624 Retrospective Criticism. 



ties have not the plants in sufficient quantities for sale, which Messrs. Jef- 

 fries and Son admit was partly their case at the time of their list being 

 inserted. I would remark, the most likely way to avoid expenses is to 

 apply to any one of the many eminent nurserymen in the vicinity of the 

 metropolis, and who, if not possessing the plant, would be happy to pro- 

 cure them for, and to instantly forward them to, them. Messrs. Jeffries and 

 Son state me to have said " Mr. Smith being a man not possessing any know- 

 ledge of plants," which is erroneous. I said professing; and as Mr. Smith 

 has, in p. 495., declared my assertion of his not professing any knowledge 

 of plants void of the least particle of truth, I give up my author, who is 

 Mr. John Smith himself, and his words verbatim to me, namely, " I know 

 nothing at all about plants ; forcing is my hobby." — Henry Laundy. Wood- 

 bridge Nursery, Sept. 2. 18.33. 



Criticisms, Facts, and Suggestions on cidtivating Cape Heaths, (p. 244.) — 

 Sir, I observe, in j'our Gardener's Magazine, frequent communications 

 relative to the best mode of growing Cape heaths [Vol. V. p. 47,, Vol. VIII. 

 p. 736., Vol. IX. p. 244.], but the treatment recommended is so various 

 and contradictory, that it is not surprising we so seldom meet with these 

 lovely plants. That a genus so splendid, affording so much interest, and 

 displaying such variety, both in fiowers and foliage, should be neglected, is 

 matter of regret; and that this indifference should arise from the, I believe 

 erroneous, opinion of the great and almost insurmountable difficulty of 

 keeping heaths, is much to be deplored; because it deters a vast number 

 from turning their attention to the cultivation of them, that might otherwise 

 be disposed to do so, were it not for the hopelessness of succeeding which, 

 they are taught to believe, attends the growing of them. In your last 

 Number (p. 244, 245.) I perceive two of your correspondents (a Constant 

 Reader and E. B.) i-ecommending two modes of treatment, as opposite as 

 possible, for the prevention of mildew : a Constant Reader advising the 

 leaves never to be subjected to wet, and always to be kept under glass ; 

 and E. B. proposing that the hardier sorts should be turned out of the 

 green-house in the summer, and placed under a wall, so that they may 

 not be exposed to the sun, in the middle of the day; and that the more 

 tender sorts be put into a frame, and occasionally watered over their leaves. 

 Perhaps each of these methods may be good under particular circumstances ; 

 but, in opposition to both, I would beg to refer to the mode adopted at the 

 Tooting Nursery. I paid a visit to this place a summer or two back, when 

 I saw the greater part of the heaths, placed in the centre of the ground, 

 exposed to the sun during the whole of the daj', and also to all the heavy 

 rains of the season: they were looking certainly rather rusty, but displaying 

 a hardy stocky growth. In the following spring I again called at this 

 nursery, when I found the heaths looking in excellent health, with abund- 

 ance of bloom; indeed, a more beautiful sight cannot well be imagined. 

 This, I think, clearly proves that ericas may be exposed both to rain and 

 sun with advantage. 



Some few years back, chance led me to a gentleman's garden in the 

 neighbourhood of Clapham, where I saw a small collection of ericas, but 

 well grown, and blooming in an uncommonly fine style : I had seen heaths 

 before, it is true, but had never been so much struck with their beauty. 

 On leaving the place, I determined in my own mind to attempt to grow 

 heaths, notwithstanding the difficulty I was led to expect. I therefore 

 immediately commenced getting a collection, and in a few weeks I had 

 procured nearly seventy different species. As I knew nothing of the culti- 

 vation myself, I wasindebted to the advice of some of my more experienced 

 acquaintances, all of whom agreed in recommending me to be very careful 

 in not giving them too much water. In a short time, however, I found 

 some of my heaths dead ; and, on consulting ray professional friends, they 



