ON THE CULTURE OF ERICAS. 205 



garden. It would be the most prudent method to adopt, to take 

 out only such as are hardy and robust, leaving the more rare and 

 tender sorts under cover ; in which they will then have plenty of 

 room. 



The season for taking heaths out of the house commences about 

 the end of April, when some of the hardiest kinds may be set out: 

 the next hardier section in May, and die next in June, retaining 

 by all means the most tender of all in the house. A dry, sheltered, 

 butnot shaded situation should, if possible, be chosen for them,— 

 dry, to protect them from a damp and impure atmosphere,— shel- 

 tered, to prevent them from being broken or upset by the wind, 

 and shaded only to the extent necessary to secure them from the 

 full force of the sun's rays during the heat of the day. A some- 

 what elevated platform, covered with coal ashes, should be formed 

 for them, upon which they should stand, without being plunged. 

 If the spaces between the pots were filled with sphagnum, hypnum, 

 or other mosses, the whole might be made ornamental and extre- 

 mely useful ; first, by hiding the pots, and, secondly, by prevent- 

 ing the heat of the sun, which is very injurious, from acting upon 

 the roots, which are extremely fine, delicate, and always placed 

 round the extremity of the balls, and in close contact with the pot. 

 To avoid this, to save labour in watering, and to prevent them 

 from being blown down, some recommend plunging them in the 

 ground, or in the coal ash floor prepared for them ; but this latter 

 practice is, we think, objectionable, as the roots are very liable 

 to perish from cold and excess of humidity. Lines of cord should 

 be stretched along the plant ground, and fastened to neat poles or 

 stakes ; to these cords the plants should be individually fixed, to 

 prevent their being blown down 



From the end of September till the beginning of November is 

 the proper season for removing plants again into the house, and a 

 somewhat similar system should be acted upon as recommended 

 for taking them out ; only, those last taken out should be first 

 tfken into the house, and the next in rotation. During summer, 

 water should be copiously supplied, not only at their roots, but 

 occasionally over their leaves and branches, by using the syringe 

 or garden engine. But this must only be understood to apply to 

 very hot and dry weather. Heaths, and all plants grown in peat 

 earth, should never be allowed to become very dry at the root ; 

 for, from the nature of the soil, it is difficult to supply a sufficient 

 degree of moisture to them after they have become very dry. 



(To be continued.) 



