542 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



EMPETRUM. 



Of this family of diminutive evergreens, little more need be said 

 than that, though wanting in that showy appearance which renders some 

 of their allies such universal favourites, they are all pretty little plants, 

 and interesting as varieties in a collection, forming useful edging or 

 permanent bedding plants, their dense procumbent habits of growth 

 eminently fitting them for such purposes. In foliage and general 

 appearance they resemble the Heaths, with which they were formerly 

 associated. They all bear edible berries in considerable abundance, 

 which are ripe in November. All the kinds grow freely in the 

 ordinary peat-beds, but prefer a damp shady situation. Among the 

 species and varieties generally grown we select the following two as 

 being on the whole the most desirable. 



Nigrum. — The well-known Crowberry of our moors ; is also found 

 distributed over a wide area in northern Europe and North America, 

 growing in similar situations. Its small Heath-like leaves are dark 

 green, the flowers are of a purplish-white colour, and the berries jet 

 black and very ornamental. 



Ruhrum. — A native of the southern coast of South America; resembles 

 the other species in habit ; the leaves and branches have white woolly 

 margins; the flowers are of a dull purple colour, and the berries bright 

 red. This is the finest of the genus, and has a most beautiful efi'ect 

 when associated with other foliage plants in spring or permanent 

 bedding ; it is equally hardy with the European species. 



MTRICA. 



With inconspicuous flowers produced in brown scaly catkins, resem- 

 bling those of the Birch, the Myricas would scarcely be admitted to the 

 American garden if floral display was the only passport; they are neverthe- 

 less graceful shrubs, with elegant foliage possessing a delightful aromatic 

 fragrance, a quality which of itself should insure them a larger share 

 of attention than they have hitherto received. They grow freely in 

 almost every situation if supplied with a moderate quantity of peat, 

 and have a pretty efi'ect in mixed collections of shrubs, either in the 

 American garden proper, or in the ordinary pleasure-grounds. The 

 young twigs blend most beautifully among cut flowers in bouquets, 

 their value for this purpose being enhanced by the scent, which is 

 pleasant to most tastes. Among the species and varieties known in 

 our gardens the following may be recommended as the most ornamental. 



Cerifera. — Well known as the Candleberry Myrtle; is a shrub grow- 

 ing from 5 to 8 feet high ; a native of swamps in Canada and the 

 United States, having shining green leaves of a lanceolate form, and 

 flowering in this country about the beginning of May ; the berries or 



