THE FLORIST. 173 



Epa crises. — Before this paper will be in the publisher's hands, all 

 fear of a return of frosty nights will have passed away ; and those 

 plants that have broken strong, and made young growth of toler- 

 able consistence, may be removed to their summer quarters, which 

 should be on the shady side of a hedge or shrubbery, where they 

 may obtain a free circulation of air, yet in some measure protected 

 from the force of a summer storm, and altogether from the 

 heat of a mid- day sun. To avoid the admission of worms, which 

 are great pests, souring the soil and choking up the drainage, 

 scatter, to the thickness of two or three inches, coal-ashes on the 

 border you intend to use, first treading the ground firmly, and 

 nicely levelling the surface with a rake. Another good plan is, 

 to place the plants on rails an inch or an inch and a half square, 

 and the same distance apart ; the latter contrivance will keep the 

 pots cleaner, and more freely admit the air. Give the plants 

 plenty of room ; nothing is much more injurious to their general 

 health and ultimate beauty than being huddled up together, each 

 striving to overtop his neighbour. I am presuming that each 

 and all have been properly tied out for the free admission of air, 

 as recommended in a former Number. Certain shoots will break 

 stronger and grow ranker than others ; these should be stopped 

 in an early stage, say when three inches long ; this check will 

 frequently induce the plant to break low down in the old wood : 

 hence the necessity that no shoot should be pinched off later 

 than June, as after that there will not be sufficient growing time 

 to enable the shortened shoot to make new wood of sufficient length 

 to form a fine whorl of flowers in the spring. By timely attention 

 to these suggestions, a specimen may be obtained of great symme- 

 try and beauty. I have many plants that cover a 12-inch pot, and 

 not more than fifteen inches high. Water regularly, and remove 

 weeds as soon as they appear. \V. H. Story. 



Ericas. — The flowers of the early-blooming varieties are now be- 

 ginning to fade : as soon as a plant becomes unsightly, remove 

 the decaying blossoms w r ith a pair of small -pointed scissors, first 

 taking away all the supports ; this done, repot, regulating the shift 

 to the health and habit of the plant ; for instance, Aristata and 

 its allies, Odora rosea, Trossula, Obtusa, Epistomia, Elegans, 

 Beaumontia, and a hundred others that might be enumerated, 

 root feebly, and ought not to have so ample a shift as the 

 Vestitas, Ventricosas, and Echiifloras ; Hybrida, Grandiflora, Me- 

 lastoma, Sebana, Lucida, Transparens bicolor, Florida, Picta in- 

 termedia, Gelida, &c. &c. &c, which, being of more vigorous 

 growth, their roots require more room to revel in. The choice 

 of soil, mode of preparation, and application, were fully ex- 

 plained in the fifth Number of this periodical. When shifted, 

 place the plant for a few days in a shady, airy situation (I 

 allow mine to remain in the potting- shed for a week); then 

 remove it to its summer quarters, which should be an exposed 

 situation, protected from alternate rains and scorching sunshines 

 by a thin canvass awning. My shelter consists of six rough 



