262 NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 



Have the top spit, don't sift it, use it when chopped well, and in 

 a rough state, and plenty of uneven stones, rough flints, or pebbles 

 in it. So they are grown naturally, and so should they be treated 

 elsewhere. To these have a few pieces of coarse charcoal. Have a 

 good drainage, to prevent the plants being soddened with water. 

 Broken pots, heath, turf, and pieces of coarse charcoal, form a 

 proper drainage, having two inches deep, or more, of it. 



Take care to allow abundance of air at all times, it can be done 

 safely, both night and day. Some of the best houses I ever saw 

 Heaths grown in, had air admitted as low as the pots stood on a 

 bed in the middle of the house. The roof was double and low, so 

 that air was admitted on both sides and a current went through, 

 which tended to keep the plants dwarf. Give a good syringing over 

 head often of a fine morning ; this is essential to health ; this will 

 not cause mildew ; only pot, have air, &c, as above, and no mildew 

 will affect the plants. Poor soil, drought at bottom, and damp at the 

 top will produce it. Where it does exist, common sulphur dusted 

 under and over the plant, will eradicate it, only don't allow the house 

 in which the plants are in to be closed when much heated, or the 

 vapour from sulphur would impregnate the air and injure the plants. 

 Give plenty of air and no harm will ensue. 



The house in which they grow must be kept clean. Heaths in 

 their native habits have purity of light and air, so should be the case 

 in the house if health is concerned. In winter, as little fire heat 

 as possible should be used, only just enough to keep frost out. Let 

 the water given be pure and soft. 



The above general directions were, what I learned with the best 

 Heath grower I ever saw. All who pursue the same method will 

 realise success the most desirable. 



August 10th, 1843. 



PART II. 



LIST OF NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 



Leianthus nioresckns. Black-flowered. (Bot. Mag. 40-13.) Gentianeae. 

 Pentandria Monogynia. A native of Mexico, seeds having been sent to the 

 Royal Gardens at Kew ; the plant has bloomed there. It is a greenhouse 

 biennial, producing an upright stem, scarcely branched for about a foot and a 

 half, but towards the end oi summer it pushes forth several shoots, which ter- 

 minate on a large much branched panicle two to three feet high, and half a yard 



