116 



JFesi London Gardener^ Association. 



plants ; the pots being conductors of heat, of course the roots that came in 

 contact with them were injured. But, to show more clearly what I mean, as 

 well as to explain how large plants of jErica may be grown in one year, I pre- 

 pare a border, in a similar situation to that where the i'ricae were standing in 

 pots, to the depth of 2 ft,, with turfy peat earth ; then select a number of du- 

 plicate plants (because a plant or more of the valuable sorts should not be ex- 

 posed to the weather, but kept in frames or green-houses), and plant them at 

 18 in. or 2 ft. apart. These by the autumn will have grown into bushes, when 

 the following directions must be strictly adhered to. In taking them up and 

 potting, they should be lifted with balls according to their sizes ; pots or wooden 

 boxes should be got so much larger than the balls of earth as not to retard 

 the growth of the plant. They should be potted in rough peat, and set on a 

 shady border for a week or more ; watering them over every dry day during 

 the time they are there, when they should be brought out to an open and airy 

 place, in order to prepare them for the green-house or heathery ; but still a 

 free admission of air should be allowed, except in frosty weather. This brings 

 me in connexion with the heathery or green-house, on which I have some re- 

 marks to make respecting its construction. It has been the object of this 

 paper to advocate the utility of light and air to £'ricae ; but it will not appear 

 less obvious that when I have alluded to these elements I have always guarded 

 against any injurious consequences that might arise from them by change of 

 season or situation, and it is to that end I now state tTiat, of all houses for 

 plants, a heath-house should be so constructed as to resist the most frost, 

 and have the greatest command of ventilation, and so that the plants in it 

 will not be at a great distance from the glass. I have said that air was 

 indispensable to their health, as it hardens them for such a gradual transition 

 as to allow a degree or two of frost without injury. I have seen more frost 

 than this in a heath-house, but the bad effects were soon apparent ; for this 

 reason, that the house was easily affected by heat or cold, and hence the danger 

 of frost getting into it, because of the plants being so soon excited after being 

 frozen. I am quite sure that £ricae may be wintered in pots, and have more 

 frost than plants in a heathery, and still not be greatly injured, as they may 

 be protected from the sun's rays till the frost has been gradually brought out 

 of the plants, then all their relative parts act and are affected alike by the 

 sun's rays. If fire is given, which I consider it should be, when the thermometer 

 falls to the freezing point, the plants can be kept healthy throughout the year. 

 Water should be carefully given in winter, taking care that the mould does 

 not get sodden ; if any appear so for some days, look at the drainage. 

 Syringings to be given in the morning in fine weather in v/inter, and in the 

 afternoon in summer or the spring months, and every now and then shake 

 sulphur over the foliage, which prevents mildew; damp increases it, hence the 

 utility of free ventilation. The following is an example of what I have alluded 

 to in the foregoing paper, as regards the selection of cuttings having an affinity 

 to each other when inserted in one pot : 







Sect. 1. 





£rica tenella 



J5^rica 



, ignescens 



-Erica concinna 



gracilis 





flammea 



QXi^ovddana 



insulsa 





elata 



Persoluta 



procumbens 





sulphiirea 



rubella. 



rubens 





Sect. 2. 





flagelliformis 





liitea 



albicans 



paniculiita 





tetragona 



pulchella 



Acton?a?2a 





conferta 

 Sect. 3. 



calycinoides, 



picta 





follicularis 



demissa 



Phikenet2J 





melastoma 



epistomia. 



Petiverw 





sacciflora 





