84 



THE FLORISTS MANUAL. 



Erica and Epacris in Silver Jardinieres. 



There is a small and select demand 

 for a pot of violets. If the spring is 

 mild and early you can get them from 

 the coldframe two or three weeks be 

 fore selling time, but if the season is 

 backward lift from the beds the plants 

 that show the most buds, and only lift 

 them a week or two before you want 

 them. I may have missed some plants 

 that many readers grow in their lo 

 cality, but remember that if I have 

 failed to notice them here I have un 

 der their alphabetical order given them 

 due notice if in my opinion they are 

 worth growing especially as an Easter 

 plant. 



It is always well to be supplied with 

 a stock of moderate sized palms, pan- 

 danus, fk-us. &amp;lt;lraca?nas, ferns and fern 

 eries, but these plants are of value the 

 year round and do not need any spe 

 cial mention here. 



Don t think you can bring in a lot 

 of lilies or azaleas in the fall and by 

 giving them a certain temperature have 

 them in good order for Easter. Plants 

 in the same batch treated just the 

 same will be a month later or earlier 

 than others. They must be moved as 

 their condition requires. I think one 

 winter some years ago that I moved 

 my Harrisii at least six times, every 

 plant, and many of them a dozen times, 

 l)ut it paid, for out of 1,500 plants I 

 don t believe there were ten that did 

 not open precisely a few days before 

 Easter. It can be done, but not with 

 out thought, earnest thought, and active 

 work. 



EPACRIS. 



These beautiful heathlike plants are 

 not much seen in our greenhouses, al- 

 1 hough much grown as a winter and 

 spring flowering plant in the gardens 

 of Europe. The same general treat 

 ment as that given the ericas will suit 

 them. Good peat (not fern root), if it 

 can l&amp;gt;e procured, is what they like. In 



its absence half turfy loam and half 

 leaf-mold will do. For propagation re 

 fer to Erica. 



Most of the species are from Austra 

 lia and New Zealand, but the hybrids 

 from these species are the most valua 

 ble. The colors are mostly white, pink 

 and red of manv shades. 



Plants&quot; that have flowere d should 

 have the last year s growth cut down 

 to within a few inches of the older 

 wood, and till the young growth gets 

 a good start the plants should be kept 

 syringed and away from draughts. They 

 make a growth of several stems one 

 to two feet long, which gives you the 

 flowers the following winter. Yfheu 

 the growth is matured the plants can 

 be plunged outside for a month or two, 

 but are best in partial shade. 



Till flowering time a temperature of 

 40 to 45 degrees at night will do very 

 well. Like the heaths, they dislike ex 

 tremes of moisture, but if properly 

 drained will take plenty of water and 

 must at no time be allowed to get very 

 dry. 



Although not often seen, the epacris 

 is a beautiful and aristocratic green 

 house plant, and whoever can grow 

 heaths should grow epacris. They are 

 seldom troubled with any of our green 

 house pests of any kind. 



EPIPHYLLUM TRUNCATUM. 



There are several species of this 

 South American cactus, but the above 

 is much the most useful and attractive 

 and wherever good pot plants are 

 grown it should be in the collection. 

 It grows as clusters on trees, as do 

 orchids, but can be grown in a pot in 

 ordinary soil. Its leaflike branches 

 propagate freely in sand, but if grown 



Soupert Roses in a Raffia Hamper. 



