Page:The Amateur's Greenhouse and Conservatory.djvu/175

Rh every plant to assume its own natural form, giving a little aid with sticks and wires to direct the growth symmetrically and carefully, avoiding the slightest distortion or display of the harness employed. The subjoined figures show how widely heaths vary in character and growth, and how nearly impossible it is to improve their contour by any kind of pinching and pruning. The free growing kinds bear the knife the best, and they are as easily spoiled as improved by it.

The Epacris may be grown in the heath-house or pit, and requires nearly the same treatment. The points which demand special mention are the pruning and repotting. The time to prune is immediately after the plants go out of flower, when those that have an erect habit should have the flowering shoots cut back to within a few inches of the old wood, but those with a pendulous habit should be merely shortened into shape. As soon as the new growth is an inch long, repot them and shut them up rather close to promote their establishment in the new soil, and be particularly careful not to give them too much water. It is no uncommon event for the epacris to die after having been repotted, the consequence in one case of being put out in heavy rains, in another of being exposed to a burning sun, and in yet another from being clean forgotten, as camellias often are when put out of doors for the season. If they are put out at all, let it be in a shady damp place, such as the north side of a close hedge or wall, and in a spot where they will frequently “meet the eye” of those who are responsible for their well doing. It is better, however, to keep them in a cold pit all the summer because of the ease with which they can be quickly sheltered from heavy rains. The lax growing kinds are well adapted for training on wire balloons, and they make the loveliest specimen plants an exhibitor can give his mind to. As for training generally, the less of it the better if real beauty is valued at a higher rate than the forms furnished by fashion and formality.

The accompanying figure of Ceratostema speciosum will probably amuse the adept in heath growing who may honour these pages with attention. It is a new and extremely beautiful ericaceous plant, a native of Ecuador, where it occurs as an epiphyte. The flowers are vermilion red, tipped with yellow. It requires the same treatment as the Cape heaths.