General Notices. 553 



Winter Treatment and Propagation of Epacrises. — These will 

 now have completed their growth and formed their flower buds. See, 

 therefore, that they are in a proper condition for wintering, their pots clean 

 and the drainage complete, for to have it perfect is of more consequence dur- 

 ing winter than at any other season: if it is imperfect the water will lodge 

 in the soil and turn it sour ; the young roots will then perish, and the plant 

 will soon show the ill effects of such conditions. This fact cannot be too 

 strongly pressed upon the attention of the young cultivator. Should any 

 worm casts appear upon the surface of the soil, means must be taken to 

 get rid of them : if only one or two pots are infected the most certain reme- 

 dy is carefully to turn the ball out of the pot, and if the worms are outside, 

 to gently remove them without disturbing the roots : but if they are imbed- 

 ded in the soil they will be more difficult to come at. If the ball be gently 

 struck with the hand, they will creep out of their hiding places and may be 

 destroyed. Should' these means fail, let the plants become moderately dry 

 and then give a good watering with lime water ; this M'ill effectually dis- 

 place them. The green fly sometimes prevails in the early part of winter 

 on the young shoots ; they are easily got rid of by smoking with tobacco. 

 The application of water during winter is necessary, but only in moderate 

 quantities, merely just sufficient to keep the soil somewhat moist, care be- 

 ing taken that the ball is moistened to the centre. All the artificial heat 

 that is needed for the Epacris, is just enough to keep out frost. If the 

 plants, or part of them, are kept in cold pits, they should be securely covered 

 up every night when severe frost prevails : in very severe, long continued 

 frost it may be necessary to keep them closely covered up even during the 

 day. They have been so covered up for a week together without injury ; 

 but on all favorable occasions uncover them, and give them fresh air to dry 

 up damps, and keep the plants fresh and healthy. Air must also be given 

 plentifully to the greenhouse, both to keep down the temperature and 

 sweeten the atmosphere. Once or twice during the winter let the surface 

 of the soil be stirred, and all mosses and lichens removed as well as weeds. 

 Towards the spring, when the flower buds are beginning to push, a top 

 dressing of fresh mould will be acceptable and useful. 



In order to perpetuate choice varieties already known, the only way is to 

 strike them from cuttings ; they are by no means difficult to propagate in this 

 manner, though certainly not so easy as a geranium or chrysanthemum. 

 The materials necessary are, some good sandy peat, some fine wliite silver 

 sand, and two or three bell glasses, together with a rather warmer house to 

 place the cuttings in than the greeniiouse. The best time is when the 

 plants have plenty of young shoots upon them, which generally happens 

 about the month of May. [In January and February in our climate. — Ed.] 

 The best cuttings are such as are growing on the side shoots, because these 

 are not so gross and full of sap as the leading branches. The shoots being 

 in a fit state to take off for cuttings, select some pots of such a size as will 

 allow the bell glass just to fit within them ; fill the lower parts of the pots 

 with broken potsherds for drainage, lay upon the drainage a thin layer of 

 the rougher parts of the peat, then fill up with roughly sifted' peat to within 

 VOL. XIX. NO. XII. 70 



