CULTURE OF THE GENUS ERICA. 
237 
the plants from being injured by frost. The greater part of them might be kept 
through the winter in a common frame., if any plan could be adopted to ensure a dry 
atmosphere. 
In shifting heaths, any time from March to August may be taken, as opportunity 
permits, or the state of the plants require. 
Each plant should be raised a little higher in the pot at each shifting than it had 
been before, until the old ball about the stem of the plant is raised two or three 
inches above the level of the edge of the pot or tub. This system of high-potting, 
which in most cases is found of great advantage, was first introduced into use by 
Mr. M f Nab, of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, an extract or two from whose 
excellent pamphlet, on the culture of heaths, we shall shortly give. The system of 
high-potting has since been adopted by Mr. Bow, of Lower Broughton, near 
Manchester, one of the best heath gr« wers in this country, and in both the 
Liverpool and Manchester Botanic Gardens. 
The plants are not very subject to be attacked by insects, but if troubled with 
the aphis or green fly, the usual system of smoking with tobacco should not be 
resorted to, for they are very impatient of smoke, and after being subjected to it 
several times, they not unfrequently die. The best growers make a practice of 
dipping the infected plants in some tobacco water, or if they be too large, syringe 
them with it, and afterwards syringe them with pure water. If attention be not 
paid to giving plenty of air they are liable to be attacked by the mildew. If this 
should be the case, it can only be remedied by keeping a dry atmosphere, and giving 
a very free circulation of air ; also syringe the plants with a mixture of sulphur and 
water. 
Propagation . — The stronger growing kinds should have cuttings made rather 
larger than the dwarf growers. It is the custom with many persons to place some 
of the latter plants in a hot-house for awhile, to draw the cuttings a sufficient 
length. 
When the young shoots are a sufficient length, say about an inch long, take off 
the cuttings, and handle them delicately whilst trimming. Some persons cast the 
cuttings into a pan of water as they trim them, until a sufficient number is ready 
to fill a pot ; others object to the system as highly injurious. The fact is, both are 
right ; for some of the strong growing kinds, and a few of the hard -wooded dwarf 
kinds, are so far from receiving injury from the practice, that if not allowed to 
remain too long, they derive benefit ; the water thus imbibed, preventing their flag- 
ging when planted in the pot. All those with delicate foliage, and of slender 
growth, also all whose foliage is covered with downiness to any extent, are injured, 
and not unfrequently destroyed by being thus saturated with moisture ; these should 
therefore be laid in a cool damp place, as trimmed, until they are planted. 
As regards filling the pots, this may be done either with finely sifted peat to 
within an inch and a half of the top, the remainder being a covering of white 
sand ; but the best plan is to fill the whole pot with sand, on Mr. M'Nab’s system, 
which appears to answer the best. For although with due care they may strike 
VOL. i. — NO. x. II 
