226' ON THE CULTURE OF ERICAS. 



cal analysis made of his soil, by which the presence or absence 

 of creasote would be determined, and which any respectable che- 

 mist would discover for him. When abundance of sand does not 

 naturally abound in the peat, any coarse white sand, free of irony 

 matter, may be added. It appears to be of little consequence 

 whether or not good peat be prepared for any previous period in 

 the compost yard prior to using; we rather think that the sooner 

 it is used the better. As a substitute for peat, some have recom- 

 mended very rotten dung, decayed leaves, &c, having a due 

 proportion of gritty sand added ; and others have suggested the 

 addition of very rotten manure to be used with peat, with a view 

 to increase the rapidity of the growth of the plants. The former 

 may be used, in default of better, for hardy American plants, but 

 the addition of the latter is by no means to be recommended. 



Water.— Soft water alone should be used for watering plants of 

 every denomination ; that from a pond or large river, or such as 

 is collected in cisterns from the roofs of buildings, to be prefer- 

 red. Water pumped from wells, and such as may be procured 

 from springs, should be exposed for as long a period as possible 

 to the action of the sun and air before it can be usefully applied 

 to plants. Water impregnated with mineral matter, such as iron, 

 salt, &c, should be carefully avoided; and that containing much 

 calcareous matter is injurious to many plants, and to none more 

 so than the genus Erica. 



Shifting and Potting . — Early in spring appears, from practical 

 observation, to be the most proper time for shifting or potting 

 plants of this order that they may make roots during summer ; but 

 to this rule there are some exceptions, namely, the state of health 

 of such individuals as require shifting into other pots at various 

 periods of the year. All plants whose roots have completely filled 

 the pots, and whose balls are hard in consequence, should be 

 shifted into pots of one size larger. All plants that appear in a 

 weak and sickly condition, should be turned out of the pots and 

 the roots examined, the dead ones cut away, the sour and exhaus- 

 ted mould displaced, and then planted into a pot somewhat smaller 

 than that out of which it was taken. When a pot feels heavier 

 than usual, it is a sign that the ball has absorbed too much water, 

 either from an excess of that element having been supplied, or, as 

 is more generally the case, from imperfect draining. When such 

 is the case, reduce the ball, prune the roots, and re-pot it as 

 recommended above. The mould shoidd be prepared by being 



