64 



THE HEATHERY. 



The following very judicious mode of proceeding is recommended by 

 Mr. ]\I'Nab, of the Edinburgh Botanical Garden, than whom none has 

 succeeded better in the cultivation of this tribe. In extensive nurser)- 

 collections, where great quantities of plants are wanted, one pot may be 

 filled with cuttings of the same species, when such can be got in sufficient 

 quantities ; but in private collections this is not necessary, for a few plants 

 of a sort, in general, are all that is required. ^Mien this is the case, the 

 kinds selected to be put in the same pot, should be as nearly of the same 

 habit as can be judged of at the time. For example, I shall suppose four 

 pots are intended to be filled with cuttings. Such as the following should 

 be selected for each pot ; — 



FIRST POT. 



Melastoma 



Petiveriana 



Petiveria 



Sabana 



Penicillata 



SECOND POT. 



Pinea 



Pinifolia 



Vistita 



Grandifiora 



Purpurea 



THIRD POT. 



Ventricosa 



Praeg"nans 



Liniiceana 



Linaioides 



Colorans 



FOURTH POl". 



Aitoniana 



Jasminifiora 



Ampullacea 



Irbvana 



Inflata. 



Unless tliis is attended to, one sort will be found to strike root in a 

 much shorter time than others in the same pot, which makes it more 

 inconvenient when potting them out. Tliis, however, must always happen 

 to a certain extent, for a little diflference in the age or firmness of the 

 cutting, even when the work is performed by the most experienced hand, 

 will often make a difference in the time requu'ed to strike root. Yv'hen 

 the pot is thus filled with the cuttings, it should be well watered with a 

 tine rose water pot, and placed in a close, shady part of the stove, ad- 

 mitting as little air as possible near to where the cutting pots are 

 placed, and taking care to water them freely eveiy day. Indeed, when 

 put in this way, there is no risk of over watering them ; for, having them 

 well drained, the water is allowed to pass fi'eely through, and so far from 

 injuring the cuttings, they are benefitted by it." 



We must observe, that however excellent the above mode of striking 

 heaths may be, it cannot, under aU circumstances, be appHed in prac- 

 tice, because there are many cultivators who have not the convenience 

 of a stove to place them in. A substitute for the stove may be found 

 in a well regulated cucumber or melon bed, in which many strike 

 heaths and other hard wooded plants veiy successfully. The reason for 

 apphing heat to the cuttings is to excite them to the greatest possible 

 degree, during which they will, if they are in a fit state, strike root very 

 scon, or^damp off at once. 



The more usual method of striking cuttings of the generality of heaths 



