Plate 100. 
VARIETIES OE EPACRIS. 
Epacris Jiyhrida. 
Amongst the various greenhouse plants which tend to en¬ 
liven the early spring months, there are none on which more 
dependence can be placed, and which are more useful, than the 
Epacris; hearing some similarity in appearance to the Ericas 
they are of much easier culture, and, whether for cutting for 
bouquets or ornamenting the stages of the greenhouse, are very 
desirable plants. 
Finding that they seeded easily, that busy tribe (which, like 
the bee, will let no dower alone) the florists, have essayed their 
hand at hybridizing them, and the result has been the produc¬ 
tion of many beautiful varieties ; and thus have they succeeded 
in introducing confusion to another race of plants, to the infinite 
horror of botanists, w T ho consider that “ we have a great deal to 
answer for.” * The late Mr. W. H. Storey was a most successful 
raiser of them, and three of his varieties, which were sent out 
by Messrs. E. G. Henderson and Co., of the Wellington Road 
Nursery, this spring, are represented in the plate. They are, 
Fireball (Fig. 1), the buds of a brilliant crimson, opening as 
the flower expands, into a rich red; it blooms in long and close 
racemes. Butterfly (Fig. 2) is one of the parti-coloured varieties, 
the tubes being white and the base a light-rose ; it is described 
as being free, and being also a late bloomer. Exquisite (Fig. 
3) is a beautiful bright rosy-pink colour, the lobes of the tube 
being of a light blush, the individual flowers are large and 
stout. All these varieties, together with some others of the same 
strain, are effective, from the closeness with which the flower- 
buds are set upon the plants. 
# An expression used to us the other day by one who has enriched our 
gardens with the botanical treasares of China and Japan. 
