NEW HYBRID HEATHS. 
3 
Hence, after a general shifting, came, as a natural consequence, a funeral, and for a few dozens, scores 
or hundreds of plants (according to the stock), to be committed “ to the tomb of all the Capulets ” was 
no unusual thing ; indeed, it was not until the discussion consequent on the promulgation of the large- 
shift system took place that the philosophy of the practice was explained, and the absurdity eradicated. 
The mistake was that of elevating the collar of the plant above the level of the rim of the pot;—to 
elevate, or round up the ball below the rim of the pot, is an allowable practice at the present time, if 
the surface roots are not too much exposed. Now, the three great requisites in the successful manage¬ 
ment of Heaths are good peat, good water, and good air. The first can only be obtained from upland 
situations, or from places where it is not covered with water for the greater part of the year. Peat 
may he described as decayed vegetable matter, the accumulation of ages, which has become thoroughly 
disintegrated, and consisting principally of natural carbon. That kind which is very turfy and closely 
compressed, rather than soft and spongy, is the best; and this, when thoroughly aerated by exposure 
to the weather for a few months, is the sort of thing to use. In collecting it, take care only to cut the 
thickness of the very turfy part, and if any of the sand adheres to it, cut it off before it is laid by to rot. 
The soft peat may be used, well mixed with sand, while the plants are small and in free growth; but, 
in large quantities, it is liable to become sodden and water-logged, and hence the plants, though they 
grow rapidly at first, soon turn sickly and die. 
In using peat, it should be carefully picked over, removing all the parts which look likely to 
become sodden. Then break it all up and pass it through a sieve with a half-inch mesh, making the 
entire quantity to pass through by breaking or chopping it until it is sufficiently reduced, as it is upon 
an intimate admixture of the larger vegetable parts of the mass that the soil must, to some extent, 
depend for its porosity. To soil so prepared, add a good quantity of sharp silver sand, potsherds, and 
charcoal broken small, in sufficient quantity to make the whole mass light and porous. It is now fit 
for use, and fit for hard-wooded Heaths; but, if you are going to pot the soft and free growing kinds, 
one-third of the soft peat and a proportionate quantity of sand may be added to it. Water and air 
such as the locality afford must be used, but hard water should always be avoided, and care should be 
taken to keep the air of the house in which the plants grow as free from smoke and all impurities as 
possible. The next point is to procure your plants, and for this purpose it is neither worth your time 
to raise plants from seed (except for originating new kinds), nor to strike them by cuttings; therefore, 
either throw yourself upon the nearest practical cultivator to select for you, or go to a respectable 
nurseryman and trust to his honour and honesty to supply you with suitable plants. As general 
rules, however, take care that the plants are dwarf and healthy, with plenty of vigorous roots, and 
quite green to the extreme points. Such plants, if they, according to the kinds and size of the plant, 
have stems as strong as the “ gray goose quill,” we are writing with, must be regarded as promising 
plants, and such as will, under proper management, make specimens equal to the finest in cultivation. 
Too much attention cannot be devoted to seeming young plants such as we have described here, for it 
is upon a thorough good start that you must depend for a good specimen in a short time. This is 
the hinging point of success with the metropolitan exhibitors; they have a chance of selecting 
plants which a country gardener, except in special localities, cannot have, and hence in a great 
measure the marvellous specimens they produce. 
We now come to the potting; and presuming that the plants have been selected, and the soil pre¬ 
pared as above directed, the next point is the pots; and these, if not new, should be thoroughly washed, 
and be made as clean as possible. Then take and drain them properly, that is, if the pots to be used are 
those called four or six inch, place a piece of flat crock over the orifice at the bottom, and over that from 
half an inch to an inch in depth of potsherds and charcoal, of the same size as that used for mixing with 
the soil. Over the drainage, to prevent the soil getting into it, some persons put a small quantity of 
moss but that we do not approve of; for if the roots get into it, and it gets dry, it is difficult to 
moisten again ; and hence the plants receive a severe check by the injury the roo i jreceive. We there¬ 
fore prefer to cover the drainage with some of the coarser parts of the peat, filling up with the finer 
material. In turning the plants out of the old pot, take care the ball is in a uniform state as to mois- 
