September 2», 1863. ] JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



227 



burgh and Canon Hall Muscat, both of which were full 

 Muscat-flavom-ed when first ripe; but have now, through 

 hanging, lost every pai'ticle of that flavour. 



I should be glad to hear through the pages of The Jouknal 

 OF HoETicuLTiiRE if any one else has observed the same 

 result ? and if such is its habit I will certainly discard it, as 

 it is already subject to shanking very much ; and if it also 

 loses its Muscat flavour it is compai-atively valueless. — 

 S. Tatlok, Terrace Villa, Barbourne, Worcester. 



CULTIVATION OF HEATHS. 



When I saw the name of Mr. J. Pairbairn at the head of 

 an article on the cultivation of the Heath, I knew from his 

 success as a cultivator of that genus that none could be 

 better qualified to give information upon the subject. Mi'. 

 FairbauTi was a man who endeared liimself to all who knew 

 him, and members of our craft will always entertain a kindly 

 recollection of him. As it is well known, he was a successful 

 ''ultivator of Ericas, and knowing so well how to grow them 

 he was not one likely to mislead others in describing the 

 treatment of them. 



But there are growers of this beautiful genus who differ 

 materially on minor points of culture, although in the main 

 there must be a certain similai-ity of treatment. For in- 

 stance : good sandy peat or heath soU is necessary, and no 

 one that I am aware of has succeeded in gi'owing them 

 without it. The difference is in the mode of preparing it, 

 and some of the best growers have peculiar methods of their 

 own in this respect. My object, however, is not to describe 

 the practices of others, but to give my own, and if my 

 remarks are found in any way useful that is all I desire. 



A short time ago a correspondent drew a comparison 

 between the cultivation of the Heath and the Fancy Gera- 

 nium, and in the main appeai-ed to conclude that there is 

 more art in growing the latter well than the foi-mer. To 

 a certain extent I perfectly agree with him, and believe that 

 to grow a collection of Fancy Geraniums to perfection re- 

 quires a degree of skOl and nicety that is not easily acquired. 

 But, then, a Fancy Geranium is a plant that can be easily 

 grown if no particiUar point of excellence is desired ; and 

 supposing a gardener who knew very little of the treatment 

 of either, were to undertake to grow a collection of, say, 

 twenty good sorts of Fancy Geraniums, and as many good 

 sorts of Heaths, I wiU answer for it, that while he might be 

 able to keep the Geraniums alive for a long time, perhaps 

 for years, it is more than probable that the Heaths would 

 soon sicken and die. It is a fact, that while it is the work 

 of a skilful cultivator to produce really good specimen Gera- 

 niums, yet Geraniums are grown in nearly every cottage 

 window ; biit Heaths are rarely seen there at all ; and if they 

 do decorate windows, they are merely put there to serve the 

 time while they are in flower, and afterwai'ds are given 

 into the hands of some one who knows how to manage them, 

 and, in instances that I have known, merely to die, or at 

 least to be so far injured that it would be no loss to throw 

 them away at once. 



This may not prove that the Heath is more difficult to 

 cultivate than the Geranium, but it shows that the Heath 

 requii-es a mode of treatment peculiar to itself; and even if 

 the rudiments of that treatment are known, some further 

 knowledge is required, and also a peculiar handling, sug- 

 gested by the habit of the plant, and acquired only by 

 practice. This, however, is necessary in the cultivation of 

 all plants, and should offer no discouragement in the 

 attempt. 



Happily, in this class of plants, as in others, there are 

 species much more easy to cultivate, and which will stand a 

 greater amount of rough treatment than others, and it is 

 always advisable for beginners to ascertain which they are, 

 and commence operations with them. Erica gracilis is a 

 very useful sort for flowering in the autumn, winter, and 

 spring; there being two sorts or varieties, one called 

 autumnalis, the other vernaUs. I have had the first in 

 flower from October till February, and the latter from Febru- 

 ary till April. The flowers are small but come in abun- 

 dance, and are of a bright pink colour, and highly oma^ 

 mental at a time of the year when flowers are somewhat 

 scarce. This sort I have found to be of the easiest cul- 



ture, and also readily propagated, as it strikes very easily 

 from cuttings, which cannot be said of some sorts. But 

 more of propagation presently. E. hien'.alis is another sort 

 that I consider easy to grow, and a very pretty kind, but it 

 does not last in bloom so long a time as gracilis. I have had 

 it regulaily in bloom from November until February, so that 

 I may consider it truly a winter-flowering sort. S. colorans I 

 have usually in bloom about the same time. It lasts in bloom 

 rather longer than hiemalis, is more erect in habit, and not 

 quite so free in growth. The flowers are nearly white at flrst, 

 but change to a reddish-pink when past their best. E. mam- 

 mosa pallida I have generally had in flower late in the autumn. 

