174 Commercial Gardening 



to dry, usually placed bell glasses over the cuttings. Modern growers 

 use a flat sheet of glass instead. This is better than the bell glass, as 

 it has simply to be inverted each day, putting the dry side beneath, 

 whereas when bell glasses are used a certain amount of time must be 

 devoted each day to taking them off and wiping the interior dry with 

 a piece of cloth. 



The cuttings are placed in a temperature of about 60 F., and the 

 glasses are kept on until they are well rooted. The sand is never allowed 

 to become dry, but care is taken to avoid too humid an atmosphere, as 

 this causes the cuttings to damp off. 



The rooted cuttings are potted up when ready, usually in the autumn 

 and early spring. While still in the cutting pots they have the tops 

 cut out to induce branching. Afterwards, when placed either trebly or 

 singly in small pots, they are kept close for some little time to get 

 established, after which more air is given. The tops are nipped off 

 again in due course, and during the summer months the plants are grown 

 in cold frames with ash or cinder bottoms so as to be quite near the glass. 



Heaths are usually potted very firmly in a soil composed of soft turfy 

 peat with a liberal supply of clean silver sand to keep it porous. The 

 pots are well drained, and are not used too large for the plants. The 

 small Heaths which now form such a conspicuous feature of the market 

 are usually brought to the flowering stage in about twelve months, but 

 larger plants in 5-in. and 6-in. pots take about three seasons to grow. 

 The first two seasons they are cut hard back in winter, and when new 

 growth commences they are moved into larger pots. 



During the period of growth, watering is carefully attended to, and 

 on all favourable occasions abundance of light and air is given when 

 established. When the flowering stage is approaching for plants in 5-in. 

 and 6-in. pots, they often receive weak doses of liquid manure, the plants 

 in many cases being plunged out-of-doors in beds of ashes or fibre during 

 the summer months. Very little artificial heat is given to the plants, 

 and in the event of severe weather those in pits or frames are protected 

 with one or more layers of mats or canvas. 



Heliconia. A genus of fine foliage stove plants, with large Canna-like 

 leaves, all flourishing in rich loamy soil with plenty heat and moisture. 

 The best kinds are aureo-striata, green veined with yellow; illustris, 

 crimson; spectabilis, bronzy green; psittacorum, green with orange and 

 crimson bracts. All increased by division. 



Heliotrope (CHERRY PIE). As a market plant the Heliotrope (Helio- 

 tropiumn peruvianum) has long been popular, and is still grown on fairly 

 large lines for bedding-out purposes in summer. Early in the year cut- 

 tings of the young shoots are inserted in pots or shallow boxes of sandy 

 soil and placed in a warm greenhouse. There are many varieties, varying 

 in colour from pure white to deep violet, including the following: White 

 Lady, white; Queen Marguerite, deep blue; Swanley Giant, bright blue; 

 Mina, blue; Miss Nightingale, purple, a very popular sort; President Gar- 



