60 
THE LETTER-BOX. ' 
A Subscriber from the Commencement, who wishes for twenty 
good heaths, cannot do better than procure any of the undermentioned : 
Erica ampullacea and vittata, E. aitoniana, E, ardens, E. aristata and 
major, E. Bowieana, E. eerinthoides major, E. Cliffordiana, E. elegans, 
E. grandinosa, E. Hartnelli, E. Irbyana, E. Linnaeoides, E. Massonia, 
E. mundula, E. princeps, E. retorta, E. tricolor superba, E. ventricosa 
superba, E. trossula alba, E. vernix, E. vestita alba and vestita coccinea. 
On the south side of London we may mention Messrs. Fairbairn, and on 
the west Mr. Henderson: the prices we cannot give. It is our intention 
to give an Illustration of this beautiful plant in our next Number. 
A Young Gardener. Seed of Primula sinensis should be sown directly, 
in pans, using very light rich earth, and barely covering the seed. Place the 
pans in a gentle hotbed frame, if at hand ; if not, a warm shelf in the green¬ 
house will do for it, and also Martynia, though the hotbed is best. Nitre 
is useful to destroy wireworms, grubs, See., but must be used cautiously, 
especially if plants are standing on the ground. When we recommended 
you to use traps (which we are glad to hear succeeded) it was more than 
probable, although not mentioned in your note, that your ground was then 
planted, and had we told you to use nitre it would have been more destruc¬ 
tive than the wireworms, for it will destroy all roots that it may come in 
immediate contact with. If your ground is now empty, and will continue 
so for a fortnight, you may sow it over with nitre; and if you will let us 
know the quantity used, and the result, we shall esteem it a favour. 
Subscriber, Louth. Your Cacti should now be repotted. The soil 
most proper is a mixture of good sound loam and leaf mould, or thoroughly 
rotten manure, in equal quantities, and well mixed with about a third of 
the whole of white sand. In potting be sure to secure good drainage, and 
as the plants commence growing, which will be very soon, allow them to 
have a good supply of water, which may be continued till their seasonal 
growth is made. The situation most proper for them, from the present 
time till October next, is one under the immediate influence of the sun, as 
they require all that can be given them. 
J. Woodville. For heating your propagating house and orchidaceous 
stove, we cannot recommend anything better than Stevenson’s boiler. Their 
last improved contains an inner as well as outer cylinder, one of which we 
are now using, and for neatness, economy, and effectiveness, is, in our 
opinion, unequalled. 
