254 
THE FLORIST. 
even the two first weeks in October, Epacrises are better out of 
doors than in; about that time many varieties will shew for 
flower, when they should be directly housed, and the temperature 
of the house regulated according to whether you want an early or 
late bloom ; by this means you may hasten or retard at least six 
weeks. Water in moderation. W. H. Story. 
Whitehall, 19 th Aug. 
Ericas. —The long continuance of heavy rain, with occasional gleams 
of sunshine, and a close, dense atmosphere, renders it necessary 
to immediately remove this class of plants into the house. Mine 
are become perfectly soddened, with unmistakeable symptoms of 
mildew. I have had them removed into their winter quarters, 
giving all the air possible, by removing the side and end lights. 
I would recommend the adoption of this treatment to all who have 
been visited with such torrents as have fallen lately in this part 
of the country. Presuming my suggestion has been acted upon, 
the outsides of the pots nicely washed, drainage looked to, slugs 
and snails destroyed, weeds and moss removed, and the plants 
stayed, go carefully through them, one by one, to detect and, 
where found, to sulphur every mildewed spot. As this operation 
requires care, in order that the plant may not be disfigured more 
than is necessary, I will describe my mode of proceeding. When 
mildew first commences its attack, it will be seen in small blotches 
on the present or previous year's growths ; the stem, as well as 
the foliage surrounding it, being often infested with what a casual 
observer would suppose to be a little whitish dust; this in a short 
time turns to a rusty brown, and the leaves, after a slight ex¬ 
posure to the sun, will separate from the stem on the slightest 
touch. It is by no means uniform in its ravages : sometimes it 
will confine itself to isolated spots, and die off, merely leaving a 
remembrance behind in the shape of an inch or so of leafless 
stem; at another it will confine itself to one or perhaps two 
branches of the plant; then again you may observe the entire 
summit of the plant destroyed. But in whatever shape it may 
appear, or to whatever extent, a watchful person cannot fail to 
detect it; and the moment he does, let him fly to the sulphur- 
box. Should the disease but slightly manifest itself in a few 
detached spots, I merely scatter from between my finger and 
thumb a pinch of sulphur vivum, holding the pot sideways over a 
sheet of paper, taking care it shall not lodge on any other part of 
the plant; if the disease has spread in blotches all over, which it 
will do if not timely checked, there is no other remedy than dusting 
the plant, using an old pepper-box for the purpose, washing it off 
with the syringe next day. Having thus done all in your power 
to destroy this pest to Heath-growers, give the plants as much 
air, night and day , as the house will afford (roof-lights to be down 
in dry weather). Should the sun again present his glowing face 
before the middle of the month, a little shading will be necessary 
in the middle of the day. The great object from henceforth will 
be to check growth as much as possible ; consequently, water 
should be sparingly administered. I do not mean that it should 
