490 THE GARDENER. [Nov. 



gatus also strikes easily under hand-lights in sandy peat or fresh sandy 

 loam; it is another model bedding plant, grows low and bushy, and the 

 fine shiny foliage is always clean and fresh looking : it is a wonder 

 this plant is not more planted to grow up walls like Ivy : it makes 

 much larger foliage and stronger shoots when clinging to a wall after 

 the manner of the Ivy itself. The small Silver Qaeen Ivy is a plant 

 after the style of this pretty Euonymus, of a beautiful white variegation, 

 but rather dear. 



Skimmia japonica and oblata are chiefly striking from their berries, 

 the foliage being broad and Rhododendron-like. Of all winter bedding 

 plants the richest are the Gold and Silver Queen Hollies : they have a 

 particularly bright and clean appearance, bear shifting with impunity 

 when they get used to it, when once they get a mop of fibrous roots 

 with frequent removal; they are of course impatient of removal if they 

 have stood long in one place ; but the same remark applies to most 

 plants ; we moved several hundreds last April and they scarcely lost a 

 leaf. One drawback to their extensive use is their high price, but a 

 few good plants give more efi"ect than double the quantity of other 

 things at the same cost. Waterer's Holly is also good, but for bedding 

 purposes second to the two Queens. Aucuba japonica can now be 

 bought for 4s. per dozen, stocky little plants for winter bedding : it 

 requires no recommendation, as it is indispensable, especially in moist 

 parts of the country : it is easily propagated by cuttings in sandy soil, 

 in a shaded position behind an east wall — a north wall is too cold : the 

 position must be naturally sheltered and moist; under these circum- 

 stances it strikes as readily as a common Laurel. Eerberis aquifolia, 

 though not a striking plant except when in bloom, still is a cheap plant 

 for covering the ground. Good, well-grown plants of Daphne cneorum 

 are well suited for bedding; it is readily propagated by off'-sets. 



Dwarf healthy plants of Rhododendron Ponticum are special favourites 

 on a sandy soil for winter work. They are very cheap, and are always 

 fresh-looking throughout the winter. 



Plants, however, must be had from country nurseries ; indeed we pre- 

 fer all those Dwarf shrubs from country nurseries where they have been 

 grown a long way from the influence of coal smoke from town collieries 

 or works : plants raised in a clean pure atmosphere are much better 

 coloured, fresher, and healthier ; we have had the opportunity of 

 comparing them, and the town plants are often miserable-looking objects 

 compared with those from the country of the same age. 



Cupressus Lawsoniana and its variety nana, Cupressus Thyoides, 

 and Thyoides variegata, Abies pygmea, are all good additions to the 

 list. Cupressus Nutksensis must not be forgotten, a special favourite, 

 so hardy, green, and graceful. 



