DROSERA—EPACRIS. 179 



habit of growth, producing noat terminal heads of pure white flowers. Cuttings from 

 the tips of young shoots taken off any time from September to April, inserted in sand, 

 covered with a bell-glass, placed in a temperature of 60° to 05°, and kept uniformly 

 moist, will eventually produce roots. The young plants must be placed singly in thumb 

 pots, and grown on a greenhouse shelf. Top to promote branching. Only small shifts 

 should be given, and each time clean, well-drained pots and sandy peat must be used. 

 Pot firmly and water carefully, never allowing the soil to become very dry, as this 

 would mean the loss of numerous fibrous roots and probably the early death of the plant. 



drosera (Sundew). — The Droseras are good companions for Dionsea muscipula. 

 In common with these they are diminutive yet most interesting plants, and classed 

 as insectivorous, the tiny hairy leaves with dewdrops of viscid fluid at their points 

 closing on and retaining any small insects that venture on them and set up the 

 requisite irritation. Drosera can be raised from seed as advised in the case of 

 darlingtonia (see page 176); also by portions of strong roots cut into J-inch to inch 

 lengths, and laid on the surface of sandy soil in a shallow pan and covered with \ inch 

 of the same kind of soil, in pans in a moist, well-heated house or frame, and kept 

 steadily moist. The after culture is practically the same as dionsea, which see. The 

 species of drosera recommended for greenhouse culture are: — D. binata (syn. D. 

 dichotoma), Australia ; leaves on long footstalks, and two-lobed ; flowers pure white ; 

 it is the most extensively cultivated. D. capensis, Cape of Good Hope, of closer growth 

 than the preceding ; flowers purple. And D. spathulata, Australia, dwarf ; flowers purple. 

 All three species are perennials. 



EPACRIS. 



In bygone years collections of epacrises were more frequently seen than now. At 

 their best they are beautiful objects, and well repay for all the trouble taken in producing 

 them. During the first two or three years progress is slow, the start being usually made 

 with plants purchased from a nurseryman, and that is undoubtedly the best plan. They 

 are propagated by cuttings formed of the ends of young snoots in August or April. 

 Insert these in pots of sandy peat, surfaced with sand and watered, fixing them well, 

 cover with a bell-glass and place in a greenhouse. When rooted, pot singly, keep the 

 plants close for a time till growing freely, then assign them a more airy position, and 

 eventually grow them on a base of ashes in a frame. As the plants grow top the shoots 

 and give small shifts to larger pots as required, making the soil quite firm. 



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