August 24, 1907. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
557 
-THE MOUNTAIN 
- Avens - 
(Dryas octopetala.) 
Only two species of Dryas are known, 
tat under notice having pure white 
: wers not unlike those of a Strawberry 
c a white Potentilla. The plant is, in- 
ced, closely allied to Potentilla and 
lum. D. octopetala is a native of this 
untry, but is only known in a wild state 
t those who climb the mountains. It 
sdom or never occurs at low elevations, 
I t on the edges of rocks and precipices 
c on narrow ledges exposed to the full 
f-y of every storm that blows. 
The plant is shrubby in habit, and 
reads gradually over the ground, form- 
[ r a carpet of green leaves not unlike 
5 all Oak leaves to which the plant has 
:n fancifully compared, and which ex- 
c.ins the meaning of Dryas. On these 
.;h elevations the plant blooms in June 
; July, according as the season is early 
, late, and after the handsome white 
:,vers drop, they are followed by fruits 
,'ich are almost as ornamental as the 
Ivers. The numerous styles in each 
P.ver lengthen and become feathery, 
ry similar to those of Anemone Pulsa- 
: a or Old Man’s Beard (Clematis 
) alba). 
t is rather remarkable to find these 
uilarities in two orders that are fairly 
,dely separated, such as the Crowfoot 
: nily and the Rose family, to which this 
:mt belongs. The leaves, however, in 
:s case are evergreen, and serve to show 
: the beauty of the feathery fruits until 
::v drop off or are borne down by the 
■ rms of winter. 
The rockery is the most suitable place 
t this alpine on account of its dwarf 
I bit. A compost should be made up 
insisting chiefly of peat and leaf mould, 
tiugh peat alone would prove the most 
ntable material to keep the plant cool 
1 lowland gardens. It serves to keep it 
tol by retaining the moisture much in 
12 same way as leaf mould or decaying 
'getation. The most suitable situation 
' uld be on a slightly sloping ledge of 
ij rockery facing the east, so that while 
iwould get the morning sun, it might be 
weltered from fierce heat at midday and 
< ring the afternoon. 
The plant may be propagated by cut- 
gs, seeds, and by division. Those who 
ve only small plants would find seeds 
e most suitable means of propagating 
e plant, thereby avoiding the lifting or 
e cutting of small specimens. A com- 
>st for cuttings might be made up of 
nd and peat in about equal proportions, 
rev should be dibbled into this, watered, 
d placed in a cold frame with a northern 
pect. 
Cherry-flavoured Apple. 
Having grafted the roots of an Apple 
id Cherry tree together, says a contem- 
>rary, a Minnesota farmer has produced 
Cherry-flavoured Apple. All the same, 
i think it exists only in the imagination. 
Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala). [ Maclaren and Sons. 
THE VERNAL 
= Squill = 
(Scilla verna.) 
We take this opportunity of reminding 
readers that of the three Squills native to 
this country, two of them have small 
flowers, namely, the vernal and the 
autumn Squill. The Vernal Squill is the 
prettier of the two, and might be planted 
by those who take delight in a variety 
of hardy bulbs. The accompanying il¬ 
lustration shows the habit of the plant 
which is quite different from the. two 
others, especially in the flowers, being ar¬ 
ranged almost in an umbel on the top of 
short stems. The leaves are also very 
narrow accompanying the flowers, and are 
dark green. 
As the plant is only 4 in. to 6 in. high, 
the best place for it would be on the 
rockery. It is unnecessary to lift the 
bulbs after they have finished flowering, 
and if planted in an ordinary' border, 
they would be liable to be cut with the 
spade during the operation of digging. 
It can also be grown with great facility 
in pots, as the illustration will indicate. 
This potful was photographed at Kew in 
the third week of May. It is rather 
earlier than the Bluebell or Wild 
Hyacinth, to which it constitutes a fore¬ 
runner, but is so entirely' different as not 
to rival it in any way, nor should they 
be planted exactly under similar condi¬ 
tions. 
The spring or vernal Squill is rather a 
scarce plant, being confined to rocky 
places on the sea bank on the west coasts 
of England and Wales. This again 
would point to the propriety of planting 
the bulbs on some suitable aspect on the 
rockery, where the flowers would be seen 
The Vernal Squill (Scilla verna). [ Maclaren and Sons. 
