” 
356 HISTORY OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 
of no instance in heaths where they may not be grown as healthy 
and vigorous as ey were the first day they were introduced into 
this country, where the same individual species has been succes- 
sively propagated Soak cuttings for upwards of twenty years. 
find the AEOe 8 wie of heaths strike root freely when the 
iently fi rc) 
t 
is a good method, in preparing the pots for the cuttings, to fill them 
to within one inch and a half of the top with broken pots or coarse 
ashes, the upper part of which should be of a smaller size than those 
below, over which should be put a thin layer of fog (hypnum), = one: 
vent the sand from working down among the draining ; then 
mainder of the pot should be filled == fine sifted sand to oe "cal 
of the edge, and the sand pressed down very firm, After being well 
watered, the pot is then fit to receive the cuttings. 1 prefer pit sand 
for striking heath cuttings in; the colour of it is of little importance, 
whether wanes grey, or apatiage it should, however, be as free as 
possible of earthy and irony matter. The len ngth of the cuttings 
must depend on the habit of the ioecins: Of some of the free growing 
sorts, they may be about an inch and a half long, and from others 
that are of a more stinted growth, they may not exceed half an inch 
in gn ee ; in both cases they should be taken from the plant at the 
part where the young cutting sets off from the older wood. The 
leaves om be stripped off about half the length of ve pg and 
the end should be cut clean with a sharp knife, or scisso The 
in is then fit to be inserted into the pot prepared for its cepa: 
ordinary cases, pots of the size have mentioned will hold 
the case, the kinds selected to be put in ase gest ot should be as 
near of the same habit as can be judged of at the time. For example, 
I shall suppose four pots are intended to be filled with cuttings. 
Such as the following should be selected for each pot. 
First Pot. Second Pot. Third Pot. Fourth Pot. 
Melastoma. Pinea, Ventricosa, Aitoniana. 
Petiveriana. Pinifolia. | | Jasminiflora. 
iveri Vestita. neeana. Ampullacea. 
Sebana. Grandiflora. Linnzeoides Irbyana. 
Penicillata, &c. | Purpurea, &c. | Colorans, &c. Inflata, &c. 
Unless this is attended to, one sort will be found to strike root ina 
much shorter time than others in the same pot, which makes it more 
inconvenient when potting them out. This, however, must a 
happen to a certain extent, for a little difference in - age 0 
firmness of the nEMEEDS: even. when the work is performed by the 
