350 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
Jan. 31st, 1885. 
no charm of romance invests them with anything prosy 
or poetical, they are, nevertheless, most intensely 
interesting to those who admire fruteseent beauty. 
And whoever has enjoyed a ramble among them will 
not be likely to ever forget the peculiar refreshing 
odour arising from the myriads of pretty blossoms. 
And, while still ascending, at every onward step 
brilliant colours and fresh forms of Heath beauty will 
delight the eye with pleasant changes, until, when 
near the summit, the novel sensation of passing 
above the fleecy clouds which eternally drape the top 
of Table Mountain will be experienced. Even when 
in cloudland the somewhat stunted, though symme¬ 
trical, Heaths will still be there, and with every 
possible tinge or shade of green tiny leafage these 
compact little plants seem to vie with each other for 
the palm of grace and beauty. All of this large and 
interesting family are exquisitely bedecked with a pro¬ 
fusion of delicate, lovely, wax-like flowers, from pure 
white to flesh and cream colour; yellow, dark green, 
light green, orange, and purple ; red, pale red, red and 
green, red and yellow, red and orange, orange and 
purple, white and scarlet, to brilliant scarlet, crimson, 
flame colour, &c. 
Preferring to give f orm and colour of flower to mere 
technical terms, which I trust will give the reader a 
better idea of what they are like, I will as concisely 
as possible say the styles or shapes of flowers are 
tubular, or cylindrical, with some kinds long, while 
others again are short. Some species have inflated 
flowers of fair size, while another division has small 
globed-shaped ones. Narrow necked, with wide 
spreading borders, form another type. Small oval¬ 
shaped kinds constitute another group, which is 
followed by one which has lovely flowers enclosed 
in inflated calixes ; while another section has curious, 
though extremely pretty, double flowers. 
While “up above the world so high,” the admirer 
of nature will get extensive views of land and sea. 
The magnificent panorama spread before him will be 
scanned with intense interest, combining as it does a 
matchless landscape, emerging into a marine picture, 
which fades in the dim distance of the deep blue 
sea. 
“ In prospects thus, some objects please our eyes, 
The shapeless rock or hanging precipice, 
Which out of nature’s common order rise.” 
As this imperfect notice is getting longer than I 
intended, I will meet the lover of floriculture nearer 
home. With every opportunity of seeing Heaths, or 
Ericas, both in a wild or cultivatedstate, I unhesitatingly 
pronounce them to be as interesting and beautiful 
plants as ever graced a greenhouse. And my long 
cherished hope of seeing them cultivated in this 
country I trust will yet be realized. 
Although the climate may be fickle and uncertain, 
yet, there is among the profession of horticulture, if 
properly qualified men are employed, and the oppor¬ 
tunity given to exercise it, sufficient skill to grow and 
flower these matchless strangers, on this side the sea. 
In other words, no mere pretender must meddle with 
them, or disappointment will as certainly follow, as 
light comes with day. Of all plants with which I am 
acquainted, I know of none which require more 
practical skill in their management, than Cape 
Heaths. Presuming the above remarks may create a 
desire to possess a collection of these elegant plants, 
it is possible the reader may feel disappointed with 
the silence of the writer, for not fully stating how 
success may be achieved by those who are willing to 
try. But it would be a futile task, to attempt to 
convey the requisite knowledge, which can only be 
acquired by actual experience. Instead, I advise 
employing a competent man. 
Of Ericas, a noted grower says: “No ligneous 
shrubs are better deserving of cultivation than the 
Heaths. For of what other genus can it be said that 
every species, without exception, is beautiful through¬ 
out the year, and at every period of its growth; in 
flower or out of flower, and of every size and age; 
perpetually green, and perpetually in flower, and 
these flowers of various colours and sizes, and of 
many shapes ?” Another, equally wise on the subject, 
says: “The two splendid natural orders, Ericac® 
and Epaeridace® perhaps- contain a greater number 
of really beautiful plants, than are to be found in 
all the other orders put together.” All of which your 
correspondent fully endorses. Supposing some of the 
readers desire to grow Heaths,—are of such a nature 
that they must have some,—I will give a list of a few 
beautiful kinds, which with ordinary care, they may 
manage to grow—namely: Erica caffra alba, E. 
caffra rubra, E. rubida, E. Wilmoreana, E. umbellata, 
E. sicula, E. arborea squarosa, E. Bowieana, E. 
mutabilis, E. eruenta superba, E. intermedia, and E. 
colorans.— W. T. Harding, in American Gardeners’ 
Monthly. 
——- 
fetters to fbe (Sbtfot. 
APBICOTS UNDER GLASS. 
I should be much obliged if some of your practical 
readers would give me the benefit of their experience 
in cultivating the Apricot under glass. I am desirous 
of covering a south wall with glass, but the structure 
is not to be heated, and I am anxious to know if the 
Apricot requires any different treatment to Peaches 
and Nectarines, grown in similar structures. What 
measure of success may I hope to attain with such 
a glass case ?— A Constant Header. 
POTATOS FOR AN AMATEUR. 
“A Sussex Amateur,” in The Gardening World 
of January 10th, asks for information anent the 
treatment and cultivation of a few of the most 
esteemed sorts of Potatos—good alike for table and 
exhibition. The reply of Mr. Kerr and the reply 
signed “D.” are so totally opposite that “A Sussex 
Amateur” will be fairly puzzled. If he takes “ D.’s ’> 
advice about trenching his ground 2 ft. deep, he will 
(if his soil is like the generality of Sussex soil) have 
quite 12 ins. of clay on the top ; and I think he will 
not grow exhibition tubers in that. Planting early 
kinds in rows 3 ft. apart is very wasteful—of ground. 
