EPIPHY1.LUM TRUNCATUM. 160 



ERICA, OR HEATH. 



pots, with moist moss between them. The 

 pots should be well drained ; but the roots 

 of the plants must never suffer for want of 

 moisture. They must have plenty of air 

 and light, and just sufficient heat to keep 

 them from frost. Cuttings of the young 

 wood strike easily in sand with a little 

 bottom heat. 



These plants should be freely cut back as 

 soon as they have done flowering ; and 

 after the shoots have grown afresh, two or 

 three inches long, is the best time for re- 

 potting them. Place them in a close pit, 

 but by no means warm, for a few weeks ; 

 gradually inure them to the air, plunge in 

 a sunny situation : see that the wood is 

 brown and hard by the end of September. 

 Remove to conservatory-shelf in October, 

 and the plants will soon present blooms 

 exhibiting a charming profusion and suc- 

 cession of tiny tubes of colour. 



There are several varieties, but the green- 

 house plants in general use are hybrids, and 

 it will be best for any one who wishes to 

 have any in his house to consult the grower 

 of whom he purchases them. 



EpiphyTlum Trunca'tum (nat. ord. 



Cacta'cese). 



This is one of the numerous family of 

 Cacti, an abundant flowerer, and requiring 

 only greenhouse heat. For treatment see 

 Cactus. 



Erica, or Heath. 



This important genus of greenhouse 

 plants includes five or six hundred described 

 species, and as many varieties produced by 

 cultivation, are the great ornaments of the 

 greenhouse at a time when other flowering 

 plants are scarce; it is therefore impos- 

 sible to overrate their importance, even 

 were their delicate flowers less beautiful 

 than they are. The genus has, moreover, 

 the advantage of furnishing plants which 

 flower summer and autumn, as well as in 



winter and spring. Ericas and Epacriscs 

 may be purchased of any large nurseryman 

 or grower, who will furnish selections of 

 plants to flower in spring, summer, autumn, 

 or winter, according to the requirements of 

 the buyer. 



Propagation. Heaths are propagated by 

 cuttings formed of the tender tops of the 

 young shoots. The cuttings should be an 

 inch or so in length, and should be tenderly 

 used, so as to avoid bruising any part of the 

 stem, and inserted in pots and pans filled 

 with pure white sand, moistened and 

 firmly pressed down. Having inserted the 

 cuttings, water so as to settle the sand 

 about the roots, and having given a little 

 time for the moisture to subside, cover them 

 with bell-glasses, pressing the edges into 

 the sand so as completely to exclude the air, 

 only removing the glasses to wipe off accu- 

 mulated moisture. They should then be 

 placed in the propagating-house, where 

 there is one available, or in a spent hotbed. 

 When they begin to root, which will be 

 seen by the starting of the shoots, they 

 should have air given daily to harden them 

 preparatory to the removal of the bell- 

 glasses. 



Soil. The soil best adapted for this 

 plant is .hat obtained from a locality where 

 the wild heath grows luxuriantly, taking 

 care it is not dug too deep ; the turf must 

 not exceed 4 inches rather less than 

 more ; as, if deeper than that, it is more 

 than probable that the good and nutritious 

 upper soil will become deteriorated by an 

 admixture of inert and mischievous subsoil. 

 The summer is the proper season to pro- 

 cure and store up a heap, which may safely 

 be used after having a summer and winter's 

 seasoning. To prepare the soil for potting 

 or shifting, it should be cut down from a 

 heap so as to disarrange it as little as pos- 

 sible, breaking the lumps well with the back 

 of a spade, and afterwards rubbing the soil 

 through the hands, which is far better th^n 



