PROFAGATIOX xiND TREATilEXT. 



61 



the heath tribe would sustain, without injury, the greatest degree 

 of sun heat "we ever have in these latitudes ; but it is the roots that 

 we wish to protect by partial shading, for when the sun acts fully on the 

 pots, they become heated to a great degree, and as the roots of all healthy 

 heaths and similar plants are in close contact with the pots, they are 

 rapidly dried up, or heated beyond the degree that they are capable of 

 bearing ; for as in theu' natural habitations they grow amongst thick 

 herbage, and are partially shaded about theii' roots, they consequently 

 are kept much cooler than if they were growing without any covering 

 whatever. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule ; but by far 

 the greater number are so circumstanced. 



Along the centre of this span house, a row of cast iron columns should 

 be placed, to support the ridge, and wliich may be either plain or orna- 

 mented vvith appropriate mouldings. A flue a a, may be run along imder 

 the side platforms, for the purpose of di-^ing up supei*fluous humidity or 

 damp, it vnll rarely be required for any other pm-pose if the covering 

 recommended be adopted. However, as the expense in the first erection 

 is not great, it will be well to have one, even for precaution. 



No doubt heaths are, and have been successfully cultivated in houses of 

 the most ordinary description, but the success attending thek growth has 

 depended principally upon free ventilation, moderation in watering, an 

 almost total absence of fire heat, a full exposure to the sun, and closeness 

 to the glass. So far as cultivation is concerned, heaths may be very well 

 grown in pits, which is the most economical of all plant structures, but in 

 pits, the owner loses much of their beaut\-, from the circumstance of their 

 being placed in a very unfavom'able position to be seen when in flower ; 

 * and as they will not beai' with impunity for any length of time, the 

 close confinement of the di^av^ing room, much of the interest arising 

 from them is lost, if not placed in a house adapted for them. 



PROPAGATION AXD TREATMENT WHEN YOUNG. 



Plants of the natural order Ericece, like most similar shrubs, are readily 

 increased by seeds and cuttings, and rarely by any other means. Seeds 

 are often imported from the Cape of Good Hope, and are also frequently 

 ripened in this country- ; from both of these, hybrid varieties are very 

 likely to be obtained, for we beheve that many heaths cultivated in this 

 country-, and considered as species, are no other than hybrids originated 

 from seeds procm*ed by one or other of those means. "When we consider 

 the operations that are constantly going on in nature, in regard to this 



