1879.] GARDENING IN THE OPEN. 71 



and be careful that the ball is not dry before shifting ; if so, you will 

 never manage to get it wet again by ordinary waterings; the only plan 

 is to steep it for an hour or two in a pail or cistern of water, and then 

 let it drip awhile before potting. In potting, the soil must be rammed 

 hard round about the ball. After they are watered as above they 

 will not require any more waterings for a considerable time. They 

 should be set in a shaded place after potting, and out of draughts, 

 and may get a dewing over with a syringe on the evenings of hot days. 

 As regards training, a certain number of stakes are absolutely neces- 

 sary for most varieties ; yet they could do with far fewer stakes than 

 are often used in the training. Sometimes they are used in such 

 numbers as to be quite unsightly. The best way is to place a row of 

 short stakes inside the rim of the pot, and leaning outwards over 

 it ; then within this again another row, a little more upright ; a third 

 row, almost upright, with an upright one in the centre, will be 

 sufficient for the largest plants. The stakes should all be set before 

 any tying is done, and cut over to the proper height — all the stakes 

 forming each row being of equal length ; then the main branches can 

 be tied to the stakes, or slung to each other, as may be most con- 

 venient for bringing the plant into due form. 



Mildew is the chief enemy Heaths have to contend against, and 

 sulphur dusted on them is the best antidote for it. This, with care- 

 ful watering and potting, constitutes the whole secret of success in 

 the culture of Cape Heaths. Subjoined is a list of eighteen of the 

 best varieties: — Austiniana, Cavendishiana, Eximea superba, Hender- 

 sonii, Intermedia, Irbyana, Jasminoides alba, Lambertiana, Marnock- 

 iana, Massonii major, M'Nabiana, Obbata, Perspicua nana, Retorta 

 major, Tricolor elegans, Ventricosa Bothwelliana, Ventricosa globosa, 

 Ventricosa tricolor, and Hyemalis, autumn and spring Gracilis, and 

 Melantherae for cutting from. J. G. "W. 



GARDENING IN THE OPEN. 



I was much pleased to see both the Editor and the " Squire's Gar- 

 dener" advocating the system of planting fruit-trees generally in 

 plots of ground specially set apart for them, rather than of following 

 the old and decidedly wrong system of mixing fruit-trees and vege- 

 tables. The gardens here are entirely surrounded by Apple, Pear, 

 Cherry, and Plum trees ; and there is also a considerable number 

 dotted about the garden. The result, more especially with regard to 

 Apples, is, that a few good orchard-trees grow more fruit than the 

 whole of our over-pruned and, of necessity, much abused specimens. 



