EXTRACTS. 65 



Heath or Ling is growing; the top spit of which should not he taken offdeeper 

 than the soil appears of a free silicious texture. The turfy or sandy surface 

 should be all carted along with it to the compost yard, and thrown up in a 

 heap, to decompose and pulverize for two or three months — when the soil will 

 be fit for use. The plants that have overgrown their pots, may be shifted into 

 larger ones, any time from February to August, or otherwise, after they have 

 done flowering, or previous to their coming into flower. If the operation be 

 carefully performed, it is immaterial at what particular season. The balls of 

 mould should not be reduced, and as few of the roots injured by it as possi- 

 ble, observing only to loosen the small fibres at the bottom and sides of the 

 pots, which will induce them to strike freer into the fresh soil. Thtre should, 

 also, be plenty of drainage placed in the bottom of the pots, iu order to carry 

 off any superfluous moisture; and over the drainage a layer of the fibrous 

 particles, sifted out of the soil, should be placed, which will also facilitate the 

 carrying oft' the superabundant water. 



" Mr. M'Nab, in his valuable treatis-e on the General Treatment of the 

 Cape Heaths, recommends to be mixed along with the soil, ' a quantity of 

 coarse freestone, broken into pieces, from an inch to four or live inches in 

 diameter; of those I always introduce a quantity among the fresh earth, as it 

 is put in. This I consider of great advantage to all sorts of Heaths; but more 

 particularly so to those that may have been shifted into a much larger pot or 

 tub at once, than it had been grown in before, or in what 1 would call biennial, 

 or triennial shifting.' 



"The Heathery should have large portions of air admitted daily, to be only 

 excluded in severe frosty weather, when the plants will require to be kept 

 rather in a dry state, and but small portions of water given at once; they 

 should be looked over daily, in case any of them are getting too dry, when a 

 little water will be necessary. In mild weather, they will require to be more 

 liberally supplied, and should have occasional sy ringings over their foliage; 

 and as the season advances, this element must be more bountifully supplied, 

 particularly in dry hot weather, when they should be syringed over head in 

 the mornings and evenings, as well as large portions given at the roots. 



" About the latter end of May, or beginning of June, the plants may be 

 turned out of doors, and placed in a situation where they can have the benefit 

 of the morning and evening sun, hut sheltered from the westerly winds, and 

 scorching effects of the sun's rays, in the middle of the day ; and arranged so 

 as that a free circulation of air can readily puss amongst the whole collection, 

 which will prevent their being drawn tip in a weak or languid state, as is the 

 case when crowded. The scarcer, and more delicate growing sorts, should be 

 I in a pit or frame, where they can also be shaded from the midday 

 sun (by throwing a thin mat over the frame), and protected from heavy rains. 

 If the autumn mouths are at all favourable, the plants maybe left out of 

 doors, until the middle or latter end of October, when they should be all 

 cleaned and replaced in the Heath house; but if the season is wet, they will 

 require to be taken into the bouse earlier, in order that they may be protected 

 from the heavy rains, which would saturate the soil about their roots, aud be 

 injurious to the plants. When the Heaths are taken into the Heathery or 

 greenhouse, they should have as large a portion of air given to them as the 

 house will admit of, both night and day, which should never be excluded, 

 except in frosty or cold weather, when the Heathery should be shut up at 

 night, but re opened, if only for a couple of hours iu the middle of the day." 

 — Ilurtui W'uliurnensi*. 



On the Chemical Changes of the Sap of Trees. 



I bi mod important information which you will, I think, be able to give to 

 the modern gardener, respects the chemical chanu., s which take place in the 

 lap of tree*, and the muiions of the sap at different periods of the year. 

 1 , "' " descendl in our trees through the bark (I exclude the Palm "tribe 

 p nerally) Irom the (eaves, cannot be questioned, or that it ascends through 



Vn,.. ||. K 



