AND CONSERVATORY. 165 



every plant to assume its own natural form, giving a little aid 

 with sticks and wires to direct the growth symmetrically and 

 carefully, avoiding the slightest distortion or display of the 

 harness employed. The subjoined figures show how widely 

 heaths vary in character and growth, and how nearly im- 

 possible it is to improve their contour by any kind of pinching 

 and pruning. The free growing kinds bear the knife the best, 

 and they are as easily spoiled as improved by it. 



The Epacris may be grown in the heath-house or pit, and 

 requires nearly the same treatment. The points which de- 

 mand special mention are the pruning and repotting. The 

 time to prune is immediately after the plants go out of flower, 

 when those that have an erect habit should have the flower- 

 ing shoots cut back to within a few inches of the old wood, 

 but those with a pendulous habit should be merely shortened 

 into shape. As soon as the new growth is an inch long, repot 

 them and shut them up rather close to promote their estab- 

 lishment in the new soil, and be particularly careful not to 

 give them too much water. It is no uncommon event for the 

 epacris to die after having been repotted, the consequence in 

 one case of being put out in heavy rains, in another of being 

 exposed to a burning sun, and in yet another from being clean 

 forgotten, as camellias often are when put out of doors for 

 the season. If they are put out at all, let it be in a shady 

 damp place, such as the north side of a close hedge or wall, 

 and in a spot where they will frequently "meet the eye" of 

 those who are responsible for their well doing. It is better, 

 however, to keep them in a cold pit all the summer because of 

 the ease with which they can be quickly sheltered from heavy 

 rains. The lax growing kinds are well adapted for training 

 on wire balloons, and they make the loveliest specimen plants 

 an exhibitor can give his mind to. As for training generally, 

 the less of it the better if real beauty is valued at a higher 

 rate than the forms furnished by fashion and formality. 



The accompanying figure of Ceratostema speciosum will 

 probably amuse the adept in heath growing who may honour 

 these pages with attention. It is a new and extremely beauti- 

 ful ericaceous plant, a native of Ecuador, where it occurs as 

 an epiphyte. The flowers are vermilion red, tipped with 

 yellow. It requires the same treatment as the Cape heaths. 



