THE HEATHS 233 



of the tribe. The flowers are crowded in the leaf 

 axils in great profusion, but are small and greenish 

 white ; the growth of the plant is somewhat straggling 

 and uneven, but it has one merit viz., it is quite 

 hardy. I have seen its stems split by hard frost on 

 more than one occasion during the last twelve years, 

 but no permanent injury has resulted. It flowers in 

 June, and is a native of the mountainous country 

 to the north of the Mediterranean, especially about 

 Mentone. 



THE DWARFER HEATHS 



The dwarf Heaths can be used quite differently 

 from the more tree-like species that have just been 

 described : as a carpeting beneath sparsely-planted 

 shrubs, for furnishing sloping banks, or for growing 

 on the small terraces of the Rock Garden they are 

 equally useful. And of all these dwarf Heaths more 

 can be said in favour of E. carnea than of any other 

 species. It is not only absolutely hardy, but it 

 flowers with astonishing freedom at a time of year 

 when flowers are particularly cherished. Its flower- 

 ing, of course, somewhat depends upon the weather, 

 but frequently one may see its bright rosy bells 

 almost as soon as January comes in. By the end 

 of February the entire plant is a mass of beautiful 

 colour, and for two or three months longer they 

 retain their freshness no matter what weather may 

 occur. So free-flowering is this Heath that its flowers 

 literally cover it. E. carnea is one of those plants (and 

 there are many of them) which, although perfectly 



