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1. BALLERINE. A large flower of charming colouring, good in Increase, sweetly fragrant, reliable in flowering and remaining in bloom. Height 4 ft. 3 in. It will stand for many years where it is happy, and, unlike some varieties, is perhaps best treated in this way.

2. GOLDEN HIND. A splendid yellow self, good increaser and regular bloomer, of good form and proportion, a good doer in all districts. The stem only just tops 3 feet; a few inches longer would be an improvement.

3. DÉPUTÉ NOMBLOT. Looks every inch a monarch, fine form and proportion, rapid increase, standards coppery-bronze and lilac, falls purple or wine colour shot bronze. Height 4 feet.

4. GERMAINE PERTHUIS. This variety has never been given quite the appreciation it deserves. It answers every requirement of a good Iris and stands bad weather without turning a hair. The colour- violet-purple-- is not sensational, neither is it dull. Height 3 ft. 3 in.

5. LOS ANGELES. Although reputedly tender in some districts, probably on account of its mesopotamica blood, it has never given me any trouble or demanded any special treatment. My favourite among plicatas and superior to any in sheer aristocratic beauty. The large white flowers on 4 feet stems, have a reddish flush on the fall hafts and the blue style-arms add piquancy. It is free flowering, increases rapidly, and is quite a healthy Iris.

6. JOYCETTE. A remarkably good American red-toned Iris, not a rampant increaser but not by any means shy in that respect. Good as regards form and proportion and valuable as flowering rather late in the season. Height 3 ft. 6 in.

7. SHAH JEHAN. A glorious Iris. It is not easy to describe the colour scheme, but it may be said that the standards are a smoky-buff which becomes more yellow as the flower ages, while the richly coloured falls are a shade of dark, reddish plum-purple, edged lavender. It has become one of my favourites after a season of doubt while it was establishing itself. Not the least of its attractions is that it comes in late mid-season (third and fourth week of June), and is in fact usually tile last to flower of my 350 varieties (reduced from 500 to make room for vegetables). Extremely rapid increase. Form and proportion excellent. Good stem. Height 3 ft. 9 in.

8. SIRIUS (Bunyard). There is another Sirius, a French variety, so that it is necessary to distinguish this by adding the name of the raiser. With some reluctance I have come to the conclusion that SOUVENIR DE MADAME GAUDICHAU is superseded by SIRIUS. Its brilliance of colouring (blue and violet) is the same but it has better and taller stems and larger flowers. In shape and proportion, rate of increase, reliability of flowering and insusceptibility to disease it answers all requirements. Height 3 ft. 9 in.

9. PERSIA. I have not been able to get the R.H.S. and the Iris Society judges to see this variety with my eyes. However, I will have the courage of my convictions and include it in this select list despite the opinions of those who sit in the "seats of the mighty." PERSIA seems to me to fulfill all the requirements of a good Iris and is picked out for admiration by every visitor. A notable good point is the large number of blooms on a stem-nine or ten is quite a usual number and I have had a stem bearing twelve. The standards are of a rather smoky tone of blue, and the falls a rich blue-purple, paler at the margins. Height 4 ft. 3 in.

10--30: Now I have to choose from many candidates which are in the running for a place among the elect and I am afraid of coming a cropper. However, I am not responsible to anyone but myself, and de gustibus non est disputandum, so on with the show.

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