THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



s8 



strike easy, and are best grafted on the common and more 

 robust C. alba. Grow in peat, loam, and sand in warm pit in 

 spring, transferring to the cool one later. Sorts : C. cardinalis 

 (Fig. 476), C. Harrisii^ and C. magnifica. 



Daphne indica is a most desirable plant 

 for the greenhouse, not only on account of 

 its beautiful flowers, but also for the delicious 

 perfume which they give off, and for its free- 

 flowering qualities. It is good either for pots 

 or for planting out, especially if grafted. Pro- 

 pagate by cuttings of half-ripened wood in 

 summer, or graft on D. Mezereiini (a wild 

 European species) in March in the warm pit. 

 Grow in fibrous peat, loam, and a little sand 

 in the cool pit. Very often Daphnes are 

 found not to succeed well in certain localities, 

 and this is supposed to be due to the w^ater. 

 It is best to use only rain-water, and this 

 must be given with great caution after the 

 growing season. Grafted plants will flower 

 more freely when young, and are more robust 

 than those on their own roots, but do not 

 last so long. Sorts : D. i. alba and D. i. 

 rub?'a. The flowers are small, wax-like, and 

 borne in clusters surrounded by a whorl of 

 glossy deep green leaves. 



Epacrises are most useful and very showy 

 plants for winter and early spring blossoming, 

 having long drooping racemes of tubular, w^ax- 

 like flowers. Propagate by cuttings of the 

 young shoots in May or June in the cool pit. 

 Grow in rather roughly-broken peat and sand, 

 and when large add a little loam. The erect 

 bushy kinds should be cut back after flower- 

 ing about April, keeping warm, repotting after 

 they have well started, and later transferring 

 to the cool pit. The young shoots should 

 have the points pinched out soon after 

 starting. During August and September place 

 the plants outdoors, and winter in the cool 

 pit. These flower during winter and early 

 spring. The looser and more drooping kinds 

 must not be so pruned, but must only have 

 the longest shoots shortened directly the 

 flowers begin to fade. These do not flower so early. Sorts. — 

 Erect : Hyacinthiflora, Candidissima, Carminata, Rosea Elegans, 

 and Vesuvius. Drooping : Devoniana, Rubra Superba, Miniata, 



Fig. 477. — Erica 

 hybrida. 



