Jane 17, IBBO. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTIOULTUBE ATfD COTTAGE GAUDENEB. 



411 



remarkable for its almost ref»nlar perianth, with blunt emar- 

 gioate BegmentR, bnt it has etitirely the habit and aspect of the 

 ordinary garden varietiea of Gladiolus. 



"The plant proiiuocg a tall Hoape, 2 feet hijjh or npwards, 

 farniBbed wiih long fl4f! like glaumina leaves, nearly an inch 

 wide, the scape terminatini; in a diHtitiljoaa spike of about a 

 dozen large broadly oampaniilate subringmit flDwera of a bright 

 blood-red colour, the segments of which are obovale or ohl<in((- 

 spathulate, and cmarginate, the upper ones being more promi- 

 nent, somewh-it larger than the lo*er, and uniformly coli)Ured, 

 while the lower smaller ones are Bomewhat rucurveil, crimson 

 at the base, and scarlet at the apex. Tlie two lateral ones of 

 tho lower lip are marked about halfway down with a white 

 zone dotted with crim-Jon, wliich on the exterior edge tuns out 

 into a long point, like the flaino of the Ibirisis' Tulip. The 

 base of the segments, where tliey P'lss into the alendor tube, is 

 marbled with yellowish green. The stsmena have red fila- 

 ments, supportins linear purple anthers." — [FloTint and riniw- 

 logiet, 3rd «., ii.,121 ) 



CULTURE OF HEATHS. 

 Ih offering a few hints on the cnltnre of Heaths, it ia npees- 

 flary to remark tliat, where it is at all possible, a hnu«o should 

 be devoted to thein, which should be span-roofed, well lighted, 

 most efficiently ventilated, and so constructed that the plants 

 can be kept near the glass. As in nine cases out of ten, how- 

 ever, such accommodHiion cannot be had, tljpy (.hould have a 

 portion' of the greenhouse allotted to them separate frona iho 

 general collection, or at least among such bard wooded pluntsas 

 reqnire similar treatment. Tite proper soil is pure peat, with 

 the addition of more or less sand, according to the quality of 

 the peat, whether naturally snndy or otherwise. The best for 

 the purpose is o'otained from hillsides or dry moors, and from 

 spots where the wild Heath is found growing luxorisnilp, and 

 without being associated with grass or reeds, cutting the tnrf or 

 god about 4 inches deep, choosing the winter season for the 

 purpose, as the worms are then beluw the top spit fttr protection 

 from frost. The turf should be chopped up with the spade and 

 thoroughly dried before using. As r general rule, from the 

 beginning to the middle of May i< the best eenson for shifiing ; 

 and in this operation it should be borne in mind that the hard- 

 wooded sorts, such as Mas!-oni, aristata, and tricolor, are fnnnd 

 naturally growing in dry sitnatinns, in a soil largely composed 

 of the dfihris of coarse sandstone rncks ; while the sofi-ooded, 

 Stich as hyemnlis, colorans, and Linriffioides, are for the most 

 part found in damper situations, with less sand among the soil. 

 In potting, therefore, the hardwooded sorts should not only have 

 more draiouge, but a larger allowsnce of sand, than such as are 

 sottwooded and more robust in their habit. 



All the kinds de-ght in charcoal, and small pieces incorporated 

 with the soil ard ;imong the crocks will be found bene6('ial ; the 

 roots penetrate i'. freely, and it has the efftct of absorbing any 

 superabundance of moistnre. 



Thorough drainage is of the utmost importance, and from 

 H to 3 inches of crocks should be allowed, according to the size 

 of the pot and the kind of plaiit, placing a layer of rough fibry 

 peat over them. 



In potting, the ball ahonld not be bnried deeper than to allow 

 a very thin sprinkling of fresh soil over the snrface, and the soil 

 pressed firmly round the sides. If the soil is thoroughly dry, it 

 can scarcely be too firm. Nothing is more fatal to Heaths than 

 loose potting ; the water is absorbed by the soft peat, the old 

 ball gradually loses its moisture, and the plant soon becomes 

 unhealthy. An essential condition to the snccossfnl cnl'ure of 

 Cape Heaths is careful watering. No plant is more impatient 

 of either excfs-ive drought or moistnre. Over-watering soon 

 shows its tffrcis by the foliage gutting discoloured and dropping 

 off, the res I't of the soured soil gradually rotting the roots; 

 while a th o ';:h parching is almost alwaya fatal; and even 

 when the i Ian does survive, it is seldom that any after-treat- 

 ment will compensate for the shook it sustains. The snfest will 

 be the mec ium, giving water copiously during the growing sea- 

 son, and that only when it is seen to be wanted, and gradually 

 reducing the allowance as winter advances, at which season 

 special care must be exercised. 



