MEN 
MYIl 
M. ovatum, is a very handsome North 
American plant, with large cream-coloured 
blossoms. It is sufficiently hardy to exist 
through our winters without protection, 
but as the young shoots are often injured 
by spring frosts (and also to assist the 
ripening of the wood in autumn), it is best 
to plant it agaiust a conservatory wall, 
where in light soil, such as a mixture of 
peat and loam, it thrives very well, and if 
occasionally covered in the bad weather of 
spring, it will flower abundantly. Propa¬ 
gated by cuttings of ripened wood, struck 
iu sand upon a gentle heat. 
MENZIESIA (Smith.) Nat. Order, 
JEi 'icacece. Yery small, heath-like plants, 
growing about half a foot high, and re¬ 
quiring the treatment of hardy heaths. 
M. polifolia attains to near two feet, and 
is by far the finest of the genus; it has 
purple flowers; all are suitable for rock- 
work, or the front of American beds. 
Increased by layers or seed. 
MESPILUS, Medlar (Lindley.) 
Nat. Ord. Rosaceee. This genus, as at 
present defined, contains only two species, 
M. germanica and lobata; of the first 
there are three varieties, the best of which 
are diffusa and strida. M. lobata is per¬ 
haps better known by its synonymes, 
gra?idiflora or Smithii. M. germanicus is 
the common medlar, the fruit of which is 
eaten when in a state of incipient decay, 
and when not cultivated in the orchard, 
may be planted in shrubberies, for the sake 
of its early blossoms ; all of them are low- 
growing trees, mostly having a spreading 
head, and produce large white flowers at 
an early season, followed by the fruit 
before mentioned. They do best in rather 
moist loam, and are increased by grafting 
upon seedling stocks, or on the common 
hawthorn. The variety called strida is 
nearly evergreen, all the others are de¬ 
ciduous. 
MORU S, Mulberry (Linn.) Nat. Ord. 
Urticacece. There are nine species of 
Morns, seven of which are hardy in our 
climate. M. nigra, the common mulberry, 
has been described in the Dictionary of 
Emits; the remainder of the genus, 
though fruit-bearing trees, are more ge¬ 
nerally grown for ornamental purposes. 
The berries of M. alba are of a pale colour. 
and less acid than those of the common 
mulberry; it is extensively cultivated in 
the south of Europe for its leaves, on 
which silkworms are fed. In Italy and 
China they have several varieties of this 
species, valued according to the size of 
the foliage. The culture of these trees 
is carried on in the best silk-growing 
countries much iu the manner that we 
treat osiers ; they are planted in damp 
places, and the young shoots cut off when 
in full leaf. M. rubra and scabra, both 
North American species, M. calcar-galli 
from New South Wales, and tartarica, 
bear our climate, and are worth a place 
iu large shrubberies. Propagation of the 
species is usually carried on by layers, 
though they may be obtained from seed, 
and of course can be grafted one upon 
another. 
MYRICA, Candleberry Myrtle (Linn.) 
Nat. Ord. Myricacere . In this genus we 
have four hardy shrubs, two of them ever¬ 
green and the others deciduous. M. Gale, 
the sweet gale, is a native of Britain, and 
formerly was used in the place of hops in 
making beer; an inferior wax is obtained 
from the catkins boiled in water; the 
branches and leaves are used in Scotland 
to dye wool yellow, and a decoction of its 
juices is said to expel fleas. The name 
Candleberry Myrtle was given by the 
Americans to the species cerifera, as in 
the northern states they make a wax from 
the berries, which in some districts may 
be gathered so plentifully as to furnish 
the inhabitants with candles ; when re¬ 
fined, this wax is of a transparent green 
colour, is firm, burns well, and when ex¬ 
tinguished emits a pleasant fragrance. 
An excellent and agreeable-scented soap 
is also made from the wax. Both the fore¬ 
going are deciduous, the other hardy 
species are carolinensis and pennsylvanica, 
which are evergreen. All are neat-growing 
plants, preferring a moist situation, and 
are excellent sea-shore plants. They are 
increased by seeds or layers. 
MYRICARIA (Desvaux.) Nat, Ord. 
Tamaricacere. Containing two species, 
formerly included in Tamarix; they are 
evergreen, neat in habit, and suitable for 
the back of moderate-sized shrubberies; 
their flowers are pink. Increased by layers. 
