STOVE AND GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 29 



ERICAS— Several years ago the growing of these plants in this coun- 

 try for commercial purposes was regarded as an impossibility, even by 

 those T^ho were familiar with their culture in Europe. But now, we 

 have them grown here as well as anywhere, simply by studying their 

 needs, and carefully attending to their wants. Propagation of the sev- 

 eral varieties may be effected during April before the active growth of 

 the season gets too far advanced. Have no undesirable vegetable 

 humus or mud in the sand. Secure a good-sized bucket, fill with sand 

 and push the end of the hose to the bottom, allowing the water to run 

 with considerable force for a few minutes. This will clean the sand of 

 all impurities. Pans or pots for the cuttings should have perfect drain- 

 age to within two or three inches from the surface; give about an inch 

 of peat or leaf mould and sand at the bottom, covering with an inch or 

 so of sand, which should be made firm. Keep close under glass while 

 rooting at a temperature never above 60 degrees F. During the Sum- 

 mer months keep the roots cool by plunging the plants in some porous 

 material, never allowing them to get too wet or too dry. It may be 

 stated here that roots of plants are divided into four classes — nutritive, 

 attachment, contractile and storage. In the Ericas the nutritive roots 

 are most abundant next the flower pot, so that an equable condition of 

 moisture is necessary to their existence. 



E. persoluta, E. melanthera, E. gracilis and E. hyemalis, are a few of 



the very many kinds grown. 



ERYTHRINAS which are planted out in the back part of a cool frame 

 adjoining a greenhouses, for the sake of their flowers in Summer, should 

 get a mulching of stable litter to keep their roots snug for the 

 Winter. In the colder parts of the country the covering should extend a 

 foot or more up the stems, so that there will be no dangerfrom freezing. 

 In pruning leave as much of the stem as possible, only cutting off enough 

 to enable the sash to slide into place. E. crista-galli and the variety E. 

 laurifolia, together with E. Hendersoni, are the best for this purpose. 

 Old plants which have been bedded out for the Summer will Winter all 

 right beneath a bench, in a cold house, with some soil thrown over the 

 roots. E. Parcelli and E. marmorata, both varieties of Indica, have 

 variegated foliage. 



Propagation— By the beginning of February start some of the old 

 plants of E. crista-galli, or any of its forms; they are far the best for 

 Summer work. If not in pots the old stumps may simply be covered 

 over at the roots with moss and given a minimum temperature of 55 

 degrees. Syringe occasionally to encourage growths for cuttings. As 

 soon as these growths are in the neighborhood of 4 inches in length take 

 them off with a heel, put in 2-inch pots, using a sandy mixture, and 

 keep them confined in a warm propagating case until they root; shift 

 into larger pots and gradually harden off. 



EUPATORIUn PROBUn is the name of a species of this popular Winter 

 flowering genus which we do not see much of, and which may be grown 

 to come in after the well-known Stevia serrata goes out of flower. The 

 flower heads are as large as those of S. elegans. The only drawback to 



