142 OCTANDRIA. 



pendulous like those of the Whortleberry genus, which they 

 often nearly resemble in appearance. They are persistent, 

 that is, they remain some time without falling off, or wither- 

 ing. All the species are evergreen shrubs. Only three or 

 four species are natives of Great Britain, but these are quite 

 common in all the northern parts of that country, and are em- 

 ployed by the poorer classes, for various useful purposes. 

 The walls of their cabins are constructed of alternate layers 

 of Heath and earth, and their roofs are covered with a thatch 

 of this plant instead of straw. 



The hardy Highlanders frequently make their beds of it, 

 and in the Western Isles they make a yellow dye for their yarn 

 of the same. It is said, also, that in some of the Isles, the 

 people tan their leather with a decoction of this plant, and in 

 many parts of Great Britain besoms are made of it. With 

 the exception of these three or four native species, all the 

 Heaths now cultivated in Great Britain, and America, amount- 

 ing to nearly 400 kinds, were originally imported from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and are green-house plants. They 

 were sent from the Cape to England, from time to time, but all 

 during the reign of George III. The only soil in which this 

 plant grows well, is peat. If any substitute has been found, 

 it is leaf mould, or the decayed leaves of trees from the 

 woods, dried and sifted, and then mixed with fine sand. The 

 Heath is becoming a fashionable hot house ornament in this 

 country, but is often spoiled for want of attention to the soil in 

 which it grows. 



GENUS Jeffersonia. Twin-leaf. The generic name is in 

 honor of the late president Jefferson. It is a small plant, 

 growing about six inches high, with five colored sepals, and 

 eight petals. The leaves are in pairs. It is remarkable, 

 chiefly for the peculiar manner in which its capsules open, 

 being similar to that of a snuff box. 



GENUS Daphne. This is the Greek name for the Laurel. 

 This genus, of which there are a considerable number of 

 species, consists chiefly of diminutive evergreen shrubs, sev- 

 eral of them of great beauty, and bearing highly fragrant 

 flowers. Linnaeus remarks that the terminating buds of 

 this genus produce leaves, and the lateral ones flowers, 

 hence the shoots ought not to be pruned. The Mezereon 

 is a species of this genus. It is remarkably hot and acrid, 



What is said of the uses of the Heath in the Highlands of Scotland ? 

 From what country have the Heaths been chiefly derived ? Whence does 

 the genus Jeffersonia derive its name ? What is-saiti of the genus Daphne ? 