 E. cerinthoides has often flowered with me in the winter. 

 E. WillmoreatM is a spring-flowering sort, and a very strong 

 grower. These are what I have found to be free growers, 

 and such as I believe are suitable to begin with, supposing 

 any one wished to begin cultivating Heaths. The treat- 

 ment I have usually given them is very simple — merely 

 cutting them down after flowering, and standing them out 

 of doors in May, foUy exposed to sun, wind, and rain, housing 

 them in September, and giving them ordinary greenhouse 

 treatment from that time until the beginning of May. 



But this sort of treatment wiU not do for most kinds of 

 Heaths. E. caffra, for instance, is a winter-flowering sort, at 

 least so I have found it ; but it is of a more delicate con- 

 stitution, and will not stajid the rough treatment described. 

 E. mutabilis I have in bloom the whole year round ; but this 

 also requires careful management, but :;he treatment of 

 these is the same as what is necessary for what I call the 

 choice varieties ; and as I intend to give the details of my 

 own method of treating them, I will here merely remark 

 that the time of flowering with certain vai-ieties varies much, 

 and that variation depends considerably on the treatment, 

 but sometimes on the season. E. fasiigiata, E. lutescens, 

 and E. Vernoni, have flowered with me this season in March 

 and April. The latter is now in ful! bloom, being the 

 second flowering this season. E. vestiia coccinea I have 

 usually known to flower in the spring, but this season I have 

 seen it flowering in August. This variation in the time of 

 flowering frequently happens, but a good grower can gene- 

 rally keep them to the proper season. What I consider to 

 be the better sorts of Heaths are mostly summer-flowering, 

 and are often grown for exhibition ; but at present I wUl 

 merely name such as are my own favourites, and what I 

 have had to deal with. 



E. ampiUlacea major. — A compact-growing sort, flowers in 

 July and August ; the flowers of a light colour, changing to 

 a reddish hue as they pass their best. This is a charac- 

 teristic of several others, if not most light-coloured ones. 

 E. Cavendishii. — A close compact grower of fine habit and 

 foliage, with deep yellow flowers which open in May and 

 June. This sort is a general favourite. E. cidrfoia. — One of 

 the very best ; a close compact grower, £i-st-rate habit, and 

 exquisite in the form and colour of its flowers, and usually 

 lasts in bloom a long time. Flowers in June and July. 

 E. Hartnelli. — Flowers about the same time as the last; 

 flowers fine and full, but not quite so full and free in habit 

 as the above-named, but good for exhibition, E. jasminiflora 

 alba. — Eather free in habit ; one of the best white ones. 

 Flowers same time as last. E. Massoni. — This sort I like as 

 well as any Heath grown, both from its habit of growth— 

 the shoots always putting me in mind of the ascent of a 

 rocket — and also on account of its fine flowers, which it 

 produces in June and July. E. metulcBflora Ucolor. — Another 

 favourite, which, when well grown and flowered, is second to 

 none for beauty ; but it is not quite so profuse a bloomer as 

 some— at least, so I have fo\ind it. Flowers in June and 

 July. E. retorta major. — A most profuse bloomer, of excellent 

 habit, compact, and free, hanging over the sides of the pot, 

 and flowering at every point. June and July. E. tricolor 

 rttbra. — A good sort, as it shows up the flowers well ; but 

 rather spare than otherwise in habit. E. tricolar Wilsoni. — 

 Good both in flowers and habit. These flower in June, 

 July, and August, consequently are good sorts to grow for 

 exhibition. 



The above are known to Heath-growers as good sorts, and 

 there are others equally good; but what I have named 

 would be a good selection, though a small one ; and it is 

 always advisable to begin with a few, as before said. Those 

 who have had httle to do with this genus had better use a 



