222 THE GARDENER. [May 



one of tlie most common of our Scotcli heaths, is at the same time, in 

 some of its varieties, one of the most handsome. They flower throughout 

 the summer and autumn. E. vagans and its varieties, also summer- 

 flowering, are pretty dwarf dressy things. E. ciliaris is one of the 

 handsomest of hardy heaths, with large purple or pink flowers in leafy 

 racemes. It flowers in summer and autumn. Some of the varieties of 

 the common *'Z/«f/," Erica or Calluna vulgaris, are pretty, and well 

 worth a little attention. They are now rather numerous, and vary 

 much in habit, some forming neat tufts or cushions, while others are 

 rather loose and straggling, 



Menziesia furnishes several brilliant and elegant species and varieties. 

 M. polifolia and its varieties, of which there are now eight or nine, 

 are a beautiful and showy group of summer-flowering dwarf shrubs. 

 The dark purple, the white, named globosa, and the nana varieties, are 

 the best. The latter flowers from June far into the autumn, and is 

 quite a gem. The charming and rare little M. cserulea is more diffi- 

 cult to grow and keep than the foregoing sorts, but it is well worth a 

 little trouble. It succeeds best in sandy peat on rockwork, in a rather 

 moist situation. M. empetrifolia is a most beautiful dwarf species 

 from North America, with rosy purple or pale-red flowers, which must 

 be cultivated in the same way as the last-named species. 



Azalea procumbens, syn. Loiseleurla procumhens, is rather rare, but 

 a beautiful and attractive little evergreen shrub, with terminal clusters 

 of pink or rose-coloured flowers. It should have a moderately shady 

 place on rockwork in sandy gritty peat. 



Bryanthus erectus^ syn. Menziesia ereda, with something mongrel- 

 like in its aspect, is a most beautiful thing, with heads or clusters of 

 pink flowers in the way of Kalmia glauca, from which, as one parent, 

 it is supposed to be derived, being regarded as a natural hybrid. It 

 delights in a shady moist position on rockwork. 



Epigcea repens is a dwarf, trailing, evergreen shrub, rarely rising 

 above 9 inches high, with white— in some individuals, pink — flowers in 

 small clusters, very fragrant, delighting in shady places, and excellent 

 for introducing into woods where the native vegetation is not of a rank 

 character, and where the soil is peaty, or composed of decayed leaves 

 and sand. W. S. 



CAPE HEATHS. 



A HEALTHY well-grown Heath — no matter of what species or variety, 

 whether in flower or out of flower — is always a pleasing object, and 

 never fails to elicit admiration, even from those who are least susceptible 



