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ing on the pot is sure to scorch their 

 delicate fibrous roots, or, in the winter, 

 shut up among other plants, and 

 scarcely allowed any air at all ; in 

 either of which cases they are sure to 

 perish. These being the principal 

 reasons why Heaths do not generally 

 succeed, it is now necessary to de- 

 scribe what is considered the best 

 method of cultivating them. The 

 soil most suitable to Heaths is a 

 mixture of three parts of well-sifted 

 peat to one of white or silver sand, 

 thoroughly mixed ; and, if the plants 

 are very large, a small portion of 

 loam may sometimes be added, though 

 this is not often required. In potting 

 Heaths, great attention must be paid 

 to the drainage ; and, in order to 

 render it as perfect as possible, two or 

 three moderate-sized potsherds should 

 be put over the hole in the bottom of 

 the pot ; after which it should be 

 filled about a quarter full with very 

 small pieces of broken tiles ; and 

 over this there should be a thin layer 

 of unsifted peat. Above the unsifted 

 peat should be a layer of prepared peat 

 and sand, and on this the roots of 

 the Heath should be placed, and more 

 of the mixture of peat and sand shaken 

 in among them ; the plants being so 

 placed, that the collar may be above 

 the level of the mould in the pot, 

 when sufficiently full. The compost 

 should be pressed tightly into the 

 pot ; but a little space should be left 

 between it and the rim, to hold water ; 

 and as soon as the potting is finished, 

 the plant should be set aside in the 

 shade, or in a cold frame. 



Heaths, to be well-grown, should 

 always be kept in a frame, or house, 

 by themselves ; as they are of too de- 

 licate a nature to bear the respiration 

 from other plants, and they also re- 

 quire a very differeut treatment. 

 During summer, when in a frame, 

 they should be allowed all the air 

 that can possibly be given to them, 



and they should be frequently watered 

 overhead, as the gardeners call it, 

 when the sun is not upon them ; as 

 the winter comes on, less air should 

 be given, and they should then never 

 be watered over their tops ; but still 

 in fine weather a little air may be al- 

 lowed to them, even during a slight 

 frost. It may indeed be taken as a 

 proverb, that Heaths like to feel the 

 wind between every leaf. When 

 grown in greenhouses, Heaths need 

 not be watered overhead ; but great 

 care must be taken that the roots 

 never get dried up, for if they do they 

 seldom recover : indeed, these plants 

 ought never to be put in greenhouses 

 or rooms, except during the season of 

 flowering. In very frosty weather, 

 the only protection necessary for 

 Heaths is a double mat thrown over 

 the glass of the frame, and suffered 

 to remain there till the frost is gone 

 away ; for should the frost affect the 

 plants, and they should be afterwards 

 exposed to the sun and air, they be- 

 come what is called scorched, and 

 they will either die, or lose the 

 greater part of their leaves. 



Heaths are raised from seed-cut- 

 tings or layers, but most frequently 

 from cuttings, full details for making 

 which have been already given. (See 

 Cuttings.) Heath-seed should be 

 sown, if foreign, as soon as it arrives ; 

 and, if native, as soon as it is ripe. 

 For sowing the seed, shallow pots 

 or pans should be prepared, in the 

 same manner as was described for 

 potting, but with rather more sand ; 

 and the seed should be mixed with 

 a little sand, and scattered over the 

 surface of the mould ; after which 

 it may be watered, and set on a 

 greenhouse shelf, where it may re- 

 main till the young plants are about 

 an inch high, when they should be 

 carefully taken up, and set round the 

 edges of pots, about three in a 

 thumb-pot, and then replaced on the 



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