HARD-WOODED PLANTS FOR THE GREENHOUSE. 



299 



It is impossible to give directions for the culture of 

 every species, as they need somewhat individual treat- 

 ment, but the general rules laid down will bring success. 

 A few of the most beautiful kinds are the following : 

 /Emilia, pinkish flowers in summer, compact in growth ; 

 Aitoniana Turnbulli, summer, wdiite pink-tinted flowers ; 

 Austiniana, red, white at apex, late summer ; Candolleana, 

 white and red, early summer ; Cavendishiana, yellow, 

 very free, one of the most effective of all the Heaths, likes 

 a rather warmer atmosphere than the majority, especially 

 alter the flowers have faded ; gracilis, reddish purple, 

 autumn and winter flowering ; Marfiockiana, red and 

 while ; E. oblata, rose and white ; Parmentieriana rosea, 

 of a rosy shade ; Propendens ; Tricolor Wilsoni superba ; 

 Wilmoreana ; and the Ventricosa group, especially V. 

 Bothwelliana, flesh, V. coccinea minor, deep pink, V. 

 magnifica, crimson ; E. melanthera ; and E. carnea. 

 E. hyemalis should, especially by the beginner, be pre- 

 ferred to all others. It is grown largely for the market, 

 thousands o f 

 plants being _ 

 sent to the large 

 markets in 5m. 

 pots in the 

 winter. The 

 type ha; 

 purplish rose 

 flowers, and in 

 the variety alba, 

 as suggested by 



• the name, they 

 are white. Th s 

 is as readily 

 grown as any, 

 upon the system 

 laid down in 

 previous notes. 

 Plants in 5in. 

 pots are of suffi- 

 cient size, and 

 when well 

 g r o w n the |§f 

 leathery shoots 



. are lined in the 

 depth of winter 



with blossom. It is suitable for an ordinary greenhouse. 

 Many of the Heaths once grown so largely in English 

 gardens are never seen now, but E. hyemalis has always 

 retained its hold upon the gardener for decoration in the 

 winter. 



EpacriS. — This is a very charming race of hard-wooded 

 plants, and popular in some gardens. The various kinds 

 form suitable companions to the Heaths, as they may 

 be grown under similar conditions. Fortunately their 

 culture is not difficult, and the range of colouring is 

 extensive, some snow white, others intense crimson, 

 whilst soft rose, pink, and pink and white combined, are 

 frequent. The slender flower spikes are of some value 

 also for cutting, as this pruning they do not resent. 

 Amongst the most charming varieties may be mentioned 

 the following: Miniata splendens, white and scarlet; 

 Vesta, pure while, flowers very quickly ; and the forms 

 of hyacinlhina, such as the white candidissima, the 

 richly-coloured fulgens, and carmine carminata ; Mont 

 Blanc, white ; Lady Panmure, white and rose ; Vesuvius, 

 crimson ; and Eclipse, bright red, with white apex to 

 the flowers. When several kinds are grown there is a 

 pleasing variety of tints. Cuttings of moderately ripened 

 shoots will strike in summer, but not very quickly. 

 Treat them in the way suggested for the Heaths, and 

 their general requirements are similar, great care being 

 taken to give water regularly and carefully. Whilst in 

 the open air in summer, should rainy weather come 

 place the pots upon their sides when a heavy downpour is 

 anticipated, otherwise the soil will get too moist. Much 

 depends upon the way in which hard-wooded plants are 

 watered as to their health, nothing revealing the effect of 

 either too dry or too wet compost more than these. 



ERICA CAVENDISHIANA 



EriOStemon CUSpidatUS. — This is a very charming 

 hard wooded plant, and is happily not difficult to grow, 

 the flowers when first expanded being of a pink tint, but 

 this disappears with age. It is a species to plant out in 

 the lied in the greenhouse, where there is space for sui h 

 a feature as this, the soil to be largelv composed ol peal. 

 E. scaber is also an attractive white flower. 



Heaths. See Ericas. 



Leschcnaultia biloba major.— No greenhouse plant 



has a flower of more beautiful blue colouring than this, 

 but unfortunately its culture is so difficult thai only those 

 w ho are prepared for disappointment should attempt to 

 grow it. The plants exhibited every spring by Messrs. 

 Balchin and Sons, of Hassocks Gate, always attract 

 attention. One cannot overlook a colour so fresh and 

 bright as of this Leschenaultia. It belongs to the hard- 

 wooded section, and much better advice cannot be given 

 than that of the late Mr. Baines, one of the greatest 

 cultivators of hard-wooded plants of the century. In his 



book concern- 

 ing stove and 

 greenhouse 

 plants it is men- 

 tioned, in w r il- 

 ing of the 

 reasons why 

 few grow this 

 flower, t h a I 

 "There are 

 several reasons 

 t i account for 

 this . . . it 

 is a short-lived 

 plant, liable 

 to get into bad 

 condition, or 

 go off, without 

 any apparent 

 cause. It re- 

 quires different 

 treatment from 

 most other 

 plants, and any 

 attempt to 

 grow it under 



the exact conditions that some natives of the same country 

 want, will end in failure. Three principal things to observe 

 are : In potting not a single root must be injured that can be 

 avoided, not even by the removal of the crocks ; in the 

 winter it must not be allowed to remain long in a 

 temperature lower than 45tleg. ; and it should never be 

 stood in the open air. The first and last of these will 

 cause the stunted condition that it often gets into, and 

 from which it rarely recovers, and a lower temperature 

 than that named will speedily lead to an attack of mildew, 

 to which it is much subject. To ensure success it is 

 necessary to have free-growing young plants to begin with 

 — without this there is little prospect of success." 

 MetrOSiderOS. — These are the Bottle-brush plants, so 

 named from the curious form of the flow ers, which in their 

 ement resemble a brush. M. floribunda is the most 

 and when in bloom its crimson colouring is 

 The plants require a large house, as only w hen 

 way is their attractiveness 



arrang 

 familiar, 

 welcome. 



to 



allow ed 

 revealed. 



Polygala Dalmaisiana is a pretty purplish-flowered, 

 hard-wooded plant from the Cape. Polygalas are not 

 difficult to grow, and this species is the most welcome o! 

 the entire family. As is usual in the case of hard- wooded 

 plants, peat should form the soil, mixed with sharp silver 

 sand. Cuttings may be rooted with moderate freedom in 

 the spring, taking them off about 3'in. in length, and 

 dibbling round the sides of 5m. or bin. pots. Place in a 

 propagating house, or a warm corner of the intermediate 

 house, covering over with a bell-glass. 



TatrathecaS. — A pretty family of light-coloured plants, 

 which should be treated as recommended for hard- wooded 

 things in general. 



