ALPINE FLOWERS. Part II. 



ACHILLEA MCTTBIHhaK.— Egyptian Yarrow. 



A VERY silvery plant in all its parts, with finely cut leaves, and 

 handsome heads of rich clear yellow flowers. It is distinct 

 from any other kind, and, while quite equal to any of its relatives 

 in beauty of flower, has something of the grace of an elegant 

 fern in its leaves. A native of Egypt and Greece, and probably 

 widely distributed in the East, it is not hardy in all soils and 

 positions, but is quite so on well-drained sunny sides of rock- 

 work, and I have observed it survive out of doors in borders. 

 In a wild state it seldom grows more than about eight or ten 

 inches high, but in rich light garden soil it reaches fifteen or 

 eighteen inches. It is very suitable for the embellishment of 

 rockwork among the taller plants, and may also be used in 

 the mixed border or the summer flower garden. On the rock- 

 work the best way to treat it would be to plant, it in light loam 

 mixed with brick rubbish, and in this it would grow compactly 

 and survive many years. On chalky or very dry warm banks 

 it would probably prove a hardy perennial. It flowers in 

 summer and early autumn, and is very easily multiphed by 

 division. When grown as a bedding plant, it is best kept over 

 the winter in frames ; and if the flowers are pinched off, it 

 forms a dense mass of elegantly cut and very silvery leaves, and 

 fbr this reason alone should prove very useful in the flower- 

 garden. 



ACHILLEA OTuKSTENm.— White Alpine Yarrow. 



A DWARF and distinct sort, covered with a very short, silky 

 down, which makes the plant almost of a silvery white. It 

 seldom rises above six inches, and the corymbs of flowers, which 

 appear in summer, are of a pure white ; but the plant will pro- 

 bably be as much grown for its very silvery foliage as for its 

 flowers. It hkes light peaty soil or free loam, and should have 

 a position on rockwork, where its white fohage and flowers 

 would contrast well with the alpine plants that flower at the 

 same season. Though cultivated nearly 200 years ago in the 

 Edinburgh Botanic Garden, it is now very seldom seen in our 

 gardens. A native of the Alps of Austria and Styria, increased 

 by careful division of the root, and also by seed, though seed of 

 it is not common. 



