HEA 



HEA 



ing to the gardener to have the atmo- 

 sphere in his stoves very dry whenever he 

 wishes to elevate their temperature for the 

 destruction of insects or other purposes. 

 Certain plants flourish in hot-water 

 springs, of which the temperature varies 

 between the scalding heats of from 150 

 to 180 of Fahrenheit's thermometer; 

 End others have been found growing freely 

 on the edges of volcanoes, in an atmo- 

 sphere heated above the boiling point of 

 water. Indeed, it is quite certain that 

 most plants will better bear, for a short 

 time, an elevated temperature, which, if 

 long continued would destroy them, than 

 they can a low temperature. Thus a 

 temperature much above the freezing 

 point of water, to orchidaceous and other 

 tropical plants, is generally fatal if endured 

 by them for only a few minutes ; whereas 

 a considerable elevation above a salutary 

 temperature is rarely injurious to plants. 

 But this is not universally the case ; for 

 the elegant Pri'mula margina'ta is so im- 

 patient of heat, that, although just about 

 to bloom, it never opens a bud if brought 

 into a room in which there is a fire. 



The temperature should always be regu- 

 lated, in our hothouses, with a due regard 

 to the light. At night it should be so low 

 as to put the circulation of the sap into a 

 comparative state of rest; and in dull 

 days the temperature should be full 10 

 lower than in those of bright sunshine. 



HEATHS. See EKI'CA. 



Propagation : by Cuttings. In order 

 to be successful in striking the hard-wooded 

 heaths, it is necessary to put a plant of 

 each kind in gentle heat, to cause them 

 to push forth young shoots. Whilst they 

 are growing, the materials for the opera- 

 tion of propagation should be prepared : 

 these are the requisite number of clear 

 bell-glasses. It will be advantageous to 

 have them of different sizes ; the smallest 

 3J inches, and the largest 6 inches di- 

 ameter, with two sizes between. Also pre- 

 pare the drainage by breaking a quantity 

 of potsherds. These should be in three 

 sizes, the largest about an inch across, 

 the next half an inch, and the smallest 

 the size of marrow-fat peas, with the 

 dust sifted out from amongst them. Next, 

 have the soil ready. The best is to be 

 had from some dry moorland where the 

 heather grows wild. Break the turves 

 into a fine state, and pass it through a 

 fine sieve, reserving the rougher pieces 

 to cover the drainage with. The next 

 27 



things to look after are the pots. If new r 

 they must placed in a tub of water for a 

 few hours ; if old, they must be well 

 scoured and made perfectly clean. Lastly,, 

 procure a sufficient quantity of pure silver 

 sand, a pair of propagating scissors, and a 

 small ivory-handled knife of the very best 

 material. All these being in readiness, 

 see that the cuttings are in a fit state t& 

 take off the plants. If they have made 

 fresh shoots an inch long, they are ready 

 for use. Then take a small clean pot, 

 invert it, and place it over the hole at the 

 bottom of the pot for the cuttings, then 

 fill in round a few of the largest potsherds, 

 and cover them with some of the second 

 size, and then, lastly, with a consider- 

 able quantity of the smallest size, cover 

 these with a layer of the rough siftings. 

 The whole of these should fill the pot 

 to within two and a half inches of the 

 rim of the pot. Upon that place an inch 

 and a half of the heath mould, with a 

 large admixture of the silver sand ; level 

 this last layer with a circular piece of 

 wood, with a nail driven into the centre, 

 to form a handle. Finish with a layer 

 of the pure white sand quite level with 

 the rim of the pot. Give a good water- 

 ing with a fine rose pot, to settle the 

 same. Then take off the cuttings with 

 the scissors, and dress them with the 

 knife; cut the bottom of the cutting 

 clean off with a level cut, just at the 

 part between the new and the old wood ; 

 then cut off the leaves close to the stem, 

 without wounding its bark, about two- 

 thirds of its length from the bottom. As 

 each cutting is made, place it under the 

 bell-glass upon the sand, till a sufficient 

 number are made to fill the pot. Make 

 a mark in the sand to show the size of 

 the glass, and then proceed to put in the 

 cuttings in regular rows across the pot, 

 keeping the leaves just clear out of the 

 sand. When they are all planted, give 

 another gentle watering, to settle the 

 sand firm ; allow them to dry partially 

 before the glass is put on. Then place 

 them in a house where they can be shaded, 

 from the sun, and keep up a gentle heat 

 of 55, as near as possible. Wipe the 

 glasses dry every morning, and as soon 

 as the cuttings are rooted, remove them 

 into a cooler house, and give a little air 

 by placing three short pieces of wood, a 

 quarter of an inch thick and two inches 

 long, so as to form a triangle, and let the 

 bell-glass rest upon them. In this house 

 a K 



