1900 SUPPLEMENT—RECENT INTRODUCTIONS, &c. 133 
Bedding Plants—continued. 
in the autumn. Propagation is generally effected by 
division of the old plants when transplanting, in either 
the spring or the autumn. Large numbers may also be 
raised from cuttings or from seeds. 
The arrangement of the plants in the Beds is an item 
which demands attention, if good results are to be 
obtained; but in this matter each individual has his own 
particular fancy, and excellent effects are produced by 
blending and contrasting colours in a variety of ways. 
It is a mistake to aim at too much in a single Bed, two 
or three colours being quite sufficient to produce a 
charming display. In planting round Beds it is a general 
rule to do so in circles, using first one colour and then 
another, alternately, say, a circle of white Arabis, then 
one of yellow Alyssum, and then one of the blue Myosotis. 
Excellent effect is, however, obtained by filling Beds 
with distinct families of plants; for instance, a Bed 
filled with mixed Polyanthuses in various shades of 
colour proves very attractive; Wallflowers might also be 
used in a similar way. j 
The following are the most important of the spring- 
{lowering subjects suitable for Bedding : 
Alyssum sazatile compactwm contrasts charmingly with 
the white Arabis and blue Aubrietia; Anemone blanda, 
A. apennina, and A. coronaria; Arabis albida ; Aubrietia 
deltaidea, A. Campbelli, A. greca, and A. Leichtlinii; 
Daisies; Erysimums ; Iberis sempervirens, I. s. Garreaiana, 
and I. gibraltarica ; Myosotis dissitiflora; Phlox amena 
‘and P. subulata; Silene pendula, S. compacta, Snow 
King, and Amelia; and Wallflowers. 
Winter Bedding is very little practised, it usually 
being the custom to fill the Beds with bulbs and other hardy 
subjects in the autumn for spring display, and the con- 
sequence is that throughout the dull dark days of winter 
the Beds present a very bare and uninteresting appearance. 
When they are at some distance from the house, or 
in parts of the garden little frequented in winter, this 
prevailing bareness does not matter much; but when the 
Beds are on the lawn immediately in front of the house, 
as is often the case, it is evident that they ought to be 
filled with plants of some sort, so as to make a show 
during the winter. 
Taking into consideration that the Beds are required 
for summer occupants, and therefore cannot be planted 
with permanent subjects, it is obvious that those selected 
to fulfil the requirements of Winter Bedding must be such 
that will bear transplanting well, and at the same time 
they must be perfectly hardy. The plants that possess 
these essentials are undoubtedly our hardy evergreen 
shrubs and small Conifers, and seeing what a wealth of 
these subjects are now in our possession, it is a pity that 
they are not more used for the decoration of Beds in 
winter. Of course, if Spring Bedding is to be adopted in 
its entirety, Winter Bedding is impossible; but why not 
come to a compromise between the two systems, and have 
a little of both? For instance, some of the Beds might 
be filled with hardy evergreens, and the remainder with 
Spring Bedding Plants; the effect would then be materially 
improved for during the winter the evergreens would 
enliven the scene to a certain extent, whilst in the spring, 
when they were making their new growth, and the Spring 
Bedders were at the zenith of their beauty, the effect 
would be charming. If the evergreens are grown in pots 
for this purpose, it is only necessary to plunge them in 
the Beds in the autumn, and to remove them in the spring. 
The best place for them during the summer is in the 
reserve garden, plunging them in soil or ashes, and taking 
care that they do not suffer for want of water. Growing in 
pots is a good method, for, their roots being restricted, they 
do not grow so freely, and they are, therefore, available 
for service for a much longer time than those planted out. 
If the evergreens, however, are planted out in the Beds, 
the greatest care must be taken in planting and replanting, 
Bedding Plants—continued. 
or they will suffer by the somewhat harsh treatment to 
which they are subjected by being lifted twice a year. 
