ERICA, AZALEA, AND RHODODENDRON. 171 



cultivate them in their management, which, when better 

 understood, I am convinced will greatly add to the interest 

 already manifested in the Erica. 



AIIT. 2. Culture and Propagation. 



The culture of the Erica is, by many persons, considered 

 very difficult, although, when practically understood, it may 

 be said to be very simple. Soil, situation, and temperature, 

 must be in accordance with the nature of the Erica, or it will 

 never flourish and flower well. All kinds of the Erica re- 

 quire a black peat, or bog earth, to flourish in perfection ; for 

 the roots of the plants, being fine and thready, cannot per- 

 forate a heavy loam or close soil; and, on the other hand, a 

 very spongy soil would be quite as uncongenial to its nature. 

 In fact, two kinds of soil are requisite to grow the different 

 varieties to perfection : the small, dwarf kinds require a dry 

 peat, obtained from high, dry ground ; and the tall, luxuriant 

 kinds, a soil obtained from a low, moist ground. This is 

 readily accounted for, as the dwarf varieties are found natu- 

 rally growing on high ground, and the taller varieties on low 

 grounds ; but the nature of the soil is very similar. The 

 situation of the Erica should always be that of a cool, shaded 

 place. If the plants are exposed to the sun in summer, they 

 will suffer at the root; and, if placed where they receive too 

 much fire-heat in the winter, the leaves will be injured. It 

 should be moderately watered, and should never be very dry 

 at the root, or very moist: if the roots are allowed to become 

 entirely dry, the plant will sicken accordingly ; if too moist, 

 they will make a slender, feeble growth at the leaf, and decay. 



The Erica is propagated from seed, which I recommend to 

 be sown in the month of December, or so soon as it is ripe, 

 in a pot of black peat earth, and placed in the green-house. 

 Care must be taken that the seed is not covered too deep ; 

 if a quantity of white sand can be procured and placed on the 

 earth, the better. When the seed is sown, the top of the pot 



