102 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AND PLANTER. 



the greenhouse, and should be in the possession of 

 every one who has a good house, as it bears numerous 

 small and beautiful waxy white spikes of flowers, ad- 

 mirably suited for small hand bouquets or the button- 

 hole. It is quite a ladies' flower, superior to the Heaths 

 or the Epacris for this purpose, and equal to the Lily 

 of the Valley, except in fragrance. 



This plant should be grown in good peat, and stimu- 

 lated after it has done flowering (which is in the spring) 

 by stopping the young growth at an early stage, so as 

 to induce a bushy habit and to form a good specimen, 

 as well as to get a full crop of flowers the ensuing 

 season. It is easy to grow, and not at all subject to 

 insect pests or disease. 



Its propagation is effected in the same manner as for 

 the Chorozema, but the cuttings must not be of wood 

 more than half ripe, or they will not strike ; the fully 

 ripe wood gets very hard. 



The Epacris (Epacridacece). 



The Epacrises are too well known to require any 

 detailed description here. Suffice it to say that there 

 is no better tribe of greenhouse plants to be found for 

 growing as large specimens, and they require compara- 

 tively little care beyond the frequent stopping of the 

 young growth up to July or even August ; this will in- 

 sure plants full of short spikes of flower. They require 

 good sandy peat soil, a sound drainage, good-sized pots, 

 and a liberal supply of water during the summer. 



Their propagation consists in taking cuttings of the 

 firm young wood, but not at all ripened ; they should 

 be not more than two inches long, and of the medium 

 growth. Trim them carefully with a pair of propa- 

 gating-scissors, divesting the cutting of the leaves half- 

 way up from the base, and with a fine-edged small 

 knife cut the base of it at right angles, making a very 

 clean cut ; and then insert five or six of them in a 

 large 60-size pot, leaving room enough next the pot 

 for a small bell-glass to go over them, and which 



