706 



FLOWER GARDEN. 



elevated situations, in general covered with our 

 native species, E. vulgaris, cinerea, &c. Along 

 with the decomposed vegetable matter formed by 

 the yearly decay of previous leaves, branches, &c, 

 and the natural soil of the spot, it should also 

 contain from one-fourth to one- fifth of coarse 

 white sparkling sand, choosing such as lies high 

 and dry, and not that which is exposed to be over- 

 flowed with water during the winter. It should 

 be taken off in turfs about from 2 to 3 inches 

 in thickness, carted home, and laid up in a heap 

 to become partially decomposed, and fitted for 

 use by a free exposure to the sun and air. A 

 supply should be procured annually, for to 

 keep it until the whole vegetable matter con- 

 tained in it becomes entirely broken down, is 

 rendering it exceedingly unfit for the purpose. 

 In from three to four months it is in the best 

 condition for use. Many peaty soils contain 

 oxide cf iron and creosote in over-abundance. 

 When such is the case, it should be rejected, as 

 the presence of the latter is destructive to vege- 

 tation. Some excellent peat soils contain too 

 large a proportion of vegetable matter, and too 

 little sand ; the latter can be added to adjust 

 the proportions, yet at the same time peat from 

 deep deposits should be avoided. The fresher 

 the soil is at the time of using, the better; and 

 for shifting established plants it should be in a 

 rough state, chopped up only to the extent that 

 it can be placed between the ball and sides of 

 the pot with freedom. Sifted soil, after the 

 first potting of seedlings, or recently-struck 

 plants from cuttings, should never be employed. 

 Some of the stronger-growing kinds will be im- 

 proved by the addition of one- third or so of pure 

 sandy loam, while others of the slow-growing 

 sorts will be benefited by the addition of frag- 

 ments of broken pots, small pebbles, or, still 

 better, soft sandstone, free of iron, reduced to 

 pieces about the size of small walnuts. The 

 soils natural to the family of Erica on Table 

 Mountain are exceedingly varied, and even very 

 opposite in their natures — a study of which is 

 worth the attention of the cultivator ; as, for 

 example, the species vestita, versicolor, dis- 

 color, hista, &c, are found naturally in stiff 

 loam by the margins of woodlands and moist 

 gulleys, growing in company with Pelargoniums, 

 Scirpoidee, &c. The former is also found un- 

 der different circumstances as regards situation, 

 but not of soil, as it flourishes along with tri- 

 flora, cruenta, filimentosa, versicolor, and cerin- 

 thoides, on exposed plains, enduring drought at 

 times for several months ; but as regards soil, in 

 deep loam containing iron pyrites. Linnaeoides, 

 tubiflora, colorans, &c, in a black vegetable 

 soil, by the sides of running water, and in 

 springy ground ; Sebana, Plukenetii, baccans, 

 sexfaria, &c, in decomposed schistus, exposed 

 to drought ; while persoluta, arborea, urceolaris, 

 are found amongst decomposed schistus, but 

 by the sides of streams and in shady glens; 

 albens, ardens, fasicularis, ampullacea, fasti- 

 giata, retorta, &c., grow on shattered sandstone 

 rocks, with little or no soil about their roots. 

 And in similar situations, but growing more 

 luxuriantly in the moist clefts of rocks, are 

 found gelida, eriocephala, halicacaba, caffra, 



mammosa, metuliflora, grandiflora, ignessens, cer- 

 inthoides, which prefer sandy spots on the lower 

 plains. The rare Massoni, gracilis, Walkeri, caly- 

 cina, retorta, luxuriate in pure sand, and fully 

 exposed to heat and drought ; and viscaria, 

 viridiflora, and blserioides, are found upon de- 

 composed sandstone, shaded by Scirpoidce, the 

 subsoil, into which, however, their roots will not 

 enter, being argillaceous. From this it will 

 sufficiently appear that the Ericese enjoy natu- 

 rally a considerable variety of soils and situa- 

 tions ; and although, in cultivation, we cannot 

 conveniently accommodate them to the full 

 extent, yet it should be our aim to approach it 

 as nearly as circumstances will admit of. Prac- 

 tically, we learn from the above few examples 

 that some require a greater degree of humidity 

 at their roots than others, that some require a 

 soil approaching to a sound loam, while others 

 are content to attach themselves to the debris 

 of rocks or fragments of stone, and that some 

 prefer a sheer sand. Peat soil abounding in 

 sand will no doubt enable most of the genus to 

 exist for some years ; a stronger and richer soil 

 will evidently tend to their greater luxuriance, 

 as well as to extend their period of existence. 



Water is a most important element in their 

 healthy cultivation ; that containing mineral 

 matter, particularly lime, is fatal to them. Eain 

 water is the best, and next to that, water that 

 has been well exposed to the sun and air in 

 an open pond. In regard to supply, the roots 

 should never be allowed to become dry, while 

 with the majority an excess is equally injurious; 

 and watering during the summer months over- 

 head in form of dew, applied early in the 

 morning, is exceedingly beneficial, repelling 

 mildew, and imitating the copious dews which 

 fall on them in their natural habitats. 



Potting. — In former times, soil sifted as fine 

 as Scotch snuff only was employed, and the shift 

 so closely spun that little more than a quarter 

 of an inch was allowed between the pot and the 

 ball, and even this limited addition was only af- 

 forded them once a-year,if as often. A better prac- 

 tice is now recognised, and soil chopped up with 

 the spade, containing abundance of vegetable 

 matter, and in pieces from 1 to 2 cubic inches 

 each, and even more, intermixed with the finer 

 particles, is used ; and the shift varies, accord- 

 ing to the size of the plant, from 1 to 3 inches 

 all round. This, with ample drainage below, 

 and abundance of light and air, with a due sup- 

 ply of water, is all that is required to produce 

 specimen plants in the highest degree of excel- 

 lence. Early in spring, just before the growing 

 season commences, is the time for a general 

 shifting ; and although all may not require it at 

 that time, it is well to turn them out, so that 

 the state of the roots may be ascertained. No 

 plant should be shifted, however, whose roots 

 are not in a healthy state, and have not pretty 

 nigh filled the pots, and these should be placed 

 in the new pots without disturbing the ball. On 

 the other hand, when the soil seems saturated 

 with wet, and the roots black and diseased, the 

 ball should be reduced, the dead parts of the 

 roots cut away, and the plants re-potted in 

 smaller pots in fresh soil; and when, from 



