ERIOSTEMON. 
that they are free from mildew, to the 
attacks of which they are more or less 
liable ; and if any trace of the parasite is 
discovered dust the affected plant over with 
flowers of sulphur, laying it down on its side 
to keep the sulphur from getting to the soil, 
for if washed down to the roots (as would 
occur in the operation of watering) it would 
be highly injurious. Allow it to remain 
on for a few days, after which wash clean 
off with the syringe. 
ERIOSTEMON. 
These evergreen greenhouse plants are 
natives of New Holland and New South 
Wales, and in every way deserving of 
general cultivation. They are compara- 
tively easy of growth, not subject to die off 
suddenly, or get out of health; they are 
profuse flowerers, and their pink buds and 
white flowers render them well adapted 
for associating with other plants in bloom 
or otherwise. Their natural season of 
blooming is: March, April, May, and June, 
according as they have been prepared by 
retarding or otherwise ; but, if required, 
they can be brought into flower much 
earlier in the winter, as they will stand 
moderate forcing, more especially the Box 
and Oleander-leaved varieties, E. buxifolius 
and EK. neriifolius; they also will bear 
treatment and grow under conditions that 
would be fatal to many hardwooded plants, 
and are thus suitable for beginners in the 
cultivation of hardwooded greenhouse 
plants. They flower freely in a small 
state, and consequently are well adapted 
for conservatory decoration, where, if al- 
lowed sufficient room, they will receive little 
injury during the time they are in flower. 
Even when not in bloom, their dense fresh 
green foliage renders them at all times in- 
teresting if they are well grown. They 
are the freest-rooting of New Holland 
plants, and cannot bear cramping for want 
of pot-room in the early stages of their 
existence ; they rarely make good healthy 
progress if they have been at all pot-bound. 
They will bear without injury a continuous 
lower temperature during the winter sea- 
son than most plants, but in their early 
stages they should never be submitted to 
such treatment, as it has a tendency to 
check root-action. 
Eriostemons are easily propagated from 
cuttings made of the points of the half- 
matured shoots, such as are to be had about 
the beginning of August ; these should be 
put in, about 3 inches long, several together, 
in 6 or 7 inch pots, filled with sand, and kept 
close, moderately moist, and shaded in an 
intermediate heat. Here they should root 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
167 
sufficiently to bear moving singly into 
small pots during the autumn; keep 
through the winter in a temperature of 
about 50° by night, and pinch out the 
points of the shoots before growth begins 
in spring. About the end of May enough 
root-progress should have been made to 
admit of their being moved into 3-inch 
pots; shade slightly in bright weather 
through the spring and summer, give air 
in the middle of the day, moisten the stage 
and paths, and use the syringe overhead at 
the time of shutting up. Treat through 
the autumn so as to induce the ripening of 
the growth, and winter at about 45° in the 
night. Towards the end of March give a 
3-inch shift in good fibrous peat, to which 
one-sixth sand may be added. 
It is not necessary to break the peat so 
small as in the case of such plants as are 
more spare and tender-rooted, but let the 
sand be well mixed with the peat, as these, 
like all others that have a greater compara- 
tive amount of leaf-surface, require more 
water, and consequently must have the soil 
in which they grow in such a condition as 
to admit of the water passing through it 
without danger of getting in the course of 
time too retentive. Ifthe plants have any 
over-strong shoots, these should be cut 
well back, or they will draw the sap from 
the branches near the base of the plant so 
as to completely spoil them. Bring down 
to the rim of the pot all the strongest 
central branches, leaving such as are weaker 
upright, in which position they will gain 
strength, and thereby equalise their growth. 
With Eriostemons it is necessary to be 
more particular in the matter of training 
than with most plants, as they have a 
natural disposition to push these over- 
strong branches that rob the weaker ones. 
Place them in a house where they will 
be kept at a night temperature of not less 
than 45°. Close the house early ; keep the 
atmosphere in a state conducive to free 
growth by a liberal use of water on the 
stages and paths. As the weather gets 
warmer in May syringe the plants over- 
head every afternoon. This not only pro- 
motesgrowth, but keeps in check red spider, 
by which they are sometimes attacked ; 
continue the use of the syringe every after- 
noon until the end of August, after which 
they should be gradually hardened off by 
a drier atmosphere, and the admission of 
plenty of air night and day through the 
following month.. Eriostemons are not 
subject to mildew, consequently there is 
no necessity at this stage of their growth to 
expose them in the open air with a view to 
hardening them, and this more especially 
as the object for the coming season will not 
