USEFUL GREENHOUSE PLANTS 155 



Epacris. The Australian representative of the Heath family, of 

 which there are many distinct forms. They flower during the early 

 months of the year, at which time the long shoots are thickly studded 

 for some distance with pretty little tubular-shaped blossoms. In colour 

 they vary from white to red, some of the pink tints being very pleasing. 

 All the Epacris need very firm potting in sandy peat, and they may be 

 placed out of doors during the summer months. Directly after flower- 

 ing, the long shoots should be cut back to within a couple of inches 

 of their base, and as soon as growth recommences the plants must be 

 repotted. They will thus be well established before the time comes to 

 turn them out of doors. In potting take care that there is good drain- 

 age, and in all stages of growth do not allow any extremes of drought 

 or moisture at the roots. 



Erica (Heath). This is the Heath family, most of which are natives 

 of South Africa, and though some of them are difficult to cultivate suc- 

 cessfully, others may with care be grown in a satisfactory manner. They 

 need much the same treatment as the Epacris just mentioned. Several 

 of them are valuable for their winter flowers, notably E. gracilis, rosy- 

 red ; E. caffra, white ; E. hyemalis, purplish rose ; E. liyemalis alba, 

 white ; E. melanthera, blush ; and E. wilmoreana, red and white. 

 Among the easiest grown of the summer-flowering kinds are : E. ventri- 

 cosa, pink ; E. ventricosa coccinea, reddish -pink ; E. propendens, pur- 

 plish ; E. cavendishiana, yellow ; and E. spenceriana, blush. Though 

 very chaste and beautiful, and with care they can be grown successfully, 

 neither the Epacris nor the Ericas can be exactly recommended to the 

 beginner, at all events till the rudiments of watering, potting, &c., are 

 thoroughly mastered. Both are increased by cuttings, but it is a difficult 

 matter, and successful only in the hands of skilled propagators. E. 

 liyemalis is perhaps the most popular of the family. 



Eucalyptus. The Blue Gum (E. globulus) is naturally a large tree, 

 but it is a well-known pot shrub. The peculiar bluish green of the 

 leaves, and their warm aromatic fragrance, combined with the reputation 

 it possesses as a febrifuge, all serve to render it popular. It is readily 

 raised from seed, and the young plants obtained therefrom will make 

 rapid progress in ordinary potting soil. A second kind, E. citriodora, 

 has a pleasing lemon-like fragrance, but it is not so robust as the other. 



Eulalia. The Eulalias are a group of Japanese Grasses, valuable 

 for decoration. The best is E. japonica albo-lineata, that reaches a 

 height of two feet to five feet, the leaves being freely striped with 

 white. It is a great favourite with the London floral decorators. In 

 the second kind the leaves are transversely barred with yellow. Both 

 succeed in ordinary soil, and are increased by division. 



Ficus (India-rubber Plant). The well-known India-rubber Plant is 

 Ficus indica, which at one time was more generally grown than it is 

 now. The tendency to lose its leaves at the base has led to such sub- 

 jects as Palms, Aspidistras, and other things being more generally used 

 for indoor decoration. The India-rubber Plant should be potted in a 

 mixture of loam, peat, and sand, and the leaves kept regularly sponged. 

 At the same time care must be taken not to put the plant in too large a 



