62 



THE HEATHERY. 



subject, both in a wild and in a cultivated state, we are only astonished 

 that more numerous varieties have not been recognised. 



The best time for sowing seeds of this order is early in spring, say 

 Februars^ and ]March ; and for this important reason, plants originated from 

 seeds sown in spring, will attain such a size and strength before autumn, as 

 to enable them to outlive the winter following, which is a trying time for 

 young plants. In preparing pots for this purpose, they should not be too 

 large ; the size known by the term thirty-two's is the best. AYe need 

 hardly remind the most inexperienced in cultivation, that they should be 

 weU drained, by being filled at least two thirds with broken pots, small 

 stones, or cinders. The soQ used should be of the sort called very sandy 

 peat. The seeds should be sown on the surface, (which must be made 

 smooth and level), and scarcely covered at all. ^^'hen sown, watering 

 should be regularly attended to, and applied with the finest rose pot. 

 They should be placed in a cool, shaded frame, under glass, or plunged 

 in a rather damp border, where the sun seldom shines, and covered with 

 a hand glass. In such a situation, water should be seldom apphed, 

 because the seeds being so minute, they are liable to be washed 

 off in the process, and therefore, the less frequently they are watered 

 the better. As the yoimg plants appear, air should be progressively 

 admitted to them, and every precaution now taken to guard against damp, 

 an excess of which, as well as an excess of drouth, would be equally fatal 

 to them in this state. Wlien the plants have attained the height of one 

 inch or so, they may be transplanted into small thumb pots, placing three, 

 four, or five in each, and as near to the edge of the pot as possible. From 

 some cause, not easily explained, we find that young plants and cuttings 

 root faster when placed in close contact with the sides of the pots in 

 which they are planted, than when they are placed more towards the 

 centre. After this fii'st potting, they should be kept for eight or ten days 

 in a close, cool frame, or pit, shading them fi'om the sun in the middle of 

 the day, and gradually exposing them to the air, until they are found to 

 be so established as to stand the full heat of the sun. The greatest atten- 

 tion must be paid to a regular system of watering, for if they be allowed 

 to become too diy, they will die off in a few hours' time, and if kept 

 too wet, they will damp off in an equally short period. 



