SJiort Communictttions. 585 



had arrived at a fine state of maturity, presenting a foliao-e 

 delightful to the view, with a profusion of flowers in succes- 

 sion, according to their different seasons of flowering, far 

 superior to any I had ever before, or have ever since, seen. 



1 am inclined to think that very few of the Cape heaths will 

 survive the winters in Cornwall entirely without protection : 

 however, I know of one exception, in the ^rica scoparia, 

 which, although not possessed of so much floral beauty us many 

 others are, is, when it has grown up conically to the height 

 of 4« ft. or 5 ft., in the very delicate and beautiful appearance 

 of its foliage, a truly interesting species : in this state it has 

 a most attractive appearance, and has been much admired. 

 A plant of this species has stood out for the last three winters, 

 and when I saw it last autumn, it was in full vigour, and 

 highly ornamental as a shrub in the place where it stood. I am. 

 Sir, yours, &c. — T.Rutger. Shortgrove, TLssex, August, 1833. 



A Mode of inducing CalUopsis hicolor, C. At/misomkna, atid 

 similar-habited Plants, to bear- their- Blossoms nearer the 

 Ground than they usually do. — Sir, As the Calliopsis bicolor 

 [Coreopsis tinctoria], AiY\nsomdna, and several species of 

 the same and other families, are not desirable for massing out 

 in small clumps, owing to the height they grow ; this ob- 

 jection to them may be diminished by laying them down. 

 In about the beginning of August sow seeds of them in pots, 

 and place them in a moderate hot-bed ; when the plants are 

 of a size to plant out, plant them 5 or 6 in. apart, on the 

 square, on any spare bit of ground. By the 1st or the 

 middle of June, in the following year, most of the clumps will 

 be cleared of spring decorations ; then have any one of 

 them which you wish to embellish with a golden hue pre- 

 pared, and take up the plants of Calliopsis, &c., (most of 

 which, by this time, will have attained the height of 18 in. or 



2 ft., and be showing flower,) with balls. Select the tallest, or 

 those as nearly of a size as possible ; lay them down on the 

 surface of the clump, on the spot where they are to be in- 

 serted; first, the highest on the circumference, with the tops 

 extending an inch or two on the verge ; then the small ones 

 in the centre (or those of the same size, if you have them) 

 with the tops lying in different directions alternately, or in 

 one, it matters not, so as you make them them regular. 

 Plant obliquely, and peg down those round the outside about 

 6 in. from the verge, and those on the inside 5 or 6 in. or 

 more from their tops, according to the strength of the plant. 

 In two or three days the tender tops will have an erect 

 position ; in two or three weeks they will flower in a flat mass 

 from 10 to 14 in. high, and the laterals will continue to grow 



