324 
FLORA AND SYLVA 
variety. Sea-sand is used in planting, 
in some gardens mixed with sandy loam 
and leaf-mould, with a mulching of 
pure sea-sand, and in others, such as 
Menabilly,sea- sand alone is used. There 
wide and deep holes are dug, the cart 
sent to the beach, and the holes filled 
with sand, after which the plants are 
put in place. I never have seen finer 
plants than these, some being fully 3 
feet in height, with bright green,deeply- 
ribbed and glossy foliage, almost as 
large as Rhubarb leaves. One leaf was 
2 feet in length and over 1 8 inches in 
width. With me plants have also made 
fine growth in 3 feet of pure sea-sand. 
At Menabilly the plants are grown 
against high walls with varying expos- 
ures, but they are less satisfactory when 
facing due south than in other aspects. 
I at one time grew plants immediately 
in front of a south wall, and found that 
the leaves flagged badly on hot days. 
While this excessive heat from a south 
wall should be avoided, a shady place 
is also unfavourable. Large plants of 
9 to 1 2 feet in circumference will throw 
up dozens of flower-heads, some of 
these 6 inches or more across, while 
the individual blossoms are about half- 
an-inch in diameter. Such masses are 
a picture while at their best, though 
the flowers are soon over, giving place 
to large four- winged seeds, and self- 
sown seedlingsmay often be seen spring- 
inguparound theold clumps. Afterat- 
taining full size the plants rarely retain 
their vigour for more than three years, 
when they begin to dwindle and are re- 
placed byseedlings,which flower in their 
third season. S. W. FITZHERBERT. 
The culture of the Myosotidium is not 
often attempted save in the south-west, but 
with care it will grow well in the colder parts 
of the country, in pots or planted out under 
glass. For the sake therefore of completing 
Mr. Fitzherbert's interesting note, we furnish 
brief directionsfrom those whohave succeeded 
with it under these conditions. Wintered 
while small in a cool greenhouse, at the end 
of March the little plants may be repotted and 
plunged in a cold frame, which can be well 
matted up in case of frost, while allowing of 
free ventilation at other times. As the weather 
gets warmer the lights may be left wide open, 
the plants freely watered and syringed over- 
head during warm weather, with a light shad- 
ing from fierce sun-heat. The soil should be 
very sandy and not too rich, or a rank coarse 
growth results, but, from the time that the 
flower-spikes begin to show, liquid manure 
may be given with benefit. Neglect of water- 
ing or too dry an atmosphere means green- 
fly, and sudden death to the plants. Messrs. 
Backhouse of York have flowered it well, 
grown on a raised mound in a cool green- 
house, the care being to maintain at all times 
a moist cool atmosphere, and perfect cleanli- 
ness. 
OLEARIA (DAISY-BUSH). 
This is a family of evergreen shrubs and 
small trees found in Australia and New 
Zealand, some of which are most hand- 
some. They are best described as shrub- 
by Asters, producing flowers similar to 
the perennial " Michaelmas Daisies " 
of North America, and interesting from 
the fact that the largest of the Olearias 
are among the only composite trees 
known to us. There are many kinds 
in Australia and in New Zealand, to 
say nothing of a few species confined 
to Lord Howe and Chatham Islands, 
but not a single species is common to 
the two main groups. Numbering up- 
wards of 80 species, they are exceed- 
ingly variable in habit, appearance, 