They should be planted in the late autumn and removed 
again about April. It is not advisable to defer lifting 
and transferring to their summer quarters later than is 
absolutely necessary, as the plants ought to be established 
before the hot, scorching days of summer set in. The 
best plan is to plant them carefully in a somewhat shaded 
border in the reserve garden, the only attention necessary 
during the summer being that of watering, keeping 
clean, &c. 
The following list of Conifers includes most of those 
suitable for Winter Bedding: Cryptomeria japonica elegans 
and variety nana; Cupressus nootkatensis (Thwyopsis 
borealis) and variety compacta; Otipressus Lawsoniana and 
its many varieties, including argentea, compacta, nana, 
albo-picta, &c.; Cwpressus obtusa and varieties awrea, 
nana-compacta, &c.; Cwpressus pissifera and varieties 
plumosa, p. aurea, squarrosa, &c. (the two last-mentioned 
species and their varieties are generally known in 
gardens under the name of Retinosporas); Cwpressus 
thyoides (Chamexcyparis sphzroidea); the dwarf varieties 
of Picea eacelsa (Norway Spruce); Tawus baccata aurea 
and elegantissima, also fastigiata (the Irish Yew) ; Thwuya 
occidentalis (the American Arbor-Vit) and its varieties 
aurea, erecta-viridis, globosa, &c.; Thuya orientalis 
(Chinese Arbor-Vite) and its varieties awrea compacta, 
elegantissima, semperaurescens, &c. (these are generally 
known as Biotas). Those known as Retinosporas and Biotas 
are decidedly the best of the Conifers for Winter Bedding. 
A large number of our hardy evergreen shrubs are also 
suitable for Winter Bedding, of which the following might be 
mentioned: Aucubas; Berberis Aquifoliwm (generally 
known as Mahonia Aquifolia) and B. Wallichiana; Buxus 
(Box) in variety; EHuonymus japonicus and radicans 
variegata; Hollies, in variety; Ivies (the different forms of 
Tree-Ivy) ; Laurels (especially the Portugal) ; Laurustinus ; 
Osmanthus (a dwarf Holly-like plant); Pernettyas ; 
Phillyreas ; Skimmias; &c. The variegated Euonymus and 
variegated Tree-Ivies are the showiest of the evergreen 
shrubs, and may be used with excellent effect in combination 
with any of the other subjects mentioned ; the former is an 
excellent edging plant. 
As a rule, it is best to keep Beds of mixed Conifers 
distinct from those of shrubs, but such plants as the Yew 
will be quite at home in either combination, and Beds 
devoted to the Yew and Osmanthus, with an edging of 
variegated Euonymus, present a very cheerful appearance 
during winter. 
It is not necessary to confine Winter Bedding strictly to 
the planting of Conifers and evergreen shrubs, for many 
other hardy evergreen plants, such as the large-leaved 
Saxifrages or Megaseas, may be used with equal effect; 
but enough has been said to show that there is no dearth 
of subjects suitable for this much-neglected style of Bedding. 
BEEF-STEAK FUNGUS (Fistulina hepatica). 
This liver-coloured Fungus is found growing upon living 
Oaks, and according to Hartig is responsible for a “ deep 
red-brown decomposition in the wood.” It is edible and 
very delicious. A 
BEEF-SUET TREE. Sce Shepherdia argentea. 
BEERA. A synonym of Hypolytrum (which see). 
BEET. The following additional varieties in their 
respective sections may be recommended. Pyriform: 
Cheltenham Green-top, Dell’s Black-leaved, Gem, Jobn- 
son’s Selected, Maincrop, Middleton Park, Pragnell’s 
Exhibition, and Zulu. Rownd or Egyptian Turnip-rooted : 
Edmund’s Blood Red, Egyptian Dark Red, Veitch’s Eclipse, 
and Turnip-rooted Red Globe. Spinach or Perpetual: 
Silver or Seakale, Spinach or Green Perpetual. Both these 
varieties are useful in dry seasons when the Spinach runs 
to seed quickly, as the leaves make an _ excellent 
