178 
POLYGALA DALMATSIANA. 
observe, first, that the soil in which they are grown be thoroughly 
drained, for, like the heath, their roots are very fine, and easily 
damaged. To preserve them from excesses of all kinds, it is 
a good plan to mix freely with the compost roughly broken pieces 
of stone, charcoal, or potsherds, and to see that at all times the 
water given percolates equally and quickly through the whole 
mass. Secondly, that the supply of both water and air be liberal 
in the warm weather of summer, diminishing both as the plants 
arrive at the dormant state proper for them to pass safely through 
the winter. And, lastly, that the young shoots be regularly ar¬ 
ranged as they are produced, stopping the unduly vigorous, for the 
benefit of the weaker ones, tying them out as may be necessary, 
to allow each a full share of light and air. Mildew is almost the 
only disease to which they are subject, certainly the only one to 
be feared ; and this admits of an easy remedy. Let the affected 
parts be dusted over with sulphur, more air be given to the plants ; 
and a regular and moderate supply of water be administered, and 
it will be speedily eradicated. 
We cannot refrain from mentioning the great advantage which 
the use of the West Kent pot, noticed some time since, gives to 
the cultivator in cases of this kind. An opportunity occurred, a 
short time since, under our eye, which demonstrated to the fullest 
extent the benefit we speak of. A tolerably large heath was shifted 
into one of them, and when the operation was done the soil was 
rather, but not remarkably, dry; the plant was watered and 
treated in the usual manner, but in a few days gave evidence that 
something ^as wrong, and on examination (so easily performed 
with this pot) it was found the soil, instead of imbibing moisture, 
had repelled it, and was then quite dry., Now, in the ordinary 
course of things, that plant would have been considered as in¬ 
jured in the potting, and its inevitable death would have been 
thus accounted for; but, from the facility given by the pot for 
examination, the true cause was instantly detected, and as easily 
and quickly remedied—the removal causing no disturbance of the 
soil. The plant was taken from the pot, the ball of earth dipped 
into a tub, and when properly moistened returned again to its 
proper position, without so much as a particle of the earth being 
disturbed although only a few days had elapsed since the shifting 
was performed. 
