HEATH. 199 



colour. Brettius relates, that a kind of ale brewed from 

 these young tops was much used by the Picts : and it is 

 said to be still an ingredient in the beer in some of the 

 Western Isles. In many parts of Great Britain besoms are 

 made of this Heath; and it is an excellent fuel. The 

 flowers are either a kind of rose-colour slightly tinged with 

 purple, or they are quite white. Bees collect a great quan- 

 tity of honey from them. 



This kind, the Fine-leaved, the Cornish, the Ciliate- 

 leaved, the Many-flowered, the Irish, and the Cross-leaved, 

 are hardy, and will bear the open air. The latter is very 

 handsome, and blows twice in the year. 



The White Three-flowered Tree Heath, the Portugal, 

 and the Purple Mediterranean, are not very tender, but 

 must be sheltered in severe frost. 



The following kinds may stand in the open air in the 

 summer, and be housed about the end of September : 



TheBanksii. The Donnea. The Ventricosa. 



Linnaeana. *Monsoniae. Patersoni. 



Cafrra. Mammosa. Incarnata. 



Cerinthoides. Vestita. Cubica. 



Coccinea. Tiaraeflora. Nudiflora. 



Comosa. Humeana. Mucosa. 



Formosa. Colorans. Sparrmanni. 

 Grandiflora. 



These are all beautiful ; but an attempt to enumerate 

 all that are so would be vain. The earth about the roots 

 of a Heath should be as little stirred as possible ; and they 

 should be seldom and sparingly watered. 



" The Erica here, 



That o'er the Caledonian hills sublime 

 Spreads its dark mantle, (where the bees delight 

 To seek their purest honey) flourishes, 

 Sometimes with bells like amethysts, and then 

 Paler, and shaded like the maiden's cheek 

 With gradual blushes other while, as white 

 As rime that hangs upon the frozen spray. 

 Of this, old Scotia's hardy mountaineers 



