_ 
ERICA. 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
165 
the slowest growers should merely have 
their flowers picked off as soon as they 
have faded—do not allow these to remain 
on to form seed, as that has a weakening 
influence. They should be treated in this 
way all through their existence, for, if left 
to seed they will flower later the ensuing 
year, and the quality and strength of their 
blooms will be reduced. Staking and 
tying should be carried out each winter, 
when the plants are most at rest. Use no 
more sticks than are necessary to hold 
them in their proper position ; the weakest 
wooded varieties will need the most sup- 
port. When the plants are wanted only for 
home decoration fewer sticks will suffice 
than when they have to be moved about 
considerable distances for exhibition. 
The subsequent treatment year after 
year will be much of a routine character, 
in accordance with the directions already 
given; use the potting soil in a more 
lumpy state as the plants get bigger, and 
always let them have enough root-room 
as they require it, for if allowed to become 
pot-bound they will be liable to die when 
shifted. As thespecimens get old, and in pots 
as large as deemed desirable, they may with 
advantage be assisted with weak manure- 
water during the spring and summer ; and 
when they occupy pots of considerable size 
it will be necessary at the time they are 
turned out to harden in the summer to 
put a piece of old mat or canvas round the 
pots so as to break the force of the sun. 
We have tried the potting of Heaths at 
different times of the year, and found that 
an early time—from the latter end of 
February to the middle of March—is the 
best for young stock, and September 
for older specimens. The hot summer 
months, when shoot-growth has com- 
menced after flowering, is the worst 
possible season that can be chosen for 
moving large Heaths, as then the solar 
heat is so great that to keep down the 
temperature it is necessary to admit a 
considerable quantity of air to the house 
in which they are placed, and this quickly 
dries up the soil so as to make the applica- 
tion of water requisite sooner after potting 
than it should be given with a view to 
the well-being of the plants. There are a 
few kinds that need special treatment. 
The yellow-flowered, drooping-habited E. 
depressa should be stood out in the full 
sun from the beginning of June until 
autumn, or it will not set its flowers 
freely. This sort does not usually bloom 
well two seasons together. One of the 
finest Heaths in cultivation, E. Caven- 
dishiana, will bear to be placed after 
flowering in a comparatively warm, close, 
moist atmosphere, such as suits Azaleas, 
while making their growth; previously, 
when it gets too tall, its branches may be 
cut in much closer than most other sorts 
will do with ; it will bear shortening in to 
the extent of one-third, but after it has 
made growth in such a structure it should 
be exposed to the open air for a month 
before autumn, or it will be too soft to 
winter well. The winter-flowering kinds, 
of which E. hyemalis may be taken as a 
representative, should after blooming have 
their strong shoots cut freely back, or they 
will soon get too tall. The spring-flower- 
ing E. propendens ought to be treated 
similarly. 
The following are a selection of the best 
kinds that will give a succession of flower 
over a great portion of the year; they are 
alike suitable for exhibition or home de- 
coration. They constitute the cream of 
the large number of species and varieties 
in cultivation. 
E. emula. 
ing variety. 
a profuse bloomer. 
August. 
i. Attoniana Turnbullii. A handsome 
variety. Flowers white, slightly suffused 
with pink. June to August. 
FE. ampullacea obbata. A beautiful, large- 
flowered kind, with stout, flask-shaped 
tubes, white, shaded with pink. June and - 
July. 
i. aristata superba. A close compact- 
habited sort. Tube of flower brownish 
red, segments white. May to July. 
H. Austinana. A very fine, free, large 
growing kind. Tube of flower deep 
red, white at the extremity. July to 
September. 
i. Candolleana. A moderately large 
compact grower; a profuse bloomer. 
Flowers white, suffused with red. May 
and June. 
E. Cavendishiana. A very large free-grow- 
ing variety ; a profuse bloomer. Flowers 
yellow. May to July. 
Li. cerinthoides coronata. A free-growing, 
weak-wooded kind, with brilliant scarlet 
flowers. August to September. 
ki. depressa multiflora. A slow-growing, 
dense, bushy -habited kind, that bears 
yellow flowers. May to July. 
E. Devoniana, Attains a medium size. 
Flowers deep brownish red. April to 
June. 
E. elegans. 
tinct - looking species. 
lasting in bloom a long time. 
rose colour, tipped with green. 
July. 
E. eximia superba. 
A very fine compact-grow- 
Flowers pink and green ; 
Flowers from June to 
A very handsome and dis- 
A slow grower, 
Flowers 
May to 
A medium-growing, 
