CHAP, LXIX. ERICA^CEJE. 1177 



part in the winter season. If there were sufficient room, the mode which 

 we should recommend as decidedly the best would be, to allot a circular 

 space of dug ground to ever} plant, according to its size, enlarging the diameter 

 of that circle as the plant increased, and grouping the circles along one or 

 both sides of a walk. The next best plan is, to have a circle devoted to each 

 genus and its species, of kinds of which there are few varieties ; and to each 

 species and its varieties, where the varieties of each species are numerous ; or 

 to have a group to consist of several plants for each variety of the more showy 

 kinds of azalea and rhododendron ; and place the less showy kinds in groups 

 containing two or three sorts each. 



The design fig. 1002. is calculated for an ericacetum of this description. 

 In it the space a a included by the wall is a perfectly level lawn ; and it is also 

 perfectly level from 6, by c, to a. Beyond these points, the ground gradually 

 rises, and is planted solely with American trees. The groups in which 

 shrubs are represented are planted with evergreens; and all the others with 

 deciduous shrubs. The groups also from c to d are devoted to American 

 shrubs not belonging to the order .Ericaceae, deciduous and evergreen ; so 

 that this scene, taken as a whole, may be considered as an American ar- 

 boretum and fruticetum. 



For displaying a choice collection of Ericaceae to the greatest advantage, 

 the most effectual mode is, to dispose of them in lineal succession; so as that 

 one species or variety may be examined quite near the eye, and one after 

 another. Fig. 1003. is a design made with a view to this mode of disposing of 

 a complete collection. The beds marked a and b are to be planted with 

 evergreens at regular distances ; as are the central groups in which shrubs are 

 indicated. The other beds and circular groups, which are shaded, are for 

 deciduous shrubs. The general surface is perfectly level, and the surrounding 

 plantation consists solely of the pine and fir tribe, including the genera 

 C'upressus, Thuja, and Juniperus. The lowest-growing species are placed 

 next the walk, and the taller ones behind in gradual succession, so that the 

 trees may rise one above another, and form a complete amphitheatre of 

 perpetual verdure. If such an ericacetum were formed in a rocky country, 

 in one of those small level spots of peat soil, which so frequently occur in 

 North Wales and in the west of Scotland, the expense would be very 

 trifling, and the effect would be interesting and splendid beyond description, 

 presenting the character of alpine scenery as a framework to the American 

 picture. In detail, this design differs from the preceding one in each par- 

 ticular system of concentric beds being hollowed out in the middle, as 

 indicated by the sectional line f f. The central beds, being so much lower 

 than the others, are intended to contain the taller-growing evergreen species ; 

 such as J'rbutus and Rhododendron, for the two larger beds ; Jndromeda for 

 the next largest ; Faccinium for the next; and .Erica for the least. From the 

 walk g, in each of the systems, it is intended that the eye should look down 

 upon the central bed, the surface of which, taking the height of a man's eye 

 from the ground at 5 ft., will be 9 ft. below it. 



As an example of a very simple, but still ornamental, mode of laying out an 

 ericacetum, we refer to Jig. 1004., which is adapted for the same piece of 

 ground, excavated to the same depth, and reduced to one level, as in the pre- 

 ceding designs. In this plate, a represents the situation of an exotic ericetum, 

 and b of a hardy ericetum ; c an azalea garden, near which, at </, there may 

 be a summer-house, or a range of plant-houses ; e e are groups planted with 

 deciduous and evergreen American .Ericaceae ; and //are beds which may be 

 planted with other peat-earth plants which are natives of Europe and Asia; 

 and the trees forming the amphitheatre to this picture may be composed of 

 evergreens from all countries. An ericacetum of this kind, as it is supposed 

 to contain only the hardiest species in the open air, would be well adapted 

 for the northern parts of the island ; since man}' of the American deciduous 

 shrubs thrive in the open air, even in Sutherlandshire. 



These three designs being adapted to a particular situation (as explained in 



