TO THE FLOWEK GAEDEN. 103 



ing, aucl are in too large or badly-drained pots. The best 

 are E. quinquejiorus and E. reticulatus. 



EPACRIS. [Epacridacese.] Beautiful greenhouse ever- 

 green shrubs, blooming in spring and early summer. They 

 may be grown in turfy peat, with about an eighth part each 

 of silver sand and good mellow loam, the latter being omitted 

 until the plants get vigorous. The plants must have as much 

 air as can possibly be given, and every pains should be taken 

 to prevent their growing lanky. As, however, they are inclined 

 to shoot upwards rapidly, they must be checked by taking the 

 tops off when they have grown four inches high, which will 

 cause lateral shoots to be produced ; and this topping must 

 be repeated until the plants have become bushy. A pit is 

 better for them than a greenhouse, if the frost could be kept 

 out, because they are nearer the glass. Whenever any shoot 

 becomes vigorous, and grows faster than the rest, check the 

 growth by pinching out the end : lateral branches will be the 

 result, instead of the elongation of the main shoots. When, 

 however, size and form have been secured, then the shoots 

 must be permitted to grow longer in order to bloom, the 

 flowers being borne all along the strong annual shoots as well 

 as on the shorter scrubby branches. After the bloom is over 

 cut the branches back freely, and as soon as the plants begin 

 to grow afresh put them in a frame, where they may be kept 

 rather moist, with free supplies of air. Vigorous shoots will 

 be the result ; and these, after growing about six inches long, 

 may be topped, the strongest twice, the weaker once ; after 

 which they must be suffered to grow on, and when growth 

 slackens they must be placed in a light airy place, in order 

 to stop further rapid elongation, and ripen the shoots which 

 have been already produced. Slow growth is desirable, for 

 the nearer the leaves are to each other the handsomer the 

 specimen ; and rapid growth is always against this, because, 

 as the branches lengthen, the leaves are placed farther apart. 

 The Epacris is propagated by cuttings of the tops of the 

 young shoots planted in sand on a compost of sandy peat, 

 the leaves being taken off the lower half-inch, that the cut- 

 ting may be the more easily inserted in the sand. A bell-glass 

 must be placed over them, and slight bottom heat will hasten 

 the striking, but it is not necessary. When, they have struck 



