Ma/ch.~\ GREEN-HOUSE REPOTTING. 231 



be well drained; the roots will run with avid'ty among tho 

 porshreds (Soil No. 6.) 



Ericas, heath. There are in cultivation in Europe above 

 five hundred and fifty species and varieties of this magnificent 

 genus. About sixty years age it consisted only of a few 

 humble British plants, with the heath of Spain, E. Mediter- 

 ranean which is at present mos common in our collections, 

 though in a few years we may expect to see it supplanted by 

 others more splendid. 



In their native countries they are adapted to a great many 

 useful purposes. In the north _f Britain the poorer inhabit- 

 ants cover their cabins or huts with heath, and build the walls 

 with alternate layers of it and i kind of cement made with 

 straw and clay. They likewise brew ale and distil spirits from 

 the tender shoots; and it has ben known to be used in dye- 

 ing, tanning, and many other useful domestic purposes. En- 

 comium on their beauty is not requisite ; they are almost as 

 diversified in colour as colour itself. Many are graceful and 

 elegant; hundreds are pretty; a few noble and splendid; 

 others grotesque, curious, and odoriferous. To cultivate and 

 propagate them is considered one of the most delicate branches 

 of floriculture. Nevertheless, it has been said by a scientific 

 writer, that "those who compl?in of the difficulty of grow- 

 ing the heath, are ignorant people, who have never had a 

 heath to grow." The most splendid collection in Europe is 

 under the care of Mr. M'Nab, of the Royal Botanic Garden, 

 Edinburgh, where there are two large houses devoted to their 

 culture; and through the whole year a continued profusion 

 of bloom is kept up. Some of the plants are eight feet in 

 diameter and fourteen feet high. The soil used is a coarse 

 sandy peat. Pots drained with potshreds, and pieces of free- 

 stone are put down the sides of ^he large pots and tubs; where 

 these can be had they are essential to the culture of moun- 

 tainous plants, preventing them frflm being saturated with 

 moisture, or from becoming dry, thus keeping the roots in a 

 medium state ; for if once the roots are allowed to get tho- 

 roughly dried, no art of the gardener can recover them. This 

 may be the true reason why they are said to be difficult of 

 cultivation. 



In the summer season, the pots must be kept out of the 

 fiolent sun, for in a few hours the pots would become heated, 



