34 



THE GARDENERS' MONTHLY 



[January, 



Returning again to (he subject, and following 

 the ascending path, which to his intense delight, 

 will be found closely margined on each side with 

 handsome heaths ; which absolutely cover every 

 inch of soil possible to root in, with masses of 

 highly prized species, the sight cannot fail to 

 remind him of those he may have often ad- 

 mired at home. True, there are no legends of 

 the past wound around them, as there are about 

 the heath, or heather of other lands ; of which, 

 the poet has often sung. Savage Hottentots and 

 Caffres, who for ages have ignorantly wandered 

 among them, keep no historical records ; and al- 

 though no charm of romance invests them with 

 anything prosy or poetical, they are, nevertheless, 

 most intensely interesting to those who admire 

 frutescent beauty. And whoever has enjoyed a 

 ramble among them will not be likely to ever for- 

 get the peculiar, refreshing odor, arising from the 

 myriads of pretty blossoms. 



And while still ascending, at every onward step 

 brilliant colors and fresh forms of heath beauty will 

 delight the eye with pleasant changes, until, when 

 near the summit, the novel sensation of passing 

 above the fleecy clouds, which eternally drape the 

 top of Table Mountain, will be experienced. Even 

 when in cloudland, the somewhat stunted, though 

 symmetrical, heaths will still be there. And with 

 every possible tinge, or shade of green tiny leafage, 

 these compact little plants seem to vie with each 

 other, for the palm of grace and beauty. All of 

 this large and interesting family are exquisitely be- 

 decked with a profusion of delicate, lovely, wax- 

 like flowers, from pure white, to flesh and cream 

 color ; yellow, dark green, light green, orange, 

 and purple ; red, pale red, red and green, red and 

 yellow, red and orange, orange and purple, white 

 and scarlet, to brilliant scarlet, crimson, flame 

 color, etc. 



Preferring to give form and color of flower, to 

 mere technical terms, which I trust will give the 

 reader a better idea of what they are like, I will as 

 concisely as possible say, the styles or shapes of 

 flowers, are tubular, or cylindrical, with some 

 kinds long, while others again are short. Some 

 species have inflated flowers, of fair size, while 

 another division has small globcd-shaped ones. 

 Narrow necked, with wide spreading borders, form 

 another type. Small oval shaped kinds, consti- 

 tute another group ; which is followed by one 

 which has lovely flowers enclosed in inflated 

 calixes; while another section has curious, though 

 extremely pretty double flowers. 



While "up above the world so high," the ad- 



mirer of nature will get extensive views of land and 

 sea. The magnificent panorama spread before 

 him, will be scanned with intense interest, com- 

 bining as it does, a matchless landscape, emerging 

 into a marine picture, which fades in the dim dis- 

 tance of the deep blue sea. 



•' In prospects thus, some objeets please our eyes, 



Tlio shapeless rock or liaiisinK preeipioc. 

 Which out of nature's common order rise." 



As this imperfect notice is getting longer than I 

 intended, I will meet the lover of floriculture nearer 

 home. With every opportunity of seeing heaths, 

 or ericas, both in a wild or cultivated state, 1 unhes- 

 itatingly pronounce them to be as interesting and 

 beautiful plants as ever graced a greenhouse. 

 And my long cherished hope of seeing them culti- 

 vated in this country, I trust will yet be realized. 



Although the climate may be fickle and uncer- 

 tain, yet, there is among the profession of horti- 

 culture, if properly qualified men are employed, 

 and the opportunity given to exercise it, sufficient 

 skill to grow and flower these matchless strangers, 

 on this side the sea. In other words, no mere pre- 

 tender must meddle with them, or disappointment 

 will as cert.iinly follow, as light comes with day. 

 Of all plants with which I am acquainted, I know 

 of none which require more practical skill in their 

 management, than Cape Heaths. Presuming the 

 above remarks may create a desire to possess a 

 collection of these elegant plants, it is possible the 

 reader may feel disappointed with the silence of 

 the writer, for not fully stating how success may 

 be achieved by those who are wiUing to try. But 

 it would be a futile task, to attempt to convey the 

 requisite knowledge, which can only be acquired 

 by actual experience. Instead, I advise employing 

 a competent man. 



Of Ericas, a noted grower says : " No ligneous 

 shrubs are better deserving of cultivation than the 

 heaths. For of what other genus can it be said 

 that every species, without exception, is beautiful 

 throughout the year, and at every period of its 

 growth ; in flower or out of flower, and of every 

 size and age ; perpetually green, and perpetually 

 in flower, and these flowers of various colors and 

 sizes, and of many shapes ? " Another, equally 

 wise on the subject, savs : " The two splendid na- 

 tural orders, Ericaca;, and Epacridace:e, (of which 

 I made mention in a recent number of the Month- 

 ly,) perhaps contain a greater number of really 

 beautiful plants, than are to be found in all the 

 other orders put together." All of which your cor- 

 respondent fully endorses. Supposing some of the 

 readers desire to grow heaths, — are of such a nature 

 that they must have some, — I will give a list of a 



