Greeuhuuse and Utove Plants. 



1G5 



the slowest growers should merely have 

 their Howers picked off as souii as they 

 ha^'e 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 

 j'ear, 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 Aveakest 

 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 the specimens 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 

 23ots 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 eai'ly time — from the latter end of 

 February to the middle of March — is the 

 best for young stock, and Sej^tember 

 for older specimens. The hot summer 

 months, when shoot -growth has com- 

 menced after floweiing, 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 Azab^as, 

 while making their growth ; previous! v, 

 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 \t 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 talk 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. cemula. A very fine compact-grow- 

 ing variety. Flowers pink and green ; 

 a piofuse bloomer. Flowers from June to 

 August. 



E. Aitoniana Turnhdlii. A handsome 

 variety. Flowers white, slightly suffused 

 with pink. June to August. 



E. ampullacca obbata. A beautiful, large- 

 flowered kind, with stout, flask-shaped 

 tubes, white, shaded with pink. June and 

 July. 



E. aristata superba. A close compact- 

 habited sort. Tube of flower brownish 

 red, segments white. May to July. 



E. Austiniana. A very fine, free, large 

 growing kind. Tube "^of flower deep 

 red, white at the extremity. July to 

 September. 



E. Candolleana. A moderately large 

 compact grower ; a profuse bloomer. 

 Floweis white, suffused with red. May 

 and June. 



E. Cavendishiana. A very large free-grow- 

 ing variety ; a profuse bloomer. Flowers 

 yellow. May to July. 



E. cerinthoides coroiiata. A free-growing, 

 weak-wooded kind, with brilliant scarlet 

 flowers. August to September. 



E. 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. A very handsome and dis- 

 tinct - looking species. A slow grower, 

 lasting in bloom a long time. Flowers 

 rose colour, tipped with green. May to 

 July. 



E. eximia superba. A medium-growing. 



