520 THE DICTIONARY 
OF GARDENING, 
Erica—continued. 
alternate or verticillate, rigid, small. Cape Ericas are 
among the most beautiful of decorative cool-house plants. 
А great diversity in colour and form of flower, marks 
the genus as now represented in gardens. The type of | 
form of corolla in a large number of species is shown 
at Fig. 718. Probably no class of plants require more 
Fic. 718. URCEOLATE COROLLA OF ERICA. 
eareful attention for their successful eultivation, than 
. do the majority of the species of the hardest-wooded 
. Heaths. Many of these are not now in cultivation, | 
. their places being filled by numerous kinds of hybrid 
origin. Some of the softer-wooded kinds, such as caffra, 
colorans, gracilis (with its variety autumnalis), hybrida, 
5 hyemalis, melanth persoluta (var. alba), ventricosa 
| minor and Wilmoreana, are grown in immense 
tities to supply the ever-increasing demand for useful 
orative plants such as these Heaths invariably make. 
They flower principally in autumn and winter, although 
the majority of the species blossom during spring and 
early summer. Ericas, especially the harder-wooded sorts, 
are liable to die suddenly from some often unknown cause, 
though careless potting or watering very frequently proves 
fatal to them. 
Many of the hardy species are very attractive and 
useful for culture in peaty soil, as an edging to other 
shrubs, particularly the dwarf E. carnea, or even E. vagans. 
e other taller-growing species are showy when planted — 
in beds by themselves, or with a dwarf one as an edging. | 
They division or layers, or by cuttings, 
_ placed in sandy peat, under handlights, in autumn. 
“ate 
PROPAGATION. Heaths may be readil Кол 
а method which is, hi : —Ó ее; 
iow seldom resorted to except 
the most commonly prac- 
being that of cuttings. 
of the twiggy ripened 
plants. The soft- 
‚ make new growth 
. for the raising of new vari 
tised means for their pror 
"These are obtained fror 
shoots about the lower p 
peat with a layer of clean silver san 
. covered with a bell glass, or placed 
- light. After being once well wate 
. ina temperature of about 60deg. 
be rather frequently wiped dry 
. ance of mould or damp on the cut 
~ for, and immediately removed: Wh 
air should be very gradually admitti 
VATION. The soil used for potting Erieas, at any 
ust be good fibrous peat, broken in small lumps, © 
у one-third of clean silver sand added. Thorough 
times essential; and, to keep the compost 
of a few pieces of crock, broken | 
plants should never be allowed — 
ially when young. Тһе roots — 
The plants must never be allowed to become dry; and, 
Erica—continued. 
are seldom altogether inactive; and the best season for 
repotting any that require it is as soon as new growth 
commences in spring, or, with established late-flowering 
sorts, early autumn. The balls should not be disturbed, 
excepting what becomes absolutely necessary in removing 
the crocks; and the new soil should be rammed as firmly 
as the old, to prevent water passing more freely through 
one part than another. It is also very important that 
the ball should not be placed low enough to allow the 
stem of the plant to be buried. This condition alone, 
when neglected, is liable to cause the death of any number 
of Ericas. Anything approaching a close atmosphere 
must, at all times, be avoided, as this encourages the 
development of mildew on the leaves. When the plants 
are established in the summer months, a cold frame is 
the best place, and too much light and air cannot be 
given. Indeed, in dry open weather, the sashes are better 
removed. With the hard-wooded sorts, care must be 
taken to prevent water lodging amongst the leaves, or 
damping will result. Тһе pots should be plunged in 
summer, to prevent injury to the tender roots. Exposure 
of established plants to sun and air, from the latter part 
of July till the end of September, tends greatly to ripen 
and solidify the growths, thus causing the greater pro- 
duction of flowers. For wintering Ericas, a span-roofed 
house, with plenty of light and available means of ven- 
tilation, is most suitable. They dislike fire heat, and it 
should never be applied, except to keep out frost, or 
occasionally to expel damp. A temperature of 40deg. 
in severe weather will be more suitable than one higher; 
and when it is mild, plenty of air should be admitted. 
Watering is a matter of great importance at all seasons, 
‘perhaps more so than with any other class of plants. If~ 
possible, soft rain water 
should always be used, or some 
that has been exp 
‚ %о sun and air in an open cistern. 
on the other hand, too much water, especially with indi- 
viduals in bad health, is equally injurious. They should 
be examined each time, and watered according as experi- 
ence alone can teach. The use of hard water, which 
invariably contains lime, often proves destructive, and 
should be avoided if possible. Where none but hard 
water is available, it may be made more suitable for 
Heaths by placing a bag of soot in the tank tub, 
where it is kept. NUM 
The best time for pruning is 
season is over. The softer- 
kinds should have all thei 
ieir bases, and all 
tips removed. In 
nly be necessary to shorten a few 
ones to induce а symmetrical habit. 
slow-growing sorts rarely require pruning 
Heaths are seldom subject to attacks from insect 
ildew being the disease to which they are most 
liable. This may be destroyed by dusting the affected — 
part with flowers of sulphur, previously moistening the . 
plant. It may be allowed to remain on the plant for 
several days, and be then washed off with clean water, 
taking care not to allow any sulphur to get in the soil. 
In addition to the following enumeration, it may be 
` stated that the number of hybrids and varieties now in 
cultivation is very considerable, and limited space deters 
us from describing more of them. Indoor treatment is 
required except where otherwise stated. — 
ire o tour tether; eor vine wit a cylindrica tue tin 
F „W ntrico , with large en une 
ps to К ben E ihres» whorl, ear, serrulated, ere 
h. 2%. 1790. A slender 
See Fig. 719. (В. M. 429. 
species. SYN. E, Aitoniana. 
| AUS (superb). Ап improved form of the type, with — 
m кыре, sei P Raid compaot habit of growth. S uA T 
da (turgid). И. in terminal umbels ; tubes swollen at — 
E. A. | urg 
