1869.] CAPE HEATHS. 225 



No plant is more impatient of either excessive droiiglit or moisture. 

 Over-watering soon sliows its effects by the foliage getting discoloured 

 and dropping off, the result of the soured soil gradually rotting the 

 roots j while a thorough parching is almost always fatal ; and even 

 when the plant does survive, it is seldom that any after-treatment will 

 compensate for the shock it sustains. The safest will be the medium, 

 giving water copiously during the growing season, and that only when 

 it is seen to be wanted, and gradually reducing the allowance as winter 

 advances, at which season special care must be exercised. 



Early in June they may be placed out of doors in a sheltered situa- 

 tion, and, where it is possible, plunged to the brims of the pots in sand 

 or ashes, taking care that complete provision is made against worms, 

 which are very troublesome, deranging the drainage and perforating 

 the balls, so that it is impossible to do them proper justice in 

 watering. 



In hot summer weather, whether in the greenhouse or out of doors, 

 they should be syringed overhead night and morning, before and 

 after the sun. In autumn and winter, and even in long-continued 

 wet or dull weather in summer, all the sorts are liable to mildew ; and 

 "whenever the faintest symptom of this enemy is perceived, no time 

 should be lost in applying the sulphur puff, before which it will 

 rapidly disappear ; and even though it should not be noticed, a very 

 gentle dusting occasionally in the course of the winter will prevent, 

 which, in this case, is emphatically better than cure. Many fine 

 specimens are ruined by the neglect of this simple precaution ; and 

 mildew is so insidious, that very often its work is done before its pre- 

 sence is detected. 



Immediately after the bloom is past they may be pruned or pinched, 

 so as to keep the specimens in shape. All the sorts require this to be 

 done regularly, and some of the soft-wooded, such as Hyemalis, are 

 much the better of being well cut in. 



In arranging the plants in the, greenhouse, each should have suffi- 

 cient space to allow the light and air to penetrate all round them. 

 Air should be admitted freely, except in very hard frost, and no more 

 fire-heat should be given but what is absolutely necessary to keep the 

 temperature just above the freezing-point. In point of fact, most 

 Heaths will stand 3^ or 4° of frost without apparent injury. I am 

 convinced, however, that the safest course is to keep it out alto- 

 gether. 



I append a select list of fine varieties arranged according to their 

 ordinary seasons of flowering : — 



