253 



SUCCESS IN CULTIVATIJ^G ERICAS. 



Success with Ericas greatly depends upon 

 three points, viz., air, water, and shifting, 

 respecting each of wliich I will give the 

 result of my experience in the cultivation 

 of tliis very interesting tribe of flowers. It 

 is a practice with many to nurse them too 

 much, or, as the gardener would say, 

 " coddle them," which is quite opposed to 

 their nature, for they love airland light, 

 and have little liking for artificial heat. I 

 will commence upon their treatment at the 

 pi-esent time and henceforth. Plants should 

 now all be comfortably housed, and in such | 

 a way that they may have free ventilation. | 

 Watering must be performed \\ith great 

 care ; always endeavour to give them rain- I 

 water, and take great care that they do not 

 flag too much. On the other hand, never 

 let them get soddened. The best time to 

 water is early in the day, so that the damp 

 wijl dry up before closing the house. If 

 this is not attended to, mildew will appear, 

 which is a very destructive agent, and 

 must be checked by dusting with sulphur 

 the parts aflected. This is often produced 

 by placing the plants too thick together, 

 thus preventing a proper circulation of air 

 to pass between them. During the win- 

 ter months care must be taken in giving 

 air tliat they do not have too much when 

 they arc likely to catch easterly winds. At 

 such times give it on the opposite side if a 

 span roof house. Where a house is en- 

 tirely devoted to Ericas, the frost just kept 

 out is sufficient. When they have done 

 blooming cut them back ; if free-growing 

 kinds, do not spare the knife. Where gar- 

 deners use the garden shears they are 

 termed barbarians, but not justly when 

 used in moderation ; wlien they have made 

 their new growth gradually harden them 

 off. It is a good plan where there is a pit 

 vacant to put them in while they are 

 breaking ; after which shifting must be 

 attended to. Plants that are in a good 

 condition at tlie roots require a good 

 shift ; see that the pots are clean, allowing 

 a good drainage of broken crocks ; on the 

 top of the drainage put screenings of peat 

 in a rough and lumpy state ; fill up with 



a mixture of good peat passed through a 

 half-inch sieve, with about one-fourth of 

 silver-sand, and a moderate amount of fine 

 pebbly grit ; in tliis mixture they will root 

 freely. In shifting do not allow the stem 

 of the plant to be lower than what it has 

 been previously, as they are apt to die off" 

 at that particular part. Fill the pot about 

 one-third with the compost ; then with a 

 round stick, about an inch thick, ram the 

 mould quite hard, and so continue till 

 finished. It is not requisite to keep them 

 under glass after shifting, as it is seldom 

 that drenching rains are prevalent then, 

 but the more tender kinds will do best in 

 a cold frame. As it may be useful to some 

 I would recommend a few good, free 

 blooming kinds as follows: — Regerminans, 

 Gracilis, Vernalis, Autnmualis, Caven- 

 dishii, Hyemalis, Sindryana, Lambertiana 

 rosea, Colorans nana, Willmoreana, Per- 

 soluta alba, Propendens, Tubiflora, and 

 Diosnipea eapitata. I find July a very good 

 time for potting. Independent of what 

 others may adopt, I feel persuaded that 

 success will result from the adoption of the 

 pi'actice I have recommended above. It is 

 a very bad plan to begin housing Ericas 

 (in fact, any plants) too soon, for the 

 nights during the early part of autumn are 

 exceedingly beneficial towards promoting 

 their vigour. The middle of October is a 

 very good time to put them in their win- 

 ter quarters; see that the surface of the 

 mould is free from moss, etc. If this is not 

 attended to, symptoms of ill health will 

 appear, as you cannot tell whether the 

 plant is in want of water without ringing 

 the pot, which is no proof w hen the pot is 

 small. 



To conclude, I would venture to say 

 that the lovers of Ericas will, by taking 

 notes of this article, have their plants in a 

 green healthy state, as I have for many years 

 past. It is because I see my plants doing 

 so well on the plan of culture here recom- 

 mended, that I offer it to readers of the 

 Floeal Wobld. 



William Glotee. 

 South Lamleth. 



CHEAP GARDEN ENGINE. 



ly your June number for 1859, page 138, j Deane and Co. state, that " the French 

 is a description of a cheap garden engine, ! engine is about twenty-four inches long, 

 price 12s. 6d. In consequence of reading but certainly is not strong enough to 

 that notice, I wrote to Messrs. Deane, in- ' attach to a water-cart, but is used in a 

 tending to order one. In reply, Messrs. ' pail. Its cost is about £3 ds. complete, 



