fn 
ERICA. ERICA. 
B.ams, 32d are much more easily level of the mould in the pot, when 
growr than is generally supposed. sufficiently full. The compost should 
The principal cause of so many | be pressed tightly into the pot; but 
failures is, first, that Heaths are 
generally potted much too low, and 
thus the collar of the plant is fre- 
quently rotted ; secondly, that suffi- 
cient attention is not paid to water- 
ing, as sometimes they are allowed 
to be sodden with moisture, from 
the pots being improperly drained, 
|a little space should be left between 
it and the rim, to hold water; and 
as soon as the potting is finished, 
the plant should be set aside in the 
shade, or in a cold frame. 
Heaths, to be well grown, should 
always be kept ina frame, or house, 
by themselves; as they are of too 
and at others kept much too dry, | delicate a nature to bear the respi- 
by irregular or imperfect watering ;| ration from other plants, and they 
and, thirdly, that they are often | also require a very different treat- 
grown on a stone shelf ina green-| ment. During summer, when in 
house, or on a balcony during the | a frame, they should be allowed all 
summer, when a powerful sun strik- | the air that can possibly be given 
ing on the pot is sure to scorch their | to them, and they should be fre- 
delicate fibrous roots, or, in the quently watered overhead, as the 
winter, shut up among other plants, | gardeners call it, when the sun is 
and scarcely allowed any air at all; | not upon them ; as the winter comes 
in either of which cases they are | on, less air should be given, and 
sure to perish. These being the 
principal reasons why Heaths do 
not generally succeed, it is now ne- 
cessary to describe what is consid- 
ered the best method of cultivating 
them. The soil most suitable to 
Heaths is a mixture of three parts 
of well-sifted peat to one of white 
or silver sand, thoroughly mixed ; 
and, if the plants are very large, 
a small portion of loam may some- 
times be added, though this is not 
often required. In potting Heaths, 
great attention must be paid to the 
drainage ; and, in order to render it 
as perfect as possible, two or three 
moderate-sized potsherds should be 
put over the hole in the bottom 
of the pot; after which it should be 
filled about a quarter full with very 
small pieces of broken tiles; and 
over this there should be a thin 
layer of unsifted peat. Above the 
unsifted peat should be a layer of 
prepared peat and sand, and on this 
the roots of the Heath should be 
placed, and more of the mixture of 
peat and sand shaken in among 
them; the plants being so placed 
that the collar may be above the 
they should then never be watered 
over their tops; bat still in fine 
weather a little air may be allowed 
to them, even during a slight frost. 
It may indeed be taken as a pro- 
verb, that Heaths like to feel the 
wind between every leaf. When 
grown in greenhouses, Heaths need 
not be watered over head ; but great 
care must be taken that the roots 
never get dried up, for if they do 
they seldom recover; indeed, these 
plants ought never to be put in green- 
houses or rooms, except during the 
season of flowering. In very frosty 
weather, the only protection neces- 
sary for Heaths is a double mat 
thrown over the glass of the frame, 
and suffered to remain there till the 
frost is gone away; for should the 
frost affect the plants, and they 
should be afterwards exposed to the 
sun and air, they become what is 
called scorched, and they will either 
die, or lose the greater part of their 
leaves. 
Heaths are raised from seed-cut- 
tings or layers, but most frequently 
from cuttings, full details for mak- 
ing which have been already given. 
