THE HEATHS 227 



May, and from June onwards we have E. cinerea, E. 

 ciliaris, E. Mackaii, E. scoparia (the least worthy of 

 the Heaths), E. stricfa, and E. Tetralix. The two 

 allied species, E. vagans and E. multiflora^ carry on 

 the Heath season until October. 



The Heaths are happiest in a peaty soil. The 

 great Heath nurseries are all on soil of that nature, 

 but it is not essential. A loamy medium can, by 

 adding leaf-mould and, if necessary, sand, be made to 

 suit all the Heaths, and some, such as E. cinerea and 

 E. mediterranea, are quite at home on a calcareous soil. 

 Choose positions for them well exposed to the sun, 

 with, if possible, a cool, moist bottom. The ways of 

 planting vary, of course, according to the character 

 of the species and varieties selected. The rather 

 free-growing and taller Heaths, like lusitanica and 

 arborea, may be planted in informal groups on 

 sloping banks, or more sparsely with a dwarfer 

 species like E. carnea as the groundwork. E. lusi- 

 tanica and E. arborea, being somewhat tender, are 

 only seen at their best in the south and west, but 

 beautiful effects have been got by planting them 

 in irregular and scattered groups on grassy slopes. 

 The natural grouping of Gorse and Broom suggests 

 a way of using the many beautiful Heaths. 



E. mediterranea and its varieties, a beautiful group, 

 and much hardier than the two species just men- 

 tioned, have flowers of shades of purple and white. 

 Delightful effects are possible when they are planted 

 in bold, informal groups, especially on sloping banks 

 or ground, their flowers appearing over a period of 



