ON BEDDING PLANTS. 200 



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, 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 (Thityopsis borealis) and variety 

 compacta ; Cupressus Lawsoniana and its many varieties, including 

 argentea, compacta, nana, albo-picta, &c. ; Cupressus obtusa and 

 varieties aurea, nana-compacta, &c. ; Cupressus pisifera and varieties 

 plumosa, plumosa aurea, squarrosa, &c. (the two last-mentioned 

 species and their varieties are generally known in gardens under 

 the name of Retinosporas) ; Cupressus thyoides (Chamczcyparis 

 sphceroided) ; the dwarf varieties of Picea excelsa (Norway 

 Spruce) ; Taxus baccata aurea and elegantissima, also fastigiata 

 (the Irish Yew) ; Thuya occidentalis (the American Arbor- Vitse) 

 and its varieties aurea, erecta-viridis, globosa, &c. ; Thuya orien talis 

 (Chinese Arbor-Vitas) and its varieties aurea, 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 Aquifolium (generally known as 

 Mahonia Aquifolid) and B. Wallichiana ; Buxus (Box) in variety ; 

 Euonymus 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. 



p 



