14 THE FLORIST. 



much to be regretted that the Chiswick and Regent's Park regula- 

 tions do DOl disqualify all plants exhibited that have not been grown, 

 in the strict sense of the word, by the exhibitor; until such, or a 

 similar requirement be made, no fair test of the cultivator's skill can 

 be got at ; for those who can afford to pay their ten or twenty pounds 

 for "a ready-grown specimen, must of necessity leave but little chance 

 of success to the more humble amateur. 



In penning these few criticisms upon Mr. Leach's published 

 article on the cultivation of the Erica, I have not been actuated by 

 any other than a sincere desire to caution the inexperienced culti- 

 vator of this tribe of plants from many grievous errors, which would 

 cause ultimate disappointment, if he adopted the practice of Mr. Leach. 

 The suggestions that I have now, and on former occasions, thrown 

 out, have emanated from personal practical cultivation of this plant 

 for many years; the Erica having been a pet flower from my first 

 indulging in floricultural pursuits. It is most true, that this class of 

 plants, as well as all others, have been subjected, from time to time, 

 to novel modes of treatment : some have had for their object the 

 inducement of more rapid growth ; others, again, to obtain a super- 

 abundance of flower both in and out of season : then again, experi- 

 ments have been tried on the soils, by using leaf-mould, and even 

 a portion of loam, foul river-sand, and even the scrapings of roads ; 

 all, and many other such unnatural modes of treatment has the un- 

 fortunate Heath been tortured with. I knew one of the finest 

 collections in England almost annihilated by some such vagary only 

 a few years back. On visiting a very fine collection about seven or 

 eight years ago, the gardener was just carried away with the " one- 

 shift" system, syringing overhead the last thing at night, and shut- 

 ting up close ; such was his treatment at that time to his young 

 stock, and disastrous was the result. I have tried experiments on 

 this plant equally absurd, and met with disappointment. I am so 

 well convinced of the intractability of the Erica to conform to any 

 forced or artificial mode of culture, that I have long since abandoned 

 the idea of its practicability. It is a slow-growing plant, and all 

 the art of man cannot make it otherwise. It requires soil and treat- 

 ment suited to its constitutional habits, and it will not thrive if any 

 other be substituted ; a dry atmosphere, any degree of cold short of 

 freezing, plenty of air, and as little sun as may be. These are essen- 

 tial to grow Heaths, and upon them depends the health of the plant. 

 Whitehill, Dec. 7, 1848. W. H. Story. 



Note. — For the purpose of affording information on the subject, we have 

 inspected the plants under Mr. Leach's care, which are in beautiful health ; and 

 we give the names of a few, not the largest, with some other particulars respecting 

 them. 



Splendens, 7 ft. cir., 2 ft. high ; was in a 3-in. pot three years ago. 



Retorta, 8 ft. cir., 1ft. 8 in. high ; was in an 8-in. pot at the same time. 



Retorta major, 9 ft. cir., 2ft. 6 in. high ; was in a 9-in. pot at the same time. 



Pairmentierkma rosea, 9 ft. 6 in. cir., 2 ft. 6in. high ; the same. 



Ferruginea, 7 ft. cir., 1 ft. 8 in..high ; is three years old. 



Ampullacea major, 7 ft. 6 in. cir., 1 ft. 6 in. high ; was in an 8-in. pot three 

 years ago. 



