54 THE CULTURE OF POT-PLANTS 



plants should be put outside for a few weeks to ripen their 

 wood. 



Deutzia. — The double form of D. creiiata, the smaller 

 D. gracilis, and the large-flowered D. Le/uoifiei all make 

 excellent pot-plants for spring. Like many other shrubs 

 they soon exhaust the soil, and as it is not possible to keep 

 on moving them into larger pots, it is necessary to supply 

 them with food. Even then it is advisable to change some 

 of the soil every year. When they have finished flowering, 

 therefore, before the new growth commences, they should be 

 turned out of their pots and some of the old soil should 

 be worked away with a pointed stick, after which they can 

 be replaced in the same pots, if quite clean, with the 

 addition of fresh, rich soil carefully rammed in so that there 

 are no gaps. At the same time any old worn-out wood 

 should be cut away, and any shoots which crowd one another 

 should be thinned — pruned away completely, not shortened. 

 If this is done towards the middle or end of the season it 

 will mean loss of flowers. When additional plants are wanted, 

 cuttings of partly ripened shoots can be struck in moist, 

 sandy soil in autumn. 



Diplacus glutinosus.^See Mimulus glutinosus 



(P- 59)- 



Epacris. — Handsome Australian and New Zealand 

 shrubs, of which there are many varieties. They are not 

 unlike ericas (heaths), though of stronger growth. They 

 require the same treatment as plants of this class (see Azalea). 

 They can be grown without artificial heat, and some of them 

 flower in winter. 



Erica (Heath). — There are between 400 and 500 

 species and a large number of varieties, some flowering 

 early in the year and others late. For treatment, see Azalea. 

 But while the flowering of the latter can be hastened by 

 artificial heat, heaths should always be grown as cool as 

 possible, though the tender species, mostly of Cape origin, 

 must not be exposed to frost. Pruning cannot be recom- 

 mended for any plants of this class, and when repotting 

 becomes necessary, it should be done without disturbing 



