For Se/Jtember, 1922 



261 



at first, but which gTadually fade away. These dots, which 

 are Icyendary as marks of the fingers of Alahomet, have 

 given the plant its common name. It is exceedingly pretty 

 and docs best with partial shade. Easily propagated by 

 stem or root cuttings and also from seed. (Native of the 

 Caucasus.) 



Aster. Of this well known genus alpiiius is the only 

 species suitable for rockeries, and for this purpose is very 

 popular in Britain. There are varieties with pink, blue 

 and white flowers. ( Occurs in the Rocky Alountains.) 



Aiibrictio. Rock Cress. This is generally considered 

 as one of the indispensible rock plants, it being unequalled 

 in beauty, hardiness and ease of culture. It is, however, of 

 rather a rambling nature. Deltoidia is the most important 

 species, with purple flowers in Spring. Fire King is a 

 variety with crimson flowers ; there are eampbelli with 

 violet and leilchlini with rose-colored fltiwcrs. The general 

 practice is to clip them back after flowering. They with- 

 stand drougb.t well and should have a sunny position. In- 

 creased by division and by seed. 



Campanula. Under the name of Canterbury Cells this 

 genus has for many generations been one of the indispensa- 

 ble plants of old-fashioned gardens. There are also a 

 number of alpine species, of which some at least should 

 never be excluded from rock gardens. One of the best 

 known of the latter is carpatica, which has both blue and 

 white flowers. This is native of the Austrian Mountains, 

 and has several named varieties, of which riverslea is the 

 best, having rich blue flowers, and is one of the most pleas- 

 ing of the Harebells; rotnndifiora is the common Harebell, 

 and is found in Eurooe, .Asia and America. The species 

 having the darkest blue flowers is piillaj from the Austrian 

 Mountains. A rather rare western American species is 

 scoittcri, but it has a more straggling growth than the 

 others mentioned. 



Coptis frifoliata. Gold Thread. This is a small ever- 

 green found on the Adirondacks. It receives its common 

 name from the slender, thread-like, golden-yellow roots. 

 Flowers, which are both white and yellow, appear in June. 

 Should have a partially shaded place and requires plenty 

 of moisture. While not one of the choicest of rock 

 plants, it is worthy of a place that can be filled with noth- 

 ing better. Propagated by division and by seed. 



Corniis. Even among those possessing considerable 

 horticultural knowledge are to be found many who are 

 unaware of the two beautiful dwarf species, native of this 

 coimtry as well as of others, which this genus contains. 

 Their beauty will to some extent be realized from the fact 

 that they aie practicallv miniatures of C. Horida, as, like it, 

 it is their bracts, not flowers proj>er, that are the principal 

 source of their attractiveness. C. canadensis, Bunchberry, 

 is one of those chaste gems of the floral world which 

 delight all plant lovers. It grows about six inches tall and 

 spreads by underground stems. It is generally at its best 

 in July, after then its beauty is prolonged by the red fruit 

 and foliage ; succica is very similar and quite as handsome, 

 although its "flowers'' are slightly smaller, but they have 

 the advantage of appearing a month later. They should 

 have partial shade, and it is impossible to supply them with 

 too much water during the Summer. 



Daphne. Of this genus cneoriun is well known in bor- 

 ders, but it does better under rock garden conditions. Its 

 fragrant and beautiful pink flowers in Spring and later 

 on delight all who know it : hlagayana has white flowers 

 which are also fragrant and is one of the best of the genus 

 for the rockery. It is rather more trailing in its habit than 

 the other, and can be readily propagated by layering. 

 Daphnes prefer a soil containing lime and should have a 

 top dressing- of rich, gritty conipost shaken among their 

 stems every year. 



Di^nthus. This genus contains a wide range of well- 



known plants from the Sweet William to the Carnation. 

 A few of the dwarfer hardy pinks have much to com- 

 mend them for rockery purposes. They like plenty of sun 

 and shoifld have their collars surrounded by small stones, 

 limestone chips being preferable. The following are the 

 best suited for rock gardening, although there are others 

 which may be used: Alpinus, glacialis and cinnabarinus, 

 all native of Europe and Asia. Propagated by seed and 

 by cuttings. 



DodccaniJicon. Shooting Star. American Cowslip. This 

 g'enus is spread all over North America and is also found 

 in Asia. It contains some charming and graceful rock 

 plants, which require a cool, moist, partially shaded bay 

 to do their best. The flowers of individual species vary 

 much in color. The most common is media, which is found 

 from Maine to Texas; a variety of this, integrifoUum, 

 also known as jeffreyannin, with rosy-red flowers, is na- 

 tive of the Rockies. The most beautiful species is clcvc- 

 landi, which grows in California, but it is not hardy in 

 the northern States. Propagation is by division of the 

 crowns and by seed. 



Erica. Heath. The Heaths are mostly compact in 

 growth and carry a profusion of flowers and are well suited 

 for rock gardens. Those best known in this country and 

 which are hardy in the northern States are : vagans, Cor- 

 nish Heath, and vulgaris, (Calluna vulgaris). The writer 

 has known vagans to go through the Winter all right 

 without protection except that it was in the shade, wdiere 

 the temperature fell to twenty-two degrees below zero; 

 and vulgaris, which is the Scotch Heather, has withstood 

 thirty-five degrees below zero in an exposed place, but 

 covered with pine boughs. There are both pink and white 

 flowered kinds of these. Carnea, Alpine Forest Heath, is 

 little known in this country, but it is a jewel among the 

 hardy Pleaths and is the most popular of the genus among 

 the rock gardeners of Britain, it being as hardy as a lichen. 

 It has rosy-purple flowers early in the year ; like the others, 

 it has white varieties. This likes some limestone in the 

 soil, and may be propagated by division ; but they are all 

 easily raised from cuttings of the growth of the year taken 

 in August or September, rooted in sand in a close cutting 

 box, and when rooted transferred into small pots and win- 

 tered in a cold frame. The compost for the pots should 

 be three parts leaf mold and one part sharp sand. As they 

 grow slowly, it is best to carry them for a year in pots, 

 placing shade over them in Summer. There are other 

 Ericas more or less hardy in this country, but the above 

 three are the best and most reliable. 



Dryas. Mountain Avens. Evergreen trailers allied to 

 Geum, of which the following are native : octopetala, which 

 is the most beautiful, bearing numerous white flowers in 

 July, but it is too rampant for a small rockery ; drum- 

 luaudii and integrifolia are more compact in growth. Their 

 evergreen foliage is sometimes browned bv \^'inter sun ; 

 this can be prevented by a few pine branches. All are 

 native of the New England mountains. They may be 

 propagated by division in the .\utumn, also by cuttings 

 and seed. 



Eriuus alpinus. This is one of the most charming of 

 the European alpines, having purple flowers by April until 

 June ; in some varieties the flowers are white and crimson. 

 It is best raised from seed sown where the plants are to 

 stand. 



Gaulthcria procunibens.. This a common eastern 

 .American creeping plant which does well in the more 

 shaded part of a rockery, as do also oz'alifolia and myrsin- 

 ites, natives of the Mount Ranier district of the west ; the 

 last mentioned is very small, only two inches tall. While 

 their white flowers are very pretty, they are principally 

 desirable for their red berries, which remain throughout 



( Continurd on page 262) 



