THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 3-55 



^ in one situation I held in America eight young Heaths (two year old,; 

 these I grew for two years with as much success as I ever did in Bri- 

 tain, though 1 was told when I started that they "could not be grown.' 7 

 I did not grow them in '-all peat" as I used to do, I used full a third 

 of turfy loam with them; I had found in a previous situation that it 

 would never do to go in for peat to such an extent as I had been habi- 

 tuated ; I knew that peat w r as mainly composed of vegetable matter; I 

 knew that when vegetable matter was made to decompose rapidly, it 

 had a highly injurious effect on whatever grew in it — and vegetable 

 matter of all kinds does decompose rapidly when exposed to rapidly 

 succeeding; extremes, whether of heat or cold, drought or moisture. I 

 found few of my peat plants do well, and on consideration the reason 

 was obvious. The drought of our summers rendered repeated water- 

 ings necessary. These repeated waterings and alternate dryings, act- 

 ing on the peat, produced the injurious acids alluded to, and the dry- 

 ness of our days with the copious dews of our night, added to the ef- 

 fect. To mix loam with the peat was the first move 1 made in the 

 path of progress ; but this was not all — I found that by keeping them 

 all the season in-doors, or under a raised frame, with all the air possi- 

 ble, I gained the power to a certain extent of keeping the atmosphere 

 about them more regularly moist. 



I am sorry that 1 have no Heaths now ; I have never been able to 

 learn the fate of my pets, but learned from them while 1 had them 

 that the climate of America is not too hot for Heaths, but that by 

 adapting soil and atmospheric moisture to the climate, they will do as 

 well here as anywhere. 



A Lover of Heaths, Phila. 



CURIOSITIES OF VEGETATION. 



So great is the diversity of form in the vegetable kingdom, that 

 many persons not at all interested in plants scientifically, or even as 

 ornamental objects, are attracted by the curious formation of certain 

 parts to examine and admire them, and perchance to enquire further 

 into their history and characteristics. Thus provision is made to ar- 

 rest the admiration and attention of the most thoughtless of mankind, 

 and plans laid to lead them into a due reverence for the works of na- 

 ture. Amongst th^se peculiar forms, the 



NEPENTHES, OR PITCHER PLANTS, 



stand prominently forward ; and as several species have been genera 1- 

 \ ly introduced to collections, attention is again called to their peculi- 

 Cy arities of habit and structure. The conservatories of our city can c 

 /•> boast of the possession of only two species as yet, but it is to be hoped U 



^o*-m, 



