156 THE amateur's greenhouse 



shoots will perish from the damp settling upon them. When 

 placed out of doors during the summer, means must be adopted 

 for their protection in case of heavy rains. They must also be 

 taken indoors early in the autumn. They thrive in good 

 fibrous peat chopped up rather fine and mixed with a liberal 

 quantity of silver sand. Careful watering is essential, for 

 they suffer severely if kept either too wet or too dry for any 

 considerable period. Cuttings of the tops of young shoots 

 when about half-ripe strike freely with the assistance of a 

 mild bottom-heat and the protection of a bell-glass or propa- 

 gating frame. 



LEUCOPoaoK. — These all require much the same soil and 

 management as the Epacris, but they do not require such hard 

 pruning. 



LisiANTHus. These are rather difficult to manage, and a 

 considerable amount of skill is necessary to produce large 

 well-developed specimens. They are propagated by seed, 

 which should be sown early in March. Sow on the top of 

 the soil, and lay a flat piece of glass over the pot. When the 

 young plants are large enough to handle, which will be in 

 eight or ten weeks after they make their appearance above the 

 surface, pot them off singly, and place them where they will 

 receive the assistance of a genial bottom-heat. Here they 

 should remain until the end of September, when they may be 

 removed to the greenhouse, and placed in a warm corner. In 

 March shift them into larger pots, and, if practicable, stand 

 the pots upon a genial hotbed. Equal parts of loam and de- 

 cayed manure, and two parts of peat, will, with the addition 

 of a liberal quantity of sand, form excellent compost. 



Macleais'a. — A compost consisting of equal parts of turfy 

 loam and peat, well-drained pots, and moderate supplies of 

 water are the main essentials of success in the cultivation of 

 these plants. They do not require such a dry and airy posi- 

 tion in the greenhouse as a few other subjects mentioned. 

 Proper training must be practised from the first, as they are 

 somewhat straggling in growth, 



Neiuum. — To have these in perfection they must be pruned 

 carefully, have a season of rest annually, and be shifted once 

 a year or be assisted with liquid manure. It is impossible to 



