CHAPTER XXVIII 



THE HEATHS 



FEW groups of small flowering shrubs are so charm- 

 ing in the garden as the hardy Heaths. Their 

 usually neat growth, profusion of flowers, and length 

 of time they are in beauty sometimes three or four 

 months make them of great garden value. Not 

 more than twelve species can be grown in the open 

 air, but, with one or two exceptions, all are beautiful, 

 as the following complete list suggests : Erica arborea, 

 E. australis, E. carnea, E. ciliarts, E. cinerea, E. lusitanica 

 (or codonodes), E. Mackaii, E. mediterranean E. multiflora, 

 E. scoparia, E. stricta, E. Tetralix, and E. vagans. 



When the whole group is grown, one or more 

 species may be had in flower every month in the 

 year, except, perhaps, November. A hybrid between 

 E. mediterranea and E. carnea (sold under the name 

 of mediterranea hybridd) has been seen much of 

 late, and is a very welcome little shrub, flowers 

 appearing in some years even in November. Every 

 year some expand before Christmas, and during 

 January it is the brightest plant in the outdoor 

 garden. E. carnea and the white variety follow it ; 

 then in a cluster come E. australis, E. arborea, E. 

 lusitanica (codonodes), E. mediterranea and its several 



varieties, which fill up the months from March to 



226 



