102 THE PHILADELPHIA FLOR IST. [August 



ter until there is appearance of fresh growth ; towards the end of Au- ro) 

 Cp gust turn them out of the pots, shake away a portion of the soil and °jp 

 ' repot in pots the same size they previously occupied- They may then 

 be placed on the front shelf of the greenhouse ; keep the light in their 

 immediate vicinity closed for a week or two, until fresh roots are 

 formed ; sprinkle water on the leaves occasionally to prevent rapid 

 perspiration, and exhaustion by the roots \ shift them progressively as 

 the roots extend, using free open soil; always pay particular attention 

 in having ample drainage. If the manure is left out of the soil used 

 for the last shifting, and manure water applied occasionally as the 

 flowers begin to expand, the plants will assume a more sturdy habit, 

 and produce a larger quantity of better developed flowers. 



In gathering seed it is important to save from the best formed flow- 

 ers ; a good form of outline is a quality in beauty of more import than 

 mere color. The following criterion is recognized by florists as ap- 

 proaching to perfection. 



The plant should partake as much of a shrubby habit as possible, as 

 they are much easier of cultivation and remain longer in bloom. The 

 flower stems should be short and strong. The individual flower should 

 form a perfect circle, free of indentures on the edge, centres raised so 

 as to form a globe. All ground colors distinct, and the spots or mark- 

 ings clearly and distinctly defined, W. S. 



Baltimore, July, 1852. 



CAPE HEATH-ERICA. 



BY F. N., NEW YORK. 



The following observations upon that delicate and showy family 

 of plants the Heath, I offer in the absence of any other communica- 

 tion on the subject. Should you think the article worthy of inser- 

 tion you can use it, if not 1 hope some other gardeners will give 

 notes of their experience in Heath culture, which once was the sine 

 qua non of horticulture, at least when old MacNab of Edinburgh 

 exhibited his giant specimens of Cavendishii and others clothed to 

 the pot and covered with bloom. 



The benches of Chiswick and Regent's Park Horticultural saloons 

 were once crowded with Heath bushes, and what family of plants 

 were so refreshing to the eye, so creditable to their successful culti- 

 vators. But in America with its 90^ and 100° heat, we fear they 

 shall not become so common or striking. Their cultivation, how- 

 ever, must be attempted and rendered as general as possible. Yet 

 how come? it that these very plants which gardeners say cannot en- 

 dure our climate are the indigenous inhabitants of the arid atmo- 

 /3 sphere and dry soil of the cape of Good Hope] It may be that cool- 



Mqsp^ . : ^qp, 



