A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

H EA 285 HE A
prepared in the following manner. Fill same manner as the young seedlings
them about two-thirds with broken pots, above described." Card. Chron.
and cover these with a thin stratum of Soil.— " The best for the growth of
turfy peat, or some other substance to heaths is that rich brown turfy peat,
prevent the sand with which the pots commonly found on the surface of land
are filled up from choking the drain- where the native heath grows. Someage.
The silver sand, common about times grass will be found growing very
London, is very well adapted for strik- strong on this soil, as at Shirley Coming
heaths ; but almost any sand will mon ; but wherever the land is barren,
answer the purpose ; it is generally pre- it is an indication of poor soil, and
ferred as free from the rusty colour of should not be selected. It is always
iron as possible. The cuttings may best to have it dug and brought home
then be inserted in the sand, not deep- to the compost yard at least a year bely,
but merely deep enough to support fore it is to be used. The fibrous matthemselves;
from a quarter to half an ter will then have time to decay, and
inch is quite sufficient. They must will make excellent manure for the
then be well watered ; bell glasses are roots of the plants. During the winter
of great service in striking them, but and spring it should be several times
certainly not indispensable to success, turned over, and by this means the
i
When they are used, they must be fre- whole will get well mixed and exposed
quently taken off and wiped dry, other- to the influence of the frost. Peat soil
wise the moisture will probably rot the is generally found naturally well mixed
cuttings. When they are dispensed with fine white sand ; but where this is
with the cuttings should be placed in
a situation which is moist and shaded,
and then they will be surrounded in a
great measure with the same circumstances
as under a bell glass.
"Very little artificial heat is necessary
in striking heaths, much is certainly
injurious. A cucumber or melon
,
—
—
not the case, a small quantity should be
added to the soil before it is used."
Gard. Chron.
After-Culture, Potting, 4c.— "As
the young plants grow and fill the pots
of a larger size, follow the different
sizes of the pots commonly made in the
potteries from ' thumbs' downwards to
frame nearly exhausted, or the shaded those of a larger size. Thus the young
part of a cool stove, will answer the cuttings or seedlings are first potted in
purpose early in spring, and later in ' thumbs,' then in sixties, then fortythe
season, when thesun-heat is greater, eights, and so on. At every shifting
a close fence slightly shaded is all that
is required. The care required afterthe
neck of the plant ought to be kept
a little higher than the soil, and when
wards is to shade during bright sun- large pots or tubs are used, Mr. M'Nab's
shine, to remove into the shade early i
plan of mixing small pieces of freestone
in the afternoon, and also to see that with the soil is a most excellent one ;
the watering is not neglected.
" More, perhaps, depends upon the
kind of water which is used, and the
of course it is necessary for the health
of the plants to have the pots properly
drained and the worms kept out of them,
Heaths will not bear their roots
" I regularity with which it is given, than
upon anything else in operation ; if we being cut or destroyed, particularly
except the selection of proper cuttings, after the plants attain a certain age.
Rain or river water is by far the best The shifting may be done at any season
kind to use. After the cuttings have except winter ; but this must be regustruck
root they should be gradually lated in a great degree by the state of
hardened by exposure to the air before the plants, as they flower and grow at
they are potted off. Small thumb-pots
are the best for the first potting, and
so many different times.
ever, is the time when
Spring, how-
the most of
the soil used, should be very sandy peat, them ought to be shifted, and if they
The greatest care should be taken to are placed out of doors during summer,
preserve the young rootless from injury, they will all require to be looked over
because if this is not attended to, the again before they are brought into theplants
will receive a sudden check at house in autumn. The kind of water
first, which is very prejudicial. After
potting, they should be removed to a
close-shaded frame, and treated in the
which is used for these plants is of the
greatest consequence in keeping them
in a high state of health. When the