1086 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



honey produced from the flowers of heath, and, indeed, from the Taccinium, 

 the Azalea, and the whole of the -Ericaceae, is of a dark brown colour, and has 

 a particular flavour, which, to some persons, is disagreeable, but to others is 

 preferable to that of the low country honey. Medicinally, the shoots of the 

 heath are considered diuretic and astringent ; and, in Pliny's time, a decoction 

 of the leaves of some species was considered a remedy for the bites of ser- 

 pents : but the Calluna, at present, is not included in any materia medica. 

 The branches of the heath afford shelter to many birds, and the seeds con- 

 stitute a principal part of the food of the grouse, and other inhabitants of the 

 moors. It is a remarkable circumstance, that the peculiar construction of 

 the seed-vessel, with which, Sir J. E. Smith informs us, Gaertner was so 

 much struck (see Gen. Char., p. 1076. and p. 1077.), is calculated to retain the 

 seed in it a whole year. The foliage of the heath, in England, affords nourish- 

 ment to the larva of the Phalae x na quercus, or the great egger moth. In 

 England, it is also very liable to be encumbered by the smaller dodder (Cuscuta 

 .Epithymum) ; but neither of these enemies to the plant is common in 

 Scotland. The principal use of the Calluna, in British gardens, is as an 

 ornamental plant; and, in sandy or mossy soils, as an edging instead of 

 box. In several gardens about Edinburgh, it is employed in this way ; and 

 is found not only to endure clipping as well, or better, than the box ; but by 

 forming a more compact edging, it is less apt to harbour snails and slugs. The 

 most effectual mode of destroying heath, where it abounds on soil not worth 

 subjecting to the plough, is to plant it with evergreen trees, such as the 

 Scotch pine ; which, when they have grown to a sufficient height to cover the 

 surface, will effectually destroy it by their shade, and thus convert the plants 

 into nourishment for the trees. When heathy ground has been subjected to 

 the plough, it should never be kept in pasture for many years together, unless 

 it is richly manured ; for, as the seeds retain their vitality for many years, 

 plants never fail, at the end of a few seasons, to make their appearance among 

 the grass. In the improvement of heath soils, lime is always a principal in- 

 gredient ; it being found necessary to neutralise the tannin and acid principles 

 which exist in the mould formed by the decay of the heath. 



Poetical Allusions^ $c. This well-known plant, which covers so many acres 

 of land, particularly in the north of England and Scotland, with its evergreen 

 leaves and beautiful flowers, has been a favourite subject with many British 

 poets, from Burns, whose 



" Moorcock springs, 

 On whirring wings, 

 Amid the blooming heather," 



to Mary Howitt, who gives a fine picture of 



" those wastes of heath, 



Stretching for miles to lure the bee ; 

 Where the wild bird, on pinions strong, 

 Wheels round and pours his piping song, 



An0 timid creatures wander free." 



The heath is considered the emblem of solitude ; but, from its frequent use as 

 beds in the Highlands, its sweet and refreshing smell rather recalls ideas of 

 social enjoyments and wild though hearty hospitality. 



App. I. List of hardy Species and Varieties of Ericaceae belonging 

 to the Group Rricetf normales, of which Plants are cultivated 

 for Sale in the Tooting Nursery; with some additional Names 

 from the " Hortus Wobumensis" marked *. 



The Trice of the greater number of sorts in this List is Is. each, but a few of them are 1*. 6d. each. 



Calluna vulgaris (Erica. L.) Eng. BoL, 1013. Height 1 ft. to 2ft., Fl. red, 

 June to August. 



