Reviews and Extracts. — Horticulture^ ^c. 
457 
of the edge of the pot or the tub, keeping sufficient depth hetvyeen 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 into 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 in 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 stones retain the 
moisture longer than the earth j and in the winter they allow a more free circu¬ 
lation of any super-abundant moisture which may be given through the mass. 
“ When I mention the treatment Heaths should have when in house, I must be 
understood, that if I have sufficient accommodation under glass, I never would 
take Heaths out of doors, unless it were for the purpose of shifting, or taking 
them from one house to another. My practice would be, to keep them in the 
house in the summer, giving them plenty of air, and to keep them cool during 
winter. It is a pretty general opinion that by turning them out of doors for four 
or five months in summer and autumn, the plants are made hardier, and better able 
lo endure the winter, than they would be if kept within doors during summer. 
From this opinion I must take the liberty of differing, as I know of no species 
that will not bear as much in winter, without suffering from it, if kept in the 
house during the summer, as they would do if they were turned out of doors ; and 
many of them (perhaps all) I know will bear more cold in the winter, if kept in 
the bouse during the summer, for by the latter practice the young wood gets 
better ripened, and better able to resist cold in the winter. I would advise every 
one to keep as many of their best specimens and best kinds within doors, during 
the summer as they can, without having them crowded close together. I cannot 
give better directions than to say that one should not 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, however, 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, both morning and evening, 
“ It is seldom that Heaths are attacked with any insect : the Green Fly, (^ApUis 
Ericecej) is the only one I have observed, and this very seldom; but when it 
does happen, a little tobacco smoke for a night or two, when the house is shut 
close, will destroy them, and when this is necessary, it is always better to apply 
it for two nights in succession, in a small quantity, than to give too much at once, 
“If the weather is favourable, a part of the plants may be turned out towards the 
end of April, if a sheltered shady situation is at hand to place them in. I may 
mention, that at this season they should always be placed in a situation well pro¬ 
tected from the easterly wind, for they will suffer much more from it after being 
turned out of the house in spring, if not well protected, than what they will do 
from a sharp frost late in the autumn. Another part may be taken out in Ma}"^, 
and by the middle of June the whole that is intended to be removed for the season. 
Choose, if possible, a <lull moist day for the purpose; or if this cannot be got, 
place them in a shady situation till they can bear the sun’s rays without injury ; 
let them then be plunged in the ground from two to six inches deep, according 
to the size of the pots,—this saves much trouble in watering, and keeps the plants 
VoL. I, No. 10. 3 l 
