Part II. MENZIESIA—MERTENSIA. 251 



in gardens, is one of the brightest of gems for the rock- 

 garden, thriving best in a rather moist sandy peat soil in fully 

 exposed positions. I have seen it cultivated with most success 

 in nurseries in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. It ilowers in 

 summer, and is sometimes known as Phyllodoce empetriformis. 

 This, unlike the rather tall and spreading M. polifolia, may be 

 associated with the dwarfest alpine plants. A native of North 

 America. 



MENZIESIA POLIFOLIA.— 5A Dabeoc's Heath. 



A SPREADING heath-like shrub, attaining a height of from twelve 

 to twenty inches ; the leaves narrow when young, and with 

 their margins rolled back, but becoming broader when old, all 

 green on the upper and white on the under sides ; the numerous 

 erect flowering-stems bearing beautiful crimson-purple blooms 

 in graceful, one-sided, drooping racemes. This plant is found 

 rather abundantly in Connemara, in Ireland, and is also a native 

 of South-Western France and Spain, but not of England or 

 Scotland. It is often grown in collections of American shrubs, 

 and is admirably suited for the extensive rock-garden, loving 

 a moist peat soil. There is a pure white variety much less 

 common and no less beautiful than the typical form, also a 

 charming plant for the rock-garden Or collection of dwarf shrubs.' 

 They flower in summer, and may be obtained from most nursery- 

 men. The white variety is sometimes sold under the name of 

 M. globosa. 



MERTENSIA VIRGINICA.— Vir^im'an Cowslip. 



This is readily distinguished from allied plants by the smooth- 

 ness of all its parts, by its slightly glaucous hue, and large leaves, 

 the lower ones being four to six inches long. The flowering 

 stems grow to a height of from ten to eighteen inches, sus- 

 pending blooms of a peculiarly beautiful purple blue, trumpet- 

 shaped, and about an inch long. Flowers from the beginning of 

 April to May or early June, and loves a soil cool and light, and a 

 half-shady position. Suitable for the mixed border or rockwork, 

 the margins of beds of dwarf shrubs, the fringes of plantations 

 of American plants in peat soil, or even for naturahsation in 

 half-shady spots in wood or copse. However, it is so uncommon 

 at present that it can hardly be spared_ for the last purpose. 



