If you are planning to build the Readers’ 
204 Service can often give helpful suggestions aT H E 
The Shell Book 
As readable as fiction 
The first Ym ue An 
popular book | | introduction 
to the 
interesting 
creatures 
collectors a . which inhabit 
and 3 a a shells, 
advanced “a native and 
students foreign 
By JULIA ELLEN ROGERS 
DEPENDABLE guide to a knowledge of living mol- 
lusks, and an aid to the identification of shells; the 
cultivation of oysters and other shell fish is described, 
and instructions are given for making aquaria. It is au- 
thoritative, but contains few technical terms. With its eight 
full-page plates in color, and 473 photographs reproduced 
in black and white, “The Shell Book” represents the only 
adequate work on the subject. $4.40 postpaid. 
By the Same Author - 
The Tree Book. The most valuable, accurate, and elaborate book 
ever published in America on our native trees. 350 beautiful photo- 
graphic illustrations (16 in color) by A. R. Dugmore. $4.34 postpaid. 
COUNTRY LIFE THE WoRLD's WoRK Tue GARDEN 
IN AMERICA MAGAZINE 
DOUBLEDAY. PAGE & Co. NEW YORK. 
MERRICK 
. LONG ISLAND 
Plots 100 x 200 and larger FOR SALE. Houses willbe built 
from purchaser’s own plans, and liberal terms may be made. 
This property is in the center of a rapidly developing section of 
Long Island, is fully restricted and is surrounded by gentlemen’s 
country places, within an hour from the heart of New York City. 
For maps, prices, etc., address 
Edward McVickar 
GENERAL AGENT 
200 Broadway, New York 
and 1 WEST 34th STREET 
GARDEN - MNG AZIEN 
May, 1908 
The Earliest Clematis 
Sv FAR as I know, the earliest-blooming 
clematis is the mountain clematis 
(C. montana), a species with fragrant white 
flowers which blooms from the last week 
of April until the end of May. In the typical 
form the flowers are only one inch across, 
but the variety grandiflora, prominently 
advertised in 1907, is said to have flowers 
one and one-half to two inches across. There 
is also a new variety, rubens, with rosy red 
flowers. This species is hardy, although 
a native of the Himalayas. 
The mountain clematis is a vigorous vine, 
often reaching a height of fifteen to twenty 
Boe Sg 
In April and May the flowers of the mountain 
clematis (CU. montana) appear; white with yellow 
centre, fragrant, about one inch across 
feet. The flowers are about an inch across 
and become pink as they grow older. They 
have conspicuous yellow stamens and are 
composed of four sepals, these being the 
showy portion of the flower in the genus 
Clematis. The species closely related to 
this are evergreen, but none of them are 
in cultivation. The mountain clematis is 
deciduous. Unlike the common large-flow- 
ered varieties of clematis, such as Jackmanni, 
the mountain clematis does not bloom upon 
the new growth. It flowers on year-old, 
ripened wood, and therefore should be 
pruned after it blooms, instead of in early 
spring, if it needs any pruning at all. 
The accompanying picture was taken 
at the Arnold Aboretum, Jamaica Plain, 
Mass. The blossom looks more like an 
anemone than a clematis. 
New Jersey. Tuomas McApAm. 
