262 THE FLORIST. 



iron is combined (a circumstance which renders many heath-soils 

 unfit for the purpose) ; that the roots never become thoroughly dry ; 

 that the pots be guarded from the direct action of the sun's rays, 

 and that the frost be excluded, beyond which heat is not requisite. 

 Any expensive heating apparatus for a building to be devoted exclu- 

 sively to Heaths is uncalled for. Every Heath-house should be fur- 

 nished with the means of covering in winter, and fires dispensed w^ith 

 as much as possible. After a succession of damp or foggy weather 

 during autumn or winter, it will be found necessary to use fires to 

 dispel the damp. Let this be done when the house can be well ven- 

 tilated. Never use fires in a Heath-house for other purposes than 

 to exclude frost without a liberal ventilation, and in all cases some 

 can be employed. One great essential in their successful culture 

 is to guard against etiolation. Although the latter can scarcely 

 be termed a disease, it induces many : mildew follows in its train, 

 with weakness of constitution, and paleness in the colours of the 

 flowers w^hich such plants produce. No Heaths can ever be satisfac- 

 tory if grown in a dark structure. I have seen plants in full bloom 

 removed from their proper house to decorate a conservatory attached 

 to dwelling-rooms, in a few days lose the peculiar richness of tint of 

 which they are capable ; and plants allowed to expand their blossoms 

 in such a place exhibit a paleness of tint in a more remarkable degree. 

 On this account, combined with many others, Heaths are peculiarly 

 unfitted for placing in dwelling-rooms : the dry atmosphere and 

 absence of light soon play sad havoc with them, the former especi- 

 ally. Their rigid leaves, containing but a scant amount of cellular 

 matters, can ill brook a liberal draw upon their tissues. And although 

 the liability of the Heath to suffer mildew would appear to indicate 

 a predisposition to a dry atmosphere, such is not the case, as a little 

 reflection will shew. The Heath does not suffer from a damp air, if 

 that air can be kept in motion. The peculiar locality of which the 

 Heath, as a genus, is a native, must expose it to a constantly moving 

 atmosphere, and that should be aff'orded it in its artificial existence. 



To preserve plants in luxuriant health, they should not be allowed 

 to become pot-bound. The greatest danger from such a condition is 

 experienced when you give the plant a larger pot, because, unless 

 great caution is exercised, the new mould aiDpropriates the greater 

 part of the applied moisture, and the removed plant, like Tantalus, 

 expires in the midst of plenty. And in potting Heaths never use 

 fine soil. With a compost of coarse texture, a plant does not become 

 so easily pot-bound. And should a lack of accommodation prevent 

 your giving larger pots as often as you wish, the coarser the soil, 

 the more readily can the roots be disentangled at the repotting. 



Heaths, when their roots have become a compact mass from want 

 of pot-room, are more liable to suff'er from lack of moisture, and from 

 the influence of the sun on the sides of their pots ; and under such 

 conditions, the foliage at the base of the shoots is frequently found 

 of a sickly yellow, dropping off at the touch. With plants which 

 are frequently " shifted," this seldom occurs. When it arises from 

 the former condition, a successful mode of procedure is as follows. 



