THE HEATH AND RHODODENDRON FAMILY. 289 



Some of the very best varieties of Erica ampullacea, E. tricolor, 

 and E. jasminiflora, now in cultivation, are also of hybrid 

 origin. They are readily propagated by cuttings of the young 

 wood inserted in cutting pots, surfaced with silver sand, and 

 placed in a dry position in the greenhouse or frame. Too 

 much heat and moisture in the atmosphere causes the cuttings 

 to damp off. The pots of cuttings should be covered with a 

 bell-glass, tilted at the base so as to prevent closeness and 

 damp. Although this genus has been much improved by the 

 hybridist, there is yet a wide field open to the cultivator. 



In fertilising Ericas, it should be borne in mind that the 

 eight stamens shed their pollen early sometimes, indeed, 

 before the flower opens ; and to prevent the possibility of self- 

 fecundation taking place, a slit should be made through the 

 unopened corolla, so that the stamens can be cut off with a 

 pair of fine-pointed scissors, and removed from the flower, after 

 which examine the glutinous apex of the stigma with a lens; 

 and if it is in a receptive state, and free from the pollen of its 

 own flower, proceed to fertilise it with pollen obtained from 

 any other parent the properties of which it seems desirable to 

 blend with those of the seed-bearing parent. Some of the Cape 

 Ericas, however, retain their pollen until visited by insects, the 

 anthers being irritable, and when touched by the proboscis or 

 antennae of a bee or fly, they discharge their pollen on to the 

 hairy intruder, who thus doubtless cross-fertilises other flowers, 

 and possibly other species. Seed should be sown as soon as it 

 is ripe on the surface of sandy peat earth, and covered with a 

 bell-glass. It will germinate more quickly if placed on a gentle 

 bottom -heat in a greenhouse temperature. 



As early as 1819 the Rev. W. Herbert had obtained numer- 

 ous hybrid Heaths, since in his valuable paper (see ' Trans. 

 Hort. Soc.,' 1819-21, vol. iv. p. 28*) he writes: "I have 

 mules from the long-podded Erica ampullacea and E. jasmini- 

 flora (fertilised ?) with the round-podded E. vestita-coccinea and 

 E, hybrida or cylindrica. I have also mules from . Shannonii 

 with E. gemmifera and with E. tricolor, of E. ampullacea with 

 E. gemmifera, and all the seedlings of a similar impregnation 

 are alike among themselves, and would at once be pointed out 

 by a person acquainted with the African Heaths as new' species, 

 extremely unlike their parents. These have not yet flowered. 

 I have not yet obtained any mule between tubular and cam- 

 panulate flowering Heaths ; but I have not made many experir 

 ments. I think such difference of form much more likely to 



* See also "Observations on Hybrids," by T. A. Knight 'Trans. 

 Hort. Soc.,' vol. iv. p. 367. 



* T 



