292 Remarks on the Cultivation of Ericas or Heaths. 



sun's rays are likely to prove injurious, from their intensity. The 

 awning may rest on two small bars of iron or wood, made fast to 

 the rafters, and, wiien down, made tight at the bottom with a 

 cord, to keep it from blowing about and breaking the tops of the 

 plants. 



The arrangement of the plants in the green-house is all a mat- 

 ter of taste; but there are some things which should not be over- 

 looked. Always set the pots in the most airy and cool part of 

 the house. Set the stronger growing kinds together; for if plac- 

 ed indiscriminately, the delicate sorts will be injured and crowd- 

 ed by the others; do not by any means place the plants too close 

 together, but give them sufficient room: set the tallest at the 

 back part of the stage and the smaller ones in front: if any of 

 the plants require potting very much, let it be done. The front 

 part of the green-house is the best situation, as they can then 

 have all the benefit of the air admitted from the front lights. 



During the early part of winter they should be very carefully 

 looked after and watered: excess of moisture, or dryness, as 1 

 have before observed, is to be guarded against at all times. The 

 pots should be kept as clean as possible through the season. 

 Every plant of a straggling habit should be tied up to a stick, 

 neatly made and painted green. 



Finally, a person who has had some experience in the treat- 

 ment of this genus, should have the whole charge of the collec- 

 tion, if it is large; for an inexperienced hand will not be careful 

 enough in the watering of the plants, but will pour it into the 

 pots indiscriminately; the result will be that those of a weak 

 habit are irrecoverably lost, whilst the strong growing kinds are 

 in a thriving stale. By this I do not mean to infer that they 

 may not be grown by any person tolerably well acquainted with 

 plants; but that the watering should be performed at all times by 

 the same hand, and the plants not allowed to be tended by vari- 

 ous persons, as they often are in nurseries and other large collec- 

 tions. ,7^ 



lOurs, 



J- W. Russell. 



jyiount Auburn, Cambridge, July, 1838. 



It is quite unnecessary for us to say any thing in commenda- 

 tion of Mr. Russell's practice. He has had the management of 

 a collection of plants, in which there were several heaths, in the 

 vicinity of Boston, and the healthy and thriving state of these 

 plants has been often witnessed by many of our readers. 

 Those who follow his directions carefully cannot fail to be suc- 

 cessful, so far as it is possible to be for individuals not already 

 acquainted with the plants. — Ed. 



