JAN.] THE GARDENER. 71 



plants in pots, the soil in which they are kept should 

 contain no more moisture than what is necessary to 

 keep the bulb, tuber, or corm, in a succulent state; 

 but in proportion to the dryness in which bulbs are 

 kept at this season, should be the abundance of the 

 supply of water when they begin to grow," Heaths 

 require great attention with regard to watering ; if al- 

 lowed to become too dry, they speedily lose the power 

 of absorption, and death ensues with little indication 

 of its approach. Excessive dryness must therefore be 

 carefully guarded against ; neither should a uniformly 

 moist state be always maintained. When they are 

 watered at the root, the water should be made to reach 

 the very centre of the ball ; and the supply should be 

 renewed when a moderate degree of dryness has taken 

 place. 



Sand or coal ashes should always be at the bottom 

 of the pots if there be danger of over- watering, to 

 allow the water to trickle off, and portions of free- 

 stone have been most advantageously intermingled with 

 the mould to prevent the moisture from becoming 

 stagnant. 



Charcoal appears to be especially suitable as an ab- 

 sorbent of moisture and gases, and hence a stimulant 

 to many plants if combined in the proportion of about 

 one to three parts of earth : in the case of Fuchsias 

 it has been recently proved equal in power wdth bone- 

 dust in imparting vigour, though it does not apparently 

 contain any nutritive qualities. 



Let the warmth of the stoveliouse be about 65° dur- 

 ing the day, falling to 55"" at night, for this reason — and I 

 shall endeavour throughout my observations to state 

 the principles on which particular practice is founded 

 as well as I can, when the subject admits them — that 

 the functions of the plants are altogether suspended, 

 or much less active, by night than by day : the diges- 

 tion of their food is interrupted, and therefore heat, 



