206 Culture of Cape Ericas. 



should be made to lead off to a sufficient distance, so as to-admit 

 of shrubs being planted round, to hide it from the view ; and, 

 after passing through, it may lead into the principal walk again. 

 An arbour, or small reading-room, is almost indispensable, par- 

 ticularly when the garden is at a considerable distance from the 

 house. 



A lawn in the front of a house should never be appropriated 

 to this species of garden, as it will admit of nothing desirable, 

 when compared with what it will destroy; besides, seclusion is 

 necessary to render a flower-garden a desirable retreat. 



On the supposition that the accompanying sketch were to be 

 laid down, an arbour or recess might be placed at either or 

 both ends; and if the situation were convenient for water, with a 

 little alteration, a fountain, or vase, with a small pond for gold 

 and silver fish, might be placed in the centre. 



Sfiortgrove, Essex, Feb.' 1834. T. Rutger. 



Art. VII. On planting Cape Ericas in the free Soil, and sheltering 

 them tvith a sashed Frame. By Mr. Robertson, Nurseryman, of 

 Kilkenny. 



Few see ericas in their native perfection : stunted and im- 

 poverished, a great proportion of those preserved in our green- 

 houses must be rather considered as botanical specimens than as 

 ornamental plants ; and it requires no small amount of skill and 

 attention (both which they unremittingly demand) to keep them 

 alive. To diminish this labour, and to enjoy ericas in greater 

 perfection than is usually done, I constructed, some time since, 

 a small frame for their reception ; and prepared a border within 

 it, into which I turned the plants early last summer, in the hope 

 of seeing them there display beauties to which I had before 

 been a stranger. This hope has been fully realised by their 

 luxuriant growth; and by their vivid and abundant bloom, 

 which has continued in beauty much longer than the ordinary 

 term. Never having seen or read of any thing of the kind having 

 been done before (though the idea is simple, and such as might 

 naturally suggest itself [see I. 374., IX. 584.]), I have thought 

 it advisable to give you a description of my frame, and of the 

 manner in which I prepared the soil for the reception of the 

 plants ; though, it being merely an experimental attempt, I did 

 not carry it to the extent which, I am now convinced, it merits. 

 The frame is a three-light one, each sash 3 ft. 6 in. ; in front it 

 is 9 in. deep ; and, at the back, 4 ft. 6 in., though it should here 

 have been 6 ft. high, as the heaths have already outgrown it. 

 The border has, at bottom, 6 in. of loose stones, covered with 

 6 in. of fine sifted rotten loam mixed with sand, good peat being 



