34 GKEEXHOrSE FLOWERING PLANTS. 



they might eufiEer from heat and drought. The best mode of 

 training is that which exhibits the greatest quantity of flower 

 with the least degree of stiffness or formality. The shoots 

 should be arching gracefully to the outside, and kept in 

 position by neat stakes and green-coloured threads, which 

 should be removed, if possible, when the plants are exhibited. 



ERICA. 



As flowering specimens, the Ericas or Cape Heaths may be 

 considered the standard greenhouse plants for exhibition, and 

 when staged in first-class condition, are universally admired, 

 and stand high in cultural merit. To manage them well, they 

 require a house for themselves, or they may be associated with 

 such hard-wooded greenhouse plants as thrive under somewhat 

 similar conditions. They are a very durable race of plants, 

 and by careful management and strict attention to their re- 

 quirements they can be most successfully grown and exhibited 

 for many years. There are many species and varieties of 

 Erica suitable for exhibition, among which the following hold 

 a prominent place : — E. Aitordana Turnhullii, E. aristata 

 major, E. Cavendislili, E. elegans glauca, E. Marnockiana, E. 

 Ma-s-sonii, E. reioiia major, E. tricolor WiUoni, E. ventrieosa, 

 E. V. sjplendeng, E. ve-stita, and E. Vidorke. The soil they 

 thrive in is good fibry brown peat, torn up into small frag- 

 ments and the finer particles left out ; to this should be 

 added a liberal amount of silver sand, and nodules of charcoal 

 and sandstone, varying the quantity according to the quality 

 of the peat. Drain the pots carefully, and press the soil as 

 firm as possible with the potting-stick, finishing off with a 

 thin layer of fine soil. A judicious and liberal amount of 

 water must be given at the roots at all times, but a more 

 copious supply is necessary during the season of active growth. 

 If the ball of soil once becomes dry, the small fibry rootlets 

 will suffer to such an extent as to cripple the energies of the 

 whole plant, and, if it does not die off in consequence, it will 

 take years to recover itself. The best time to re-pot is when 

 the plants are starting into growth. Large shifts must be 



