78 THE FLORIST. 



entirely shaken out, and the longest root was let in as deep as it would 

 reach, as a kind of tap-root. As soon as this root took hold of the soil, 

 the plant was in a great measure secure from being blown over by the 

 winds, an evil to which all trees transferred to the ground from pots are 

 extremely liable, from the roots having a natural curved form by growing 

 round the sides of the pot. This practical hint is well worth remembering 

 by those who have to plant trees from pots, especially if they have been 

 grown for any length of time in them. 



This species was named in honour of A. Menzies, Esq., who had 

 previous to Douglas travelled over a great part of the north-west coast of 

 America, and had discovered this and many other interesting plants. 

 Douglas found it in North California, and describes it as furnishing a 

 useful kind of timber. 



Menzies' Spruce appears to thrive best in situations where the soil 

 is moist for the greater part of the year ; in low bottoms, not absolutely 

 flooded, with a moist atmosphere, it grows extremely fast. It is like- 

 wise found to thrive well in Scotland ; where, on the most exposed 

 moors, it never suffers, but, on the contrary, the peaty soil and humid 

 atmosphere appear favourable to its growth. On dry soils it frequently 

 loses a portion of its leaves during the dry weather, and this gives it a 

 shabby appearance and has led some to condemn it. In such situations 

 it should be liberally supplied with water during the growing season. 



A FEW WORDS ABOUT BEDDING PLANTS. 



]\IuCH attention has for some years past been paid to the development 

 of resources in bedding plants, and the consequent introduction of many 

 new varieties. We can well recollect the time when annuals were 

 generally used for bedding purposes, when Candytufts, Clarkias, Mary- 

 golds, &c., were in request, and many have been the changes in varieties 

 of plants up to the present day. In Verbenas alone, how many 

 varieties have been introduced since Tweediana and Melindres came 

 out. Not that all are suitable for bedding purposes ; such is far from 

 being the case, as many varieties are best grown as pot plants, and 

 we often wonder why they are not oftener cultivated in pots ior summer 

 decoration. Our purpose now, however, is to point out such varieties 

 of recent introduction, or such as are about to be introduced, that will be 

 found useful additions to the flower garden. In scarlets, for a brilliant 

 orange scarlet, none is better than King of Scarlets, a capital variety 

 for a bed, and fills well. In dark scarlets there is Defiance and Mrs. 

 Woodroffe, but the latter variety is even a stronger grower than the 

 former, and not so useful. John Edwards will, we think, prove a good 

 useful bedding scarlet variety ; so also will Comet and Glowworm, and 

 Lord Raglan is a good pale orange scarlet kind. In Gloire de 

 France we have a beautiful soft salmon pink variety of the finest form, 

 but we are afraid it is not a very good grower, or it would be very 

 valuable. Esther is a pale cerise, ol dwarf close habit, and a capital 

 bedder. In shaded reds or crimson, Brilliant de Vaise is a good bedding 



