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otherskeptmuclitoo dry, by irregular 

 or imperfect watering ; aud, thirdly, 

 tliat they are often grown on a stone 

 shelf in a greenhouse, or in a balcony 

 during the summer, when a powerful 

 sun striking on the pot is sure to 

 scorch their delicate fibrous roots, or, 

 in the winter, shut up among other 

 plants, and scarcely allowed any air at 

 all ; in either of which cases they are 

 sure to perish. These being the 

 principal reasons why Heaths do not 

 generally succeed, it is now necessary 

 to describe what is considered the best 

 method of cultivatingthem. The soil 

 most suitable to Heaths is a mixture 

 of three parts of well- sifted peat to 

 one of white or silver-sand, tho- 

 roughly mixed ; and if the plants are 

 very large a small portion of loam may 

 sometimes 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 

 level of the mould in the pot, when 

 sufiaciently full. The compost should 

 be jjressed tightly into the pot ; but 

 a little space should be left between 

 it and the brim, 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 in a frame, or a house, 

 by themselves ; as they are of too 



delicate a nature to bear the respira- 

 I tion from other plants, and they also 

 I require a very different treatment. 

 j During summer, when in a frame, 

 I they should be allowed all the air 

 that can possibly be given to them, 

 and they should be frequently watered 

 overhead, as the gardeners call it, 

 when the sun is not upon them ; as 

 the winter comes on, less air should 

 be given, and they should then never 

 be watered over their tops ; but still 

 in fine weather a little air may be 

 allowed to them, even during a slight 

 frost. It may indeed be taken as a 

 proverb, that Heaths like to feel the 

 wind between every leaf. When 

 grown in greenhouses, Heaths need 

 not be watered overhead ; 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 greenhouses 

 or rooms, except during the season of 

 flowering. When they are kept in 

 rooms or on balconies, their pots 

 should each be plunged in another 

 pot somewhat larger, and the space 

 between the two filled with moss 

 lightly put in, which should be kept 

 moist, but not too wet. In very 

 frosty weather, the only protection 

 necessary for heaths kept in pits, is 

 a double mat thrown over the glass 

 of the frame, and suifered 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 vv ill either 

 die, or lose the greater part of their 

 leaves. 



Heaths are raised from seeds, 

 cuttings, or layers, but most fre- 

 quently from cuttings, full details 

 for making which have been already 

 given. — (See Cuttings.) Heath seed 

 should be sown, if foreign, as soon 

 as it arrives ; and if native, as soon 

 as it is ripe. For sowing the seed, 



