166 
THE FLORIST. 
a shrubbery according to their respective height. To avoid the 
admission of worms, the pots should be placed on lath, an inch 
or more square, or any other contrivance to effect the object. Let 
there be plenty of room for each; nothing is more injurious to 
the beauty of the plant than being huddled up into a small space, 
jostling and elbowing each other. I presume each and all to have 
been cut back and tied out as directed in the May number. They 
will require looking over daily, to administer water to those that 
are thirsty, and to stop rank-growing shoots in an early stage. 
The future beauty and perfection of your specimen depends upon 
this being vigilantly attended to, ere more than three or four 
inches of growth has taken place. In my opinion, the acme of 
perfection in plant-growing consists in promoting the growth of 
flowering-wood from the very base of the plant. Most of the 
Epacris tribe are disposed to soar upwards, and for want of pro¬ 
per attention to this duty, it is no unusual thing to see a Nivalis 
or Impressa three feet high, with as many miserable, uncomfor¬ 
table-looking branches (clothed with flowers, it is true, in their 
season, but a sad spectacle of inattention). If, on the other hand, 
such plants had been stopped twice in an early stage, from twenty 
to thirty flowering-stems would have been induced, and by the ex¬ 
tended elaboration of sap would be half the height, and literally 
a blooming bush. Another evil is sometimes fallen into, namely, 
stopping a branch after it has made a foot or fifteen inches of 
growth: nothing can justify such barbarism. But to return: 
if a plant breaks strong after the first stopping, the points of a 
few of the most vigorous shoots may be again pinched off, if 
before the middle of July they have made three or four inches 
growth ; after then I do not think there is sufficient growing 
time left to warrant such a procedure. By these little attentions 
the most obstinate-habited plant may be brought into subjection; 
but in this class, as with many others, much has been done by 
hybridising. Seedlings of acknowledged merit are fast elbowing 
the old standards out of knowledge and their very existence, 
many of the former possessing a denser habit, brighter and 
larger foliage, with flowers of increased size, combined with depth 
and richness of colours. Were it not savouring of egotism, I could 
enumerate many of my own raising, distinguished by these ad¬ 
vantages in a marked degree. I have at this moment in bloom 
a beautiful hybrid, raised between Grandiflora and Miniata, in¬ 
termediate in colour, with a lip exquisitely pure, well reflexing, 
and of great substance. There is no doubt, I think, but an ex¬ 
cellent hybrid may be obtained with a cross from or upon Laevi¬ 
gata ; also Onosmiflora may prove a desirable parent. There is 
no question, I think, but the Epacris is capable of being made 
one of the most interesting class of plants ; and as it is of easy 
culture, will be more generally found in a miscellaneous collection 
than at present. W. H. Story. 
Whitehilly Newton Ahhot, Devon. 
Ericas. —Shift small plants at once, if not already done, regulating 
the extent of the shift to the strength of the plant and state of the 
