346 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



numbers of small pink, white or rarely yellow, mostly bell- 

 shaped flowers. A few species have long, tubular flowers 

 swelling at the base and tapering to a narrow neck. 



Habitat. Europe. 



531. Commercial importance. Ericas have recently 

 grown rapidly in favor, and are now a most popular spring- 

 flowering plant. They are not difficult to grow, and when 

 properly cared for, make a most satisfactory house plant, 

 having a long period of bloom. Small plants are excellent 

 for table decoration. They supplement cyclamen, prim- 

 ulas and bulbous plants for winter bloom. 



.532. Propagation. Ericas are propagated from cut- 

 tings made from December to April. They should be taken 

 from young plants, where strong shoots about one inch 

 long may be obtained, and planted firmly in a pan filled 

 with clean, sharp sand, and covered with a bell-glass. 

 Bottom-heat is not necessary. 



533. Culture. When rooted, the cuttings are potted 

 in small pots, using a mixture of equal parts of leaf-mold, 

 sifted fibrous loam and sharp sand. When well estab- 

 lished, they should be given an abundance of air. As 

 early as possible in the spring, they should be plunged in 

 the cold frames, and later may be plunged in the open 

 ground where they can get full air circulation and sunlight. 

 In the early autumn, they should be brought into a cool 

 greenhouse and re-potted. The soil at this time should 

 be composed of equal parts of fibrous loam of a sandy char- 

 acter and leaf-mold. Ericas will not grow in soil in which 

 there is actively decomposing organic matter. 



After re-potting, ericas are kept partly shaded until the 

 roots are fully established, and then are given full sunlight. 

 They like a low temperature, and the night temperature 

 should not be allowed to go above 50, while the day tern- 



