108 THE FLORIST. 



be much facilitated by a month or six weeks' confinement in 

 stove heat ; water liberally, but avoid the direct influence of the 

 sun's rays. Cuttings taken from half-ripened wood will strike 

 tolerably free in silver sand, covered with a bell-glass, and placed 

 in a shady part of the stove. I use in potting Epacrises precisely 

 the same compost as for Ericas. Some cultivators use a small 

 proportion of vegetable mould, others the like quantity of turfy 

 loam ; but I have never found them to thrive so well with either 

 of those ingredients. 



P.S. I have stated on former occasions that the cutting back 

 herein recommended is not applicable to Laevigata onosmijlora, 

 and one or two other species. 



Whitehill. W. H. Story. 



Ericas. — The Heathery is now daily becoming more and more in- 

 teresting to the zealous cultivator and admiring amateur. Aris- 

 tata, Vestita, Odorata, and their allies, are rapidly advancing into 

 bloom ; whilst Obtusa, Lactiflora, Nitida, Pulverulenta, Trossula, 

 Bergiana, and a host of other minute-blooming varieties, are 

 in the height of their beauty, clothed with thousands of tiny 

 globular wax-like flowers from top to bottom ; even the autumn- 

 blooming varieties are looking bright and gay, being now 

 making their growth previous to forming flower-buds. If the 

 suggestions of last month have been attended to, nothing re- 

 mains to be done for the present with the early -blooming 

 varieties ; — always, of course, excepting due attention to water- 

 ing, free admission of air during the day, and a watchful care 

 that a treacherous spring frost does not catch you napping. 

 Active operation should now be in progress shifting " stock" 

 and later- blooming specimens. Except for prolonging the bloom 

 on any particular plants, the house will require but little shading 

 during this month ; perhaps two or three hours in the middle of 

 the day, towards the latter part of it, may be advisable, should 

 the sun prove scorching. 



Whitehill. W. H. Story. 



Fuchsias. — Keep them growing by every available means, syringe 

 overhead at least once a day, also sluice the paths of the house, 

 to increase humidity. In giving the final shift, add a double 

 handful of bone-dust to about a bushel of compost, — it is an 

 excellent support to the plant during its flowering season. 

 Water once a fortnight with a weak solution of guano water. 

 Shade in sunny weather; admit air in the middle of the day from 

 the roof; never let them flag for want of water. 



Whitehill. W. H. Story. 



Pansies. — If flowers are required of large size, thin out the side- 

 shoots, whether they be wanted for cuttings or not. This trouble 

 is unnecessary when blooms are not wanted in a cut state. 

 Plants grown for exhibition, however, make as good a show in 

 the garden as those not so treated ; for six fine large blooms will 



