\ 



EPIPHYLL VMS— ERICA . 



a moist atmosphere till the union is perfect, and afterwards till the autumn, when less 

 heat is desirable and a rest necessary. 



If started into active growth again the following February in gentle heat or the 

 warmest corner in a greenhouse, fairly large heads will have formed by the end of 

 July, when the plants ought to be given cooler but not shady quarters for the growth 

 to mature preparatory to flowering. Winter the plants on dry greenhouse stage, 

 in a temperature of 45° to 50°, and only give enough water to prevent shrivelling. 

 If a long succession of bloom is desired, start the plants at intervals, commencing 

 in February, and avoid hard forcing. They will open their flowers readily in a 

 temperature of G0°. 



After the flowering is over, and just before active growth begins, attend to what 

 re-potting is necessary. They do not require much root room, a pot 8 inches in 

 diameter sufficing for a large plant, and many are flowered in 5-inch pots. The 

 soil that suits them is a mixture of two parts of sandy loam to one each of leaf- soil 

 and mortar rubbish. Good drainage is imperative. Gentle heat and a moist 

 atmosphere promote vigorous growth. After this is completed expose the plants to 

 all the light and air possible, and they will then flower grandly the next season. 



Varieties of Epipiiyllum truncatum. 



aurantiacum. 



bicolor, wliito, edged with rose. 

 Bridgesi. 



coccineum, rich, deep scarlet. 

 Marguerite de St. Ainand. 



magnificum, flowers large, white, tippod with rose. 



Buekerianum, reddish purple, violet centre. 



salmonoum, reddish salmon. 



Snowi. 



spectabile, white, with purple margin, 

 violacenni, pure white, delicato purple margin. 



,, supermini, pure white, rich purple edge. 



EEICA. 



Commonly called Heaths, from the similarity of the plants to the wild heather 

 (calluna) of our moorlands. Ericas are undeniably beautiful when well grown. The 

 name is derived from erico, "to break," referring to the brittle nature of the wood. 

 In past times large collections of Heaths were grown in many gardens, but are rarely 

 met with now. Handsome specimens may be seen at exhibitions, the result of twenty 

 years and more of cultural care. These are mostly composed of the hard-wooded, slow- 

 growing species that flower in the summer ; for general decorative purposes the free- 

 growing winter and spring flowering species are preferred, notably E. caffra, E. Caven- 

 dishiana, E. gracilis, E. candidissima, E. hyemalis, and E. ventricosa ; these are grown 



