THE ORDER ERICACtEA. 
21 
the water, which runs off, consequently the roots must very soon 
become dry, so that I greatly prefer having the soil rather loose 
than otherwise, allowing the water to settle the earth about the 
roots of the plant, in preference to any other means. The best 
season for repotting is the autumn ; and here I may observe that 
Ericas should never be removed till they have completely filled 
the pots with roots. Many of the dwarf kinds will stand three or 
four years in the same pot, they being mostly natives of the 
mountainous districts of the Cape, and growing in small clefts on 
rocks, &c., where there is but little earth for their support; the 
taller and free-growing kinds require shifting oftener, and may be 
allowed larger pots. 
When the plants are all shifted, replace them in the house, 
always choosing for them a cool airy situation, with plenty of 
light ; they must not be crowded, or mixed with other plants, as 
the perspiration of these frequently causes mildew. Some care is 
necessary in watering ; it should be given in small quantities, and 
at such intervals as may appear necessary to keep the soil mode¬ 
rately moist—not so much as to be saturated, and yet carefully 
avoiding the opposite extreme, for if the roots of this plant once 
become dry, it is not possible to recover them. The temperature 
of the house should be kept from 45 to 50 degrees ; fire heat is 
not necessary, in fact it is highly prejudicial, except in case of 
frost, and if that is excluded, no higher temperature is requisite. 
Ericas, will also do extremely well if kept in pits, and covered 
with mats in frosty weather ; but here they must be supplied very 
sparingly with water, or they are liable to damp off. Both here and 
in the house, every opportunity must be taken of fine weather to 
give them air, which should be admitted plentifully. With respect 
to pruning, the best season for that also is the autumn ; and I 
never fear using the knife freely, cutting out all old or unsightly 
pieces, and so keeping them always well supplied with young 
wood, and maintaining a vigorous growth in the spring ; and, as 
the plants advance in growth, they may be occasionally syringed 
over, though this should not be done very often. As the plants 
come into flower, they should be removed out of the sun, or the 
colours will not be so brilliant; but not, as is often the practice, 
taken into halls or drawing-rooms, for there they suffer from the 
heated air of the place, dust, &c., and are often suffered to get 
dry, and then all that remains is to throw them away; for, as I 