Wood ashes are not so easily obtained, and good 
artificial manure would be much preferable. I also 
think “ D.’s ” remark anent the nonsense written 
about the merits of new kinds of Potatos, applies 
more to his own selection than to either of the 
other two selections given by Mr. Kerr and Mr. 
Knight. The amateur will do well to follow Mr. 
Kerr’s directions all through in working his crop. 
His selection, however, should include Woodstock 
Kidney, Radstock Beauty, and Vicar of Laleham, 
instead of Early King Offa, Dalmahoy, and Clyfl'e 
Hall.— Ex-Sussex. 
-- 
THE FIRST CHINA ROSE. 
Those of your readers whose gardening career com¬ 
menced fifty years ago and upwards, doubtless read 
with interest your account of the old Hammersmith 
Nurseries and its past proprietors. I am myself 
at all times deeply interested in perusing memoirs of 
men who have contributed their quota to the advance¬ 
ment of science and art, more especially that of 
gardening, and as I have been well acquainted with 
very many of “ the old school,” as they are termed, 
my interest, as a matter of course, is intensified. I 
may mention, as one of the old school, the late Mr. 
John Dampier Parks, who was sent to China many 
years ago by the Horticultural Society of London, and 
who was a personal friend of mine. The early records 
of the Society (in Sabine’s time) enumerate many 
Chrysanthemums collected by him, and some may 
still remember Parks’ Small Yellow. Mr. Parks also 
secured in his travels the Yellow China Rose. I think 
this was sent home, if my memory serves me, by 
Captain Mangles, and may have been cultivated by 
those who still survive the period of which I write, 
and who, if still hale and hearty, have great cause to 
be thankful.— Man of Kent, 
CARPET BEDDING. 
Will any reader who is conversant with carpet 
bedding, kindly name about a dozen of plants specially 
suited for such purpose that are, if not hardy, at 
least fairly so, and are not of an exotic nature ? 
Thus I know that Alternantheras are always strong 
features in carpet bedding, but also that their very 
tender nature militates against their employment by 
those who have no heating appliances for their 
wintering and propagation. I may be excused for 
having a warm taste for good carpet bedding, espe¬ 
cially when done well, but it is a taste that cannot 
be indulged only with fairly cheap or hardy plants, 
by those whose means are limited or who have little 
gardening knowledge. If any reader would also kindly 
say a few words as to simple yet effective arrangements 
useful for an amateur, useful service would be done to 
Romanus. 
SALT FOR VINE BORDERS. 
I beg to thank Mr. Johnston for his ready and 
unreserved reply to my inquiry respecting the use of 
salt on vine borders. His dressing, I have no doubt, 
is a valuable aid to the vines, and I shall certainly put 
it to the test this season. I have never heard of salt 
being used by any one else, so that I presume Mr. 
Johnston may claim the credit of originality in 
connection with it.—IF. C. C. S. 
GRAFTiNG RHODODENDRONS. 
Though a gardener with some ordinary knowledge 
of my vocation, I freely confess that I don’t know 
everything, and especially am I ignorant of the 
ordinary course of procedure in the propagation of 
good kinds of Rhododendrons. Having some Ponticum 
stocks and some good hybrids also, which it is 
desired I should endeavour to increase, I shall be 
greatly obliged if anyone familiar with the ordinary 
routine of nursery wo:k and specially of grafting, 
will say a little explanatory of the method, so that 
I may proceed with some fair prospect of success. 
I should like specially to know as to the best time 
for grafting, height from ground, time of year, 
character of scion, and style of grafting, with any other 
equally useful information.— Rhodo. 
-^- 
SUMMER LETTUCES. 
Would any one or more of your readers kindly 
give their experience of the best keeping or standing 
Lettuces, both Cabbage and Cos for summer cultiva¬ 
tion ; say about three kinds of each ? I find it difficult 
to get sorts that do not “ bolt ” in the summer time 
almost as soon as they get of fan- size, and I feel that 
should not be so, as I have both seen and heard of 
kinds that do stand pretty well after they have hearted. 
I know it is more difficult to induce Lettuces to stand 
in hot or dry weather than it is early in the season, 
but then it is in hot weather that salads are most in 
need and most useful. If so many as six good 
keeping kinds cannot be mentioned, then but one or 
two will be thankfully received. —Constant Reader. 
THE SUBURBAN FRONT-GARDEN. 
Rambling around the suburbs of London during the 
last few weeks, I have been greatly impressed with the 
utter “ want of fitness I won’t use a longer word— 
of these and their occupants. The endless variety of 
taste and style is most puzzling. Here is one with a 
Jasminum nudiflorum nailed to the wall with inch 
broad shreds of red cloth ; scores of them, looking at a 
short distance like bunches of Red Currants. Another 
nearly opposite, has a plant of Ivy in the middle, tied 
to a stick. Many have paths edged with bricks or 
tiles, and grass verges succeeding them. Others 
again have no paths at all, and a miscellaneous crowd 
of shrubs and conifers elbowing and jostling each 
other like a mixed drove of horses, bullocks, and 
sheep, in a fair. Some go in for spring-bedding 
others have no winter display at all. 
The most pleasing, to my taste, at least, is one 
containing just eight plants, and yet looking its best 
all the year round. I will give as short a description 
of it as I can. First, I notice that the iron fence 
protecting it from the pavement is painted green, and 
appears to have had a fresh coat quite recently, the 
gate having a brass knob brightly polished. Next, 
the paths are of clean, hard, finely-sifted gravel, and 
this appears to be raked over once a week. There is 
not a weed, stick, or scrap of dirty paper to be seen 
anywhere. The whole of the ground not occupied by 
the paths is covered with turf, except one little round 
bed in the centre, which I can imagine is filled with 
