204 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ September, 
of knowing the truth before our walls are deprived of good old varieties to make- 
way for rubbish. There can be no more fitting place for clearing up these points 
than the garden at Chiswick, and I know Mr. Barron would not mind the trouble, 
if room for such a purpose can be found within the greatly reduced area of the 
garden there.— William Earley, Digswell. 
ERICA OBBATA. 
beautiful Heath, if not the best, is certainly one of the best of the 
genus, and is worthy of a place in every collection, however limited. 
However, from its being so seldom met with, I am under the impression 
that it is considered a difficult variety to cultivate, though such is by no 
means the case, if the directions here given are properly followed out. Select 
some good fibry peat, let it be broken up into small pieces, then add sufficient 
silver-sand to keep it porous, and mix the whole well together. Take a pot one 
size larger than that the plant is to be removed from, give ample drainage, and 
place some of the rougher portions of the peat on the top of the broken crocks 
provided for drainage, in order to keep it in good working order. These points^ 
together with firm potting, reveal the secret of the successful cultivation of all 
Cape Heaths. Therefore, when potting, it is requisite to have a piece of board 
or stick of such thickness as can be worked freely between the new pot and the 
ball of the plant, in order to get the fresh soil firmly pressed down around the 
old ball. Pay proper attention to wateiing, and keep the plants well exposed in 
the open air till the end of September, when they should be placed in a cool 
greenhouse, where plenty of light and air will pass freely to them. As soon as 
the blooming season is over, place the plants again in the open air, and allow 
the sun to shine freely on them. Growth thus obtained is seldom subject to tho 
attacks of mildew, and the bloom will be abundant and fine. In case, however, 
mildew should make its appearance, dust with sulphur immediately. Above all, 
pay careful attention to watering and to firm potting, for more Heaths are 
destroyed from improper attention to these two points in their management, than 
from any other cause whatever.—H. Chilman, Somei'ley Gardens. 
A FEW COMING STRAWBERRIES. 
amongst several hundred seedling Strawbenies which we have tasted 
and examined this season, the following are selected as those which have- 
most struck our fancy, and seemed the most promising. The following- 
four varieties may, indeed, be looked upon as real acquisitions, which we 
shall be glad to welcome when their owners think fit to introduce them :— 
1 . Waltham Seedling. A hybrid raised between Crimson Queen and Sir 
Charles Napier, and partaking, to a certain extent, of the characteristics of both 
parents, though in general outward appearance more nearly resembling Sir C. 
Napier, but sweeter and richer. The fruit is of about the same size, and pro- 
