HINTS ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE GENUS EPACRIS. 281 
The picturesque in landscape gardening aims at the production of 
outlines of a certain spirited irregularity, surfaces comparatively abrupt 
and broken, and growth of a somewhat wild and bold character. ‘The 
shape of the ground sought after has its occasional smoothness varied 
by sudden variations, and in parts runs into dingles, rocky groups, and 
broken banks. The trees should in many places be old and irregular, 
with rough stems and bark; and pines, larches, and other trees of 
striking, irregular growth, must appear in numbers sufficient to give 
character to the woody outlines, As, to produce the beautiful, the 
trees are planted singly in open groups to allow full expansion, so for 
the picturesque, the grouping takes every variety of form; almost 
every object should group with another; trees and shrubs are often 
planted closely together ; and intricacy and variety, thickets, glades, 
and underwood, as in wild nature, are indispensable. Walks and roads 
are more abrupt in their windings, turning off frequently at sudden 
angles where the form of the ground or some inviting object directs. 
In water, all the wildness of romantic spots in nature is to be imitated 
or preserved ; and the lake or stream, with bold shore, and rocky wood- 
fringed margin, or the cascade in the secluded dell, are the characteristic 
forms. The keeping of such a landscape will, of course, be less careful 
than in the graceful school. Firm gravel walks near the house, and a 
general air of neatness in that quarter, are indispensable to the fitness 
of the scene in all modes, and indeed properly evince the recognition 
of art inall landscape gardening. But the lawn may be less frequently 
mown, the edges of the walks less carefully trimmed, where the 
picturesque prevails; while in portions more removed from the house, 
the walks may sometimes sink into a mere footpath without gravel, and 
the lawn change into the forest glade or meadow. The architecture 
which belongs to the picturesque landscape is the Gothic mansion, the 
old English or the Swiss cottage, or some other striking forms, with 
bold projections, deep shadows, and irregular outlines. Rustic baskets 
and similar ornaments may abound near the house, and in the more 
frequented parts of the place. 
HINTS ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE GENUS 
EPACRIS. 
BY ROBERT REID, C.M.H.S., GARDENER TO MRS, CLARKE, OF NOBLETHORPE NEAR 
BARNSLEY. 
Tus useful genus, which is yearly becoming more interesting by the 
addition of new varieties, almost rivals heaths in beauty, and must 
doubtless soon receive more extensive cultivation than it has hitherto 
done ; for Epacrises are much better adapted for mixed collections than 
heaths, both on account of their more robust habits and the certainty 
with which they can be brought into flower at almost any given time, 
but more especially in the winter season. The following hints, there- 
fore, on their cultivation may be found to be deserving of attention :— 
With respect to propagation and soil, they require the same treat- 
ment as heaths. I have tried a little loam with peat, but find they 
always thrive best in sandy peat alone. The time for shifting can 
hardly be fixed, but it should mostly be done betwixt the months of 
Vou. xvit. No, 35,.—WV.S, 2A 
