MARCH.] GREEN-HOUSE REPOTTING. 89 



flowers tubular and pendulous, bright crimson, with a 

 tinge of white, and very abundant, in flower from Janu- 

 ary to June. E.pulchella ig likewise a most beautiful plant; 

 foliage very small and closely set, flowers pure white, and 

 in long spikes, sweet-scented. E. impressa, foliage im- 

 pressed, and flowers rose-coloured. E. paludbsa, flowers 

 white, and grows very handsomely. E.purpurdscens rubra 

 is a good variety, with bright red flowers. They are most- 

 ly erect growing plants ; flower from March till June, and 

 a rough, turfy, sandy soil is found most congenial. 

 They are natives of the mountainous districts of New 

 South Wales. The 'pots must be well drained; the 

 roots will run with avidity amongst the potshreds. 



Ericas, heath. There are in cultivation in Europe 

 above five hundred and fifty species and varieties of 

 this magnificent genus. About sixty years ago it con- 

 sisted only of a few humble British plants, with the 

 heath of Spain, E. Mediterranea, which is at present 

 most common in our collections, though in a few years 

 we may expect to see it supplanted by others more 

 splendid. 



In their native countries, they are adapted to- a 

 great many useful purposes. In the north of Britain, 

 the poorer inhabitants cover their cabins or huts with 

 heath, and build the walls with alternate layers of it 

 and a kind of cement made with straw and clay. 

 They likewise brew ale, and distil a hot spirit from 

 the tender shoots ; and it has been known to be used 

 in dyeing, tanning, and many other useful domestic 

 purposes. Encomium on their beauty is not requisite; 



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