Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/166

156 shoots will perish from the damp settling upon them. When placed out of doors during the summer, means must be adopted for their protection in case of heavy rains. They must also be taken indoors early in the autumn. They thrive in good fibrous peat chopped up rather fine and mixed with a liberal quantity of silver sand. Careful watering is essential, for they suffer severely if kept either too wet or too dry for any considerable period. Cuttings of the tops of young shoots when about half-ripe strike freely with the assistance of a mild bottom-heat and the protection of a bell-glass or propagating frame.

.These all require much the same soil and management as the Epacris, but they do not require such hard pruning.

. These are rather difficult to manage, and a considerable amount of skill is necessary to produce large well-developed specimens. They are propagated by seed, which should be sown early in March. Sow on the top of the soil, and lay a flat piece of glass over the pot. When the young plants are large enough to handle, which will be in eight or ten weeks after they make their appearance above the surface, pot them off singly, and place them where they will receive the assistance of a genial bottom-heat. Here they should remain until the end of September, when they may be removed to the greenhouse, and placed in a warm corner. In March shift them into larger pots, and, if practicable, stand the pots upon a genial hotbed. Equal parts of loam and decayed manure, and two parts of peat, will, with the addition of a liberal quantity of sand, form excellent compost.

.A compost consisting of equal parts of turfy loam and peat, well-drained pots, and moderate supplies of water are the main essentials of success in the cultivation of these plants. They do not require such a dry and airy position in the greenhouse as a few other subjects mentioned. Proper training must be practised from the first, as they are somewhat straggling in growth,

.To have these in perfection they must be pruned carefully, have a season of rest annually, and be shifted once a year or be assisted with liquid manure. It is impossible to