WAKE Rosin FARM 
like blossoms, in July and August. Evergreen, it likes 
coniferous woods in nature. Adapts to indoor use, 
potted or dished in wet moss and leaf mold. Colonizes 
in clumps of a dozen little rattlesnakes around the 
parent plant. Indians firmly believed that the leaves 
cured snake-bite—the old “signature” idea of herbs 
antidoting the things they resemble. 40c each; $4.00 
for 12. 
Saxifrage, Early; Virginia Saxifrage (Saxifraga virgin- 
iensis). The very name, meaning “Rock-Breaker,” sug- 
gests the favored habitat, in rocky crevices, giving the 
illusion of having split the stones apart. Especially 
suited to the rock garden. Saxifrage grows almost any- 
where, in full sunshine or light shade, in dry or rocky 
woodland, hugging banks and ledges. Small, clustered 
white flowers rise 3 to 6 inches above the flattened 
rosette of basal leaves, which seem to cling to shaly 
steeps. Quite early, blooming mainly in April, seeding 
freely. 30c each; $3.00 for 12. 

Shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica). The “Shin-plaster’” plant so 
named because of early English peasant use of its leaves 
on bruises (any plaster was a shin plaster), is a very 
fragrant, bell-like flower, nodding in a vertical cluster 
at the top of a stem 4 to 6 inches high, suggesting lilies 
of the valley. Leaves are dark, olive-green, elliptical, 
compared by the Romans with pear leaves, whence the 
mame Pyrola. Likes the company of Pipsissewa and 
Spotted Wintergreen, its Chimaphila cousins of the 
Heath Family, with very similar long roots extending 
in summer to form next year’s bud. 30c each; $3.00 
for 12. 
Shooting Star; American Cowslip (Dodecatheon meadia). 
Like a miniature burst of fireworks, the rose-pink, dart- 
shaped blossoms point downward in a group at the 
top of a slender stalk, 8 to 15 inches high, thrusting up 
from low root foliage. Blooms in May and early June. 
Good for the hardy border, grows anywhere, but more 
beautiful when planted in conditions resembling moist 
hillsides, cliff and open woods. Can be propagated bet- 
ter and faster from Toot-cuttings than from seed. The 
Greek name means “twelve gods,” and it is so striking 
that it has acquired nicknames like Indian Chief, 
Roosterhead, Johnny-Jump- up and Pride of Ohio. 35¢ 
each; $3.50 for 12. 
Skull Cap (Seetecis serrata). Hardy, 1 to 2 feet tall, 
guarded at the top by a cluster of flowers like little gar- 
goyles or snapdragons, blue in the face with fierce 
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