Early in Jane they may be placed ont of doors in a sheltered 

 situation, and, where it is possible, plnoged to the brims of 

 the pots in saud or ashes, taking care that complete provision 

 is made against worms, which are very troublesome, deranging 

 the drainage and perforating the balls, so that it is impossible 

 to do them proper justice in watering. 



In hot Rummer weather, whether in the greenhouse or out 

 of doors, they should lie syringed overhead night and morning, 

 trefore and after the sun. In autumn and winter, aud even in 

 long-continued wet or dull weather in summer, all the sorts 

 are liable to mildew, and whenever the fniutest symptom of 

 Ibis enemy is perceived, no time should be lost in applying 

 llie sulphur puff, before which it will rapidly disappear ; and 

 even though it should not be noticed, a very gentle dusting 

 occasionally in the course of the winter will prevent, which, in 

 this case, is emphatically better than cure. Many fine speci- 

 mens are rained by the neglect of this simple precaution ; and 

 mildew is so insidious, that very often its work is done before 

 its presence is detected. 



Immediately after the bloom ia passed they may he pruned 

 or pinched, so as to keep the specimens in shape. All the 

 sorts require this to bo done regularly, and some of the soft- 

 wooded, such as hjemalis, are much the better of being well 

 cut in. 



In arranging the plants in the greenhcnse, each should have 

 BufBoient space to allow the light and air to penetrate all round 

 them. Air should be admitted freely, except in very hard frost, 

 and no more fire heat should be given but what is absolutely 

 necessary to keep the temperature justabovo the fretzing-point. 

 In point of fact, moat Heaths will stand ,3° or i" of frost with- 

 out apparent injury. I am convinced, however, that the safest 

 course is to keep it out alrogelber. 



I append a select list of fine varieties arranged according to 

 their ordinary seasons of flowering : — 



1. Wiuter and Spring. 



Grandioosa antmnnalis 



Princeps carnoa 



Vernix coccinea 



Gricilis vernalis 



Hjemalis 



Sindryana 



Colorans 



M-Iauthera 

 Lamt-orlinna rosea 

 Wilrtioreaua 

 Orttcilis aalumnalis 

 ItesermtnaLS 

 bpenCQiii 



2. April to July. 



Massoni major 



Farmentieriana rosea 



Vtstita coccinea 



Veetita coccinea minor 



Vi-ntricosa corascaaa 



il^nmla 



Fyirtea 



Victoria 



Arif-tiita major 



Cavtndishii 



Obbnta umbellata 



Pursoluta alba 



Yestita alba 



Aitoniana TamboUU 

 Eweriana swperba 

 Verticill'ita miijor 

 Marnockiana 

 Ampullacea 

 Aiistiniima 

 Jasmioitlora alba 



Ventricosa grnnftiflora 



VentriC'isaglobosa 



Cardolleana 



FairrJeHaa 



Diiloota 



Hirt.R-lIi 



Profiisa 



Shannoniana 



ShniinoDiaiia Tnrnbullii 



Vpiilricosa P.otbwe!iiana alba 



V<^ntricusa doasa caraea 



IJfV. 'Diana 



luflata 



3. Autumn. 



Corinthoidea coronata 

 Mncuabiiina rnst-a 

 Maiiimosa pallida 

 Atiinbilis 



Ampul>acGa camea 

 JaHmiuifiura 

 Hotorta major 



—(The Gardener). 



OUR SPARROWS. 



" I SHAiL give it up now, and let the sparrows have it all 

 their own way ; they very nearly have it both in garden and 

 orchard. There is no good in toiling and spending for next to 

 nothing. Talk about sowing seeds half for the birds and half 

 for use ! our English sparrows are not content with that, they 

 take the lion's share, and no mistake ; they are greedy beyond 

 measure, there is no working with them ; it is at best a long 

 hard battle in which they are sure to gain the victory, so I 

 might as well fold my arms, bask in the sunshine, and save 

 my money and strength for other work." So said the new 

 owner of The Grange as he sat down the second time to hiB 

 breakfast, having rushed out to frighten a number of birdg 

 from hi.s Xtadish beds. 



" We always have a great many sparrows in spring," repUed 

 his wife. 



" I do not know when we are without them, spring or autumn. 

 I wonder if they ever die of old age. I think they must out- 

 live the raven, even if they do at last yield to old age. It is 

 certain if their numbers increase at the rate they have done 

 the last few years, there will be a famine in the land. The 

 amount of mischief they do is incalculable ; they have pulled 

 up five rows of Peas, each row oontainiog more than a quart, 

 and completely destroyed them ; and you might gather up 

 ' handfuls of little while Eadishes left on the soil to die. And 



