240 
CULTURE OF THE GENUS ERICA. 
Either broken pots or cinders may be used for draining., whichever is most 
convenient : there is scarcely any danger of giving too much draining. 
The plant should be raised a little higher in the pot at each shifting than it had 
been before, so that after two or three shiftings the old ball about the stem of the 
plant should be raised two or three inches above the level of the edge of the pot or 
tub, keeping sufficient depth between the old ball of earth and the edge of the pot 
or tub to hold water. 
Besides the compost and draining, a quantity of coarse soft freestone, broken in 
pieces, of from one inch to four or five inches in diameter, is introduced amongst 
the fresh earth in the pot or tub, and pressed down amongst the soil round the ball. 
The quantity of the stone used to a large sized heath in shifting, would, if broken 
down to sand, and added to the sand previously to the soil, form about one-third 
of the whole mass. When stones are introduced among the earth in this way, 
heaths will never suffer so much in the summer from occasional neglect in watering 
them as they would do if the stones were not introduced, because these retain the 
moisture longer than the earth ; and in winter they allow a more free circulation of 
any superabundant moisture which may be given through the mass. 
Let as many of the best specimens and best kinds be kept within doors during 
summer as can, without having them crowded close together. One should not be 
allowed to touch the other when in the house in summer, and if the nearest part of 
one to the other is two or three inches apart so much the better. 
The house should be well ventilated at all times ; and, except in cases of high 
wind and heavy rain, both top and front lights should be open both night and day: 
and, besides watering the earth in the pots freely when they require it, they should 
be well watered over head with the garden engine every day, and if the weather is 
hot and dry this operation should be performed twice every day, namely, morning 
and evening. 
In winter it is an excellent practice in dull weather, and even in frosty weather, 
if much damp is in the house, to throw in a little heat during the day : but this 
should never be done unless the weather is such that plenty of air can be given to 
the house at the same time ; and the heat should always be stopped before the air 
be taken off. 
Very little water should be given during frost, indeed none, except to those 
which seem to suffer from want of it ; but in mild dry weather they should be 
watered freely with the watering-pot ; and the engine should also be used once or 
twice a week, according to the state of the weather, that is, when it is dry and mild 
with much sunshine. 
THE DOUBLE STOCK CAUSED BY DISEASE. 
Plants are so far assimilated to the animal creation, as not only to be subject to 
diseases when over-stimulated with food, but the disease or deformity in the vege- 
