THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 323 



plant, being bushy, with large scarlet flowers, native of New Hol- 

 land, introduced in 1830 ; G. Henchmanii, one of the most beautiful 

 of the whole genus, when in bloom it is a mass of scarlet flowers if 

 well grown, but it is one of the most difficult plants in cultivation, 

 a native of New Holland, introduced in 1S25 ; C. spartioides, this is 

 a splendid climbing species, the flowers are large and yellow, it is a 

 scarce plant, and very difficult to cultivate, but it is well worth a 

 trial, a native of New Holland, introduced in 1836 ; C.Jlava, this is 

 a lovely species, but difficult to cultivate as a handsome specimen, 

 but is well worth the greatest care, the flowers are yellow, as a free 

 bloomer ; C. angustifolia, a slender grower, but very distinct, and 

 deserves a place in every collection. These are the species I am 

 best acquainted with, and I can recommend them to the attention 

 of the cultivator. 



ERICA ELEG-AN1TS8IMA. 



DWARF shrub of close habit; the stems well covered 

 with squarrosely spreading, rather pale green, linear, 

 obtuse leaves. It produces its flowers in clusters of 

 four up the lateral shoots, and the flowers are large and 

 showy. The inflated base of the tube is contracted 

 gradually upwards, and is of a deep purplish crimson ; the white, 

 triangular teeth spread horizontally from the throat. The leaves 

 and sepals are ciliated with rather distant glandular hairs. It is said 

 to be a hybrid between Erica hiemalis and E. Hartnelli (crinita, 

 lioddige's Bot. Cab. 4432), the latter of which is supposed to be a 

 hybrid belonging to the Ampullaceous group of the section Euryloma 

 (Don). As a winter bloomer, it is a valuable variety, and it blooms 

 freely. The generic name Erica, altered by Pliny from the ereike 

 of Theophrastus, is derived from the Greek ereiko, to break in pieces, 

 on account (as some say) of the brittlenesu of their branches, or 

 (according to others) from the supposed virtues of some of the 

 species in breaking the stone in the bladder. 



This very pretty addition to our stock of winter-blooming heaths 

 must be placed among the hard-wooded section, and is, like some of 

 its companions, of rather slow growth. Having originated in part 

 from E. hiemalis, a remarkably free-growiug plant, in some measure 

 it takes after that species, and grows freely; but it is a very dis- 

 tinct and desirable variety. 



Heaths delight in turfy peat soil, liberally intermixed with white 

 sand potsherds, or pieces of charcoal, broken small. If the plants are 

 healthy and well rooted, give them a liberal shift, that is, from a 

 three-inch to a six-inch pot, taking especial care to drain the pot 

 properly ; but if the plants are badly rooted, a smaller shift will 

 suffice, until y3u get them into free growth. Water carefully, with 

 ■oft water, especially after the plants are fresh potted ; but, at the 

 same time, recollect that more heaths are destroyed by the want of 

 water than by receiving too much. Heaths are propagated by cut- 

 tings, formed of the tender tips of the young shoots, about an inch 



November. 



