90 GREEN-HOUSE-^ REPOTTING. [MARCH. 



they are almost as diversified in colour as colour it- 

 self. Many are graceful, and most elegant ; hundreds 

 are pretty; a few noble and splendid; others grotesque, 

 curious, and odoriferous. To cultivate and propagate 

 them is one of the most delicate branches of horticul- 

 ture. Nevertheless, it has been said by a scientific 

 writer, that " those who complain of the difficulty of 

 growing 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 six feet in diameter, and 

 twelve 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 the large pots and tubs : 

 where these can be had they are essential to the cul- 

 ture of mountainous plants, preventing them from 

 being saturated with moisture, or from becoming dry, 

 they being retentive of moisture, thus keeping the roots 

 in a medium state ; for if once the roots are allowed to 

 get thoroughly dried, no art of the gardener can reco- 

 ver 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 sun, for in a few hours the pot would become heat- 

 ed, dry the roots, and cause death, or a brownness of 

 foliage which would never again become natural. 

 Too much fire heat will hurt them. They only re- 

 quire to be kept free from frost, need a great deal of 



