1244 GREEN-HOUSE REPOTTING. [March 



easiest culture. As soon as done blooming, the plant should 

 oe well cut in to keep it into shape. (Soil No. 1.) 



Mespiltts. See Eryabotrya. 



Metroslderos, about fifteen species. Many have been added 

 to Callistemon. M. flbrida, M. umbelldta, and M. anyusti- 

 folia, C. salignum, C. lanceoldtum, C. semperflbrens, C. 

 glaucum, once M. specidsa, and C. formbsum ; these are ali 

 beautiful plants, with scarlet flowers. Other two beautiful 

 species with white flowers have been given to Angophora. 

 A. cord i folia, once M. hispida, and A. lanceoldta, once M 

 costdta ; these genera are very easily distinguished from any 

 other Australasian shrubs, by the peculiar character of having 

 both sides of the leaves alike. The flowers consist of stamens, 

 stiles, and anthers, coming in hundreds out of the young wood 

 for the length of three or four inches, forming a dense cone 

 crowned with a small twig; hence frequently called "bottle- 

 brush plant;" leaving capsules in the wood, which will keep 

 their seeds perfect for a great number of years. They grow 

 freely, and the pots should be well drained. (Soil No. 1.) 



Myrsines, Cape Myrtle, dwarf Cape evergreen shrubs covered 

 with small flowers from March to May. M. retusa has purple 

 flowers; M. rotundifblia, flowers white and purple. They 

 will grow in any situation, and are of easy culture. (Soil 

 No. 1.) 



Myrtus, Myrtle, is a well-known and popular shrub, espe- 

 cially the common varieties, and was a great favourite (even 

 to adoration) among the ancients. It was the mark of autho- 

 rity for Athenian rulers, and is among the moderns an 

 emblem of pre-eminence. They are elegant evergreen shrubs 

 with an agreeable odour. M. communis multiplex, double 

 flowering, is a very neat shrub, and flowers abundantly. M. 

 communis, leucocdrpa, white-fruited myrtle. M. itdlica vari- 

 cgdta, striped-leaved; M. itdlica maculdta., blotch-leaved, are 

 very fine shrubs; and M. tomentbsa, Chinese myrtle, is a 

 magnificent erect-growing shrub, with a white down over the 

 foliage; the flowers are the largest of the genus. When they 

 first expand they are purple, and afterwards change to white, 

 so that there are beautiful flowers of several shades of colour 

 on the plant. We have not the smallest doubt but this species 

 will become, in many instances, as plentiful as the common 

 myrtle. It is more easily grown, but cannot stand much ex- 

 posure to the sun in summer. M. tenuifblta is a very fine 



