplus water.
.....The
Irises were then planted (August) and, in the years 1913 and 1914,
flowered exceedingly well.
.....During
the following years, and until July, 1919, they received no attention
owing to my absence with the Colours. By this time the different
varieties had all grown into one another, and the garden was a
confused mass. Furthermore, the fact that 1919 was a very poor
season far blooni with me, and also that many of the labels had
become illegible, male the task of identification a difficult
one, and I had to trust to my original planting plan and memory
to unravel the tangle. One feature, however, was most noticeable,
namely, that all the plants had deteriorated greatly.
.....The
growth was small and "thin," and the colour of the foliage
was pale and anmemic, instead of being a good healthy green. I
accordingly lifted the whole lot and replanted the strongest pieces,
after partly remaking the beds by the addition of loam, at the
same time giving a liberal dressing of basic slag, and also superphosphate
of lime before planting. The growth in the following year (1920)
was much improved, and the display of bloom moderate.
.....The
plants, moreover, were pretty healthy, and I suffered very little
from rhizome rot, although Irises growing in other parts of the
garden were rather badly affected vith this disease.
.....Since
1920, for comparative purposes, my new Irises each year have been
planted in the natural soil; in raised beds, of course, with the
addition of limestone clippings and basic slag and have always
made very vigorous growth.
.....The
amount of bloom has not been anything out of the ordinary, hut
a slight attack of rhizome rot last May (1923) deprived me of
what promised to be a very good show of bloom.
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