48 CRUCIFER^. 



fectly smooth, and margined with creamy yellow. It is not 

 one of the most elegant of hardy variegated plants, but is very 

 distinct, and has the additional merit of being adapted to grow 

 in dry sandy soils where many of the more choice variegated 

 kinds would not exist ; indeed it should be planted in poor 

 soil in order to insure the best development of its peculiarities, 

 being apt to run green in rich soil. Native of Britain. The 

 flower-stems should be diligently removed as soon as they 

 appear. 



Draba {Whitlow- Grass). — A rather numerous genus, com- 

 prising both annual and perennial plants, but mostly perennial. 

 They are diminutive alpine plants inhabiting the most elevated 

 positions in the lofty mountain-ranges of both hemispheres and 

 the arctic regions. They are best adapted, therefore, for cul- 

 ture on rockwork, on which they are very pretty ornaments, 

 though, like most of the inhabitants of those wild and frigid 

 homes, they are difficult to keep under the more genial influ- 

 ences of our climate. They are propagated by seeds sown as 

 soon as ripe in a cold frame, or under a hand-glass in small pots — 

 or the seed may be kept over winter, and sown in March in the 

 same way ; and in each case they should be pricked off into 

 gritty loam, two or three together in a small pot, well drained, 

 keeping close and shading for a few days till the plants begin 

 to grow. They may also be increased by cuttings in spring, 

 after some growth has been formed, in sandy loam under a glass 

 out of doors in a shady place ; and by division in spring as 

 growth commences, or in autumn after growth is quite matured. 

 Gritty moderately-rich loam is the most congenial soil to these 

 plants, and they prefer a rather sunny position. 



D. aizoides {Aizoon-iike D.) — This is a dwarf- tufted species 

 growing about 3 or 4 inches high, producing its narrow rigid 

 leaves in densely-packed, somewhat pyramidal, rosettes. The 

 flowers are bright yellow, in small compact trusses, and appear 

 in March, April, and May. Native of the mountains of cen- 

 tral and southern Europe \ found also indigenous in Wales, but 

 suspected of having strayed from cultivation to the natural 

 positions it inhabits near Swansea. 



D. Aizoon {Aizoon D.) — This species is nearly related to the 

 last, but distinct. The habit of growth and foliage are similar, 

 but the flowers are smaller, in larger clusters, and are pale yellow 

 or sulphur ; they appear at the same time. Height 3 to 4 

 inches. Native of Carinthia. 



D. ciliaris. — This species is very distinct in foliage and 

 flowers from either of the preceding. It grows about the same 

 height, but the foliage is less rigid both as regards texture and 



