CHAP, LXIX. ERICA CER. 177 
part in the winter season. If there were sufficient room, the mode which 
we should recommend as decidedly the best would be, to allot a circular 
space of dug ground to every plant, according to its size, enlarging the diameter 
of that circle as the plant increased, and grouping the circles along ene or 
both sides of a walk. The next best plan is, to have a circle devoted to each 
genus and its species, of kinds of which there are few varieties; and to each 
species and its varieties, where the varieties of each species are numerous ; or 
to have a group to consist of several plants for each variety of the more showy 
kinds of azalea and rhododendron; and place the less showy kinds in groups 
containing two or three sorts each. 
The design jig. 1002. is calculated for an ericacetum of this description. 
In it the space a a included by the wall is a perfectly level lawn ; and it is also 
perfectly level from 6, by ce, toa. Beyond these points, the ground gradually 
rises, and is planted solely with American trees. The groups in which 
shrubs are represented are planted with evergreens; and all the others with 
deciduous shrubs. The groups also from c to d are devoted to American 
shrubs not belonging to the order Ericicez, deciduous and evergreen; so 
that this scene, taken as a whole, may be considered as an American ar- 
boretum and fruticetum. 
For displaying a choice collection of Ericacee to the greatest advantage, 
the most effectual mode is, to dispose of them in lineal succession; so as that 
one species or variety may be examined quite near the eye, and one after 
another. Fig. 1003. is a design made with a view to this mode of disposing of 
a complete collection. The beds marked a and 6 are to be planted with 
evergreens at regular distances ; as are the central groups in which sbrubs are 
indicated. The other beds and circular groups, which are shaded, are for 
deciduous shrubs. The general surface is perfectly level, and the surrounding 
plantation consists solely of the pine and fir tribe, including the genera 
Cupréssus, Thuja, and Juniperus. The lowest-growing species are placed 
next the walk, and the taller ones behind in gradual succession, so that the 
trees may rise One aboye another, and form a complete amphitheatre of 
perpetual verdure. If such an ericacetum were formed in a rocky country, 
in one of those small level spots of peat soil, which so frequently occur in 
North Wales and in the west of Scotland, the expense would be very 
trifling, and the effect would be interesting and splendid beyond description, 
presenting the character of alpine scenery as a framework to the American 
picture. In detail, this design differs from the preceding one in each par- 
ticular system of concentric beds being hollowed out in the middle, as 
indicated by the sectional line ff The central beds, being so much lower 
than the others, are intended to contain the taller-growing evergreen species ; 
such as A’rbutus and Rhododéndron, for the two larger beds ; Andrémeda for 
the next largest ; Vaccinium for the next; and rica for the least. From the 
walk g, in each of the systems, it is intended that the eye should look down 
upon the central bed, the surface of which, taking the height of a man’s eye 
from the ground at 54 ft., will be 9 ft. below it. 
As an example of a very simple, but still ornamental, mode of laying out an 
ericacetum, we refer to jig. 1004., which is adapted for the same piece of 
ground, excavated to the same depth, and reduced to one level, as in the pre- 
ceding designs. In this plate, a represents the situation of an exotic ericetum, 
and 6 of a hardy ericetum ; c an azalea garden, near which, at d, there may 
be a summer-house, or a range of plant-houses ; e e are groups planted with 
deciduous and evergreen American Ericacez ; and ff are beds which may be 
planted with other peat-earth plants which are natives of Europe and Asia; 
and the trees forming the amphitheatre to this picture may be composed of 
evergreens from all countries. An ericacetum of this kind, as it is supposed 
to contain only the hardiest species in the open air, would be well adapted 
for the northern parts of the island; since many of the American deciduous 
shrubs thrive in the open air, even in Sutherlandshire. 
These three designs being adapted to a particular situation (as explained in 
