844 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



527. Botanical characters. Genistas resemble the 

 acacia somewhat in their general habits of growth. They 

 are low shrubs, bearing three-foliate leaves, and producing 

 in the early spring a large number of yellow pea-shaped 

 flowers. 



Habitat. Canary Islands. 



528. Culture. Cuttings of genistas are started in 

 early spring, re-potted several times, and then gradually 

 hardened off. They may be plunged out of doors for the 

 summer or kept in a cool greenhouse. It is better to keep 

 young plants under glass for the summer, but the older 

 ones will make a satisfactory growth if plunged outside. 



In the fall, they should be started at a low temperature, 

 given plenty of light and air, and carefully and moderately 

 watered during the winter months. About the first of 

 January, they may be removed to a house where the tem- 

 perature is about 55 and then should be well in flower 

 for Easter. After flowering, the plants should be cut 

 back, and re-potted. Genistas may be grown with aca- 

 cias. 



ERICAS 



529. Botanical classification. Order, Ericaceae ; genus, 

 Erica (name of no special meaning) ; species of commer- 

 cial importance : melanthera, flowers from October to 

 February ; Wilmorei, December to February ; persoluta, 

 varieties alba and rosea; February ; gracilis, October to 

 February; hyemalis, January, February and March 

 (Fig. 39) ; stricta, March, April and May ; Cavendishiana, 

 March and April ; mediterranea, March and April. 



530. Botanical characters. Ericas are low-growing, 

 much-branched, evergreen shrubs with needle-like leaves, 

 in whorls of from three to six. The branches bear great 



