1-86 ERICACE^. 



where it would escape the scorching effects of the mid-day sun; 

 and in such circumstances it will be found neither troublesome 

 nor fugitive. Propagate by division in spring. 



ERICACEy^. 



In the natural order EricacecE there are very few hardy herba- 

 ceous plants. Among the Chimaphilas, Pyrolas, and Mo7io- 

 t7'opas, there are some curious and pretty things ; but in a 

 horticultural sense they are almost destitute of beauty, and at 

 the most can only be recommended here for cultivation among 

 alpines in partially-shaded rockwork, in sandy peat and a little 

 loam. They should never be disturbed while doing well. But 

 there are certain of the shrubby genera of this order of plants 

 which contain species and varieties of great excellence for the 

 herbaceous border, the margins of shrubberies, for grouping in 

 the spring garden, and for decorating rockwork, as taste and 

 circumstances may prescribe. Erica yields the largest number 

 of valuable things for these purposes. E. carnea and its varie- 

 ties form, perhaps, the most interesting and beautiful group of 

 these hardy heaths. They begin to bloom often so early as 

 Januar}', and continue flowering on all May and June. They 

 are most easily cultivated, and, being of dwarf compact habit, 

 they are available for the spring garden ; and if kept in pots in 

 the reserve ground, their value as temporary tenants of the 

 beds of the summer flower-garden, in circumstances requiring 

 these to be filled in winter, is very high indeed. E. tetj-alix, 

 and the few varieties sprung from it, are handsome, and flower 

 from June till August and September. E. aiistralis is another 

 early-blooming species. It comes on in March, and lasts^till 

 the end of May, and often into June. E. 7nediter7-anea begins 

 to flower about the same time as the last-named species, but 

 continues for a shorter period. This is by some considered 

 merely a more erect and taller form of E. ca7'7iea, but as it is a 

 remarkably distinct form, it is quite entitled to a specific appella- 

 tion in gardens at least. The var. 7ia7ia alba of this species is 

 a fine compact sort for rockwork or for the spring garden. E. 

 chie7'ea, one of the most common of our Scotch Heaths, is at the 

 same time, in some of its varieties, one of the most handsome. 

 They flower throughout the summer and autumn. E. vaga7is 

 and its varieties, also summer-flowering, are pretty, dwarf, dressy 

 things. E. ciliaris is one of the handsomest of hardy Heaths, 



