THE HEATH. 103 



should be just as large as the pot is inside. The pot 

 must be well drained, and filled with fine peat one part, 

 and silver sand one part ; give water, dry, and put the 

 glass on, and set in a mild heat as for Chorozerna, &c. 



The Heath {Ericaecw). 



There is nothing, as a genus among plants, that 

 contains so much diversified beaut}' as the Heaths ; but 

 there is one drawback to the general culture of this 

 lovely tribe, and that is, no person can grow them 

 among other plants. The Heath must have a depart- 

 ment specially for itself in order to insure success. 

 The reason is, not that thev are more tender or so 

 tender as the Geranium or Fuchsia, but they will 

 neither endure fluctuations nor the atmosphere which 

 a general collection of plants frequently must induce. 



The Heath does not require a high temperature, but 

 a very even one, and the most uniform treatment pos- 

 sible, both as regards water and air. I wish particularly 

 to impress on the minds of my readers the nature of 

 the greenhouse Heaths, and the difficulty that even 

 good gardeners find in succeeding at all in growing 

 them in the same house as a«y ordinary collection of 

 plants — such as Geraniums, Fuchsias, &c. ; so that 

 no amateur can possibly expect success without a good 

 pit or house on purpose for them. I do this to prevent 

 disappointment, as they may be frequently told by 

 some sellers of Heaths that they will grow in any 

 common greenhouse with other plants; but I say they 

 are sure to fail ultimately. I recommend a good dry 

 span- roof pit, or a low house with just as much heating 

 power as will exclude frost, and no more. Covering up 

 with mats is far better than a fire heat ; still, a suffi- 

 ciency of hot piping in the house or pit to dry off 

 damp is necessary. Give abundance of air daily, and 

 always be careful to maintain the root in a fair state of 

 moisture, but not over-wet, nor ever quite dry, for if 

 a Heath once gets thoroughly dry through the root it 

 is sure to prove fatal. On the other hand, to super- 



