NOVEMBER. 263 



In January or February, or at some period before the drying 

 winds of jNIarch, or the aspiring suns of April begin to exert their 

 influence, take the plants under notice, turn them out of their pots, 

 clean away all the old drainage, and with a pointed stick loosen the 

 roots at the base of the ball of each, and you will probably find that 

 all the roots in contact with the sides of the pot are black and life- 

 less. With some pointed instrument clear away the whole of them, 

 and well scarify the ball. Let it be done carefully ; and not so 

 rashly or so completely as if a Geranium were under your hands. 

 Having cleared away all the dead roots, and well disentangled the 

 living portions, repot the plant in a sandy heath-mould, to which a 

 liberal portion of rotten leaves is added, and replace it in some shady 

 part of your Heath structure. Give it no water to settle the mould. 

 The plant operated on should have been well watered the day pre- 

 vious to the operation, and the mould used damp, without being 

 wet. If a dry day ensues, syringe the foliage of the plant, the 

 surface of the mould, and the pot ; and in a couple of days give 

 the plant a good watering, and gradually inure it to its usual light 

 and air. In a short time you will have the satisfaction of seeing 

 the young white healthy rootlets covering the exterior of the ball. 

 Now is the time to give the plant a liberal shift ; and by the end of 

 the summer you will have little cause to complain of the appearance 

 of your plant. 



A word or two about the out-door treatment of Heaths. If a 

 Heath-house were constructed in a proper situation, and with suit- 

 able addenda, such would not be requisite. But presuming it to be 

 persisted in, some easily applied shelter to ward off heavy winds 

 and rains should be provided. A thunder-storm, or a cold night's 

 rain, as summer draws to a close, is often fatal to exposed plants. 

 But under all circumstances, get them under shelter betimes. Don't 

 adopt any absurdity in the shape of periodical turning out or taking 

 in. The abandonment of periodical potting, of periodical Pine ripen- 

 ing, and of periodical garden- operations generally (I mean periodical 

 in the sense of a blind adherence to old-established dogmas), by our 

 best gardeners, is a significant sign of the advancement of gardening 

 from a mere empiricism to an art founded upon known principles. 

 Exercise care, forethought, and judgment. If a plant seems to re- 

 quire a different treatment from its fellows, give it that treatment. 

 If its wood is tardy in ripening, give it assistance ; for bear in 

 mind that a well-ripened shoot, no matter whether in a Vine, a Peach, 

 or a Heath, is the only shoot that can produce a perfect head of 

 flowers or bunch of fruit. 



During the summer months, if your plants occupy a situation 

 where they are not plunged, let them stand on some porous material, 

 such as fine cinders, and place them at such distances as will allow 

 each plant to be free of its neighbours. In hot weather let the 

 ground be kept damp, and the pots be frequently syringed as well 

 as the plants. 



Many Heaths after blooming require a liberal application of the 

 pruning-knife ; judgment and circumstances will direct it. Don't 



