214 ERICACE^ 



were to occupy the surface of the earth in the same proportion, there would 

 not be room for more than five thousand species ; though now, as Humboldt 

 observes, it is probable that the actual number of species exceeds that spoken 

 of in the old myth of Zendavesta, which tells that the primeval creating 

 Power called forth from the blood of the Sacred Bull 120,000 different forms 

 of plants. 



The aspect of the Heath vegetation is remarkably striking, the Fine-leaved 

 Heath and Ling being the representatives in our land of the large family of 

 Ericacea', so numerous in southern regions, that in South Africa it quite 

 determines the chai-acter of the vegetation. Immense tracts of land also in 

 the north of Europe are quite covered with Heather, which often grows so 

 close that no other plant can find room on the soil ; though on other parts it 

 is somewhat less dense, and there bushes of juniper, andromeda, and ledum, 

 take the place of our furze and broom, while immense quantities of bog moss 

 and hair moss form a thick turfy carpet. It always grows on what is termed 

 by agriculturists a sour soil, just such a soil as will admit of no culture, and 

 this soil is abundant in Northern Europe. 



But the Heath family has in the northern hemisphere but few repre- 

 sentatives ; the Cape of Good Hope may be called the country of the Heaths, 

 though in the extreme south of Europe, and also in the Isle of Teneriffe, 

 most beautiful arborescent species grow to a great height. Meyen says, that 

 these have in their general effect a great resemblance to certain forms of a 

 fir-tree tribe, their small needle-like leaves being, however, beautifully 

 adorned by masses of elegant flowers, which are often of the most brilliant 

 colours. Mr. Bunbury, in his "Report on his Botanical Travels in South 

 Africa," says, that the Ericacece of the Cape, which in their own country are 

 not less beautiful than in our hot-houses, fall into three divisions, according 

 to their locality. Some grow in company in great masses, like the European 

 Heaths, and cover large spaces ; others, though very abundant, yet vegetate 

 in a scattered manner among other plants ; and, finally, there are species 

 which are only found singly here and there in a cleft of the rock. He tells 

 us that E. cerinthoides has the widest area, and is even found eastward of 

 Grahamstown. 



But we must return to our common Fine-leaved Purple Heath, which, 

 however, may be found on rare occasions decked with bells white as snow, 

 save where they are varied by the little black-tipped anthers. The cottagers 

 whose dwellings are about the moors use it for many domestic purposes, 

 and many a lowly home of worth and piety on Scottish moorland bids 

 defiance to the bleak winds and storms by its well-woven thatch, made 

 wholly of heather or of straw, bound down by a lattice-work of twigs. The 

 cottage walls, too, are sometimes formed of alternate layers of heath and a 

 cement made of black earth and straw — for black earth is always to be found 

 where heather blooms, and where it has from time to time given its decayed 

 remains as a manure to the soil. Many a hardy Highlander asks no softer 

 couch than a strewing of heather ; and even little children learn to turn the 

 plant to good account, by twisting it into a strong sort of rope. In many of 

 the Western Islands yarn is dyed of a yellow colour by means of its young 

 twigs and flowers ; and woollen cloth, first boiled in alum- water and then 



