934 



Gardening for Amateurs 



whilst its varieties, of which the following are 

 examples, are equally desirable : alba and 

 alba minor, white ; atropurpurea, purple ; 



Tree Heath (Erica lusitanica). 



atrosanguinea and coccinea, bright red ; and 

 rosea, rose. 



E. lusitanica is another tall-growing sort 

 from the Mediterranean region. Of excel- 

 lent habit, it is noticeable by reason of its 

 plumose habit, bright green leaves and 

 pinkish flowers which appear during winter 

 and early spring. 



E. mediterranea. This, a native of 

 Spain, France, etc., forms shapely bushes 

 4 to 6 feet high, and flowers freely from 

 March to May, the flowers being reddish- 

 purple in colour. Of several varieties, alba, 

 with white flowers, hybrida, with reddish- 

 purple blooms, and liana, of dwarf habit, 

 are the best. E. Darleyensis, frequently 

 known as E. mediterranea var. hybrida, 

 has a very long flowering season, for it 

 begins to bloom in November and con- 

 tinues until May. Its flowers are rosy- 

 purple or reddish in colour, and it is con- 

 sidered to be a hybrid between E. medi- 

 terranea and E. carnea. 



E. stricta is an upright-growing sort from 

 Southern Europe. Growing from 2 to 3 

 feet high, it bears red flowers in July and 

 August. 



E. vagans, the Cornish Heather, is one of 

 the best of the autumn- flowering varieties. 

 It attains a height of 1| or 2 feet and 

 spreads rapidly. There are red and white 

 forms. 



E. Veitchii is a white-flowered hybrid 

 between E. arborea and E. lusitanica. It 

 bears its white flowers with the greatest 

 freedom. 



Galluna vulgaris (Ling) differs widely in 

 habit in different places, for it is sometimes 

 met with 3 feet high, and again scarcely 

 3 inches high. Numerous varieties have been 

 named, some with white, others with red 

 flowers, and others again with bright- 

 coloured leaves. Rubra and Alportii have 

 red flowers ; alba, alba Serlei and Ham- 

 mondi, white flowers ; Foxii, hypnoides 

 and pygmaea are of dwarf, moss-like habit ; 

 and cuprea and aurea have copper and 

 golden foliage respectively. 



Antennaria. This group of plants con- 

 sists of dwarf, spreading, herbaceous plants, 

 which have often grey or white leaves, and 

 white Daisy-like flowers. They are useful 

 for planting in the rockery or for carpeting 

 ground beneath other plants, whilst some 

 may be iised for spring and summer bedding, 

 the best results being obtained by keeping 

 the flowers clipped off. They require rather 

 light soil, and are increased by division in 



spring or by sowing seeds as soon as ripe. 

 A. alpina, from the European Alps, is a dwarf 

 kind, 2 or 3 inches high ; A. carpathica, 

 native of the Carpathians, is also very dwarf 

 and pretty on account of its silvery leaves 

 and white flowers ; A. dioica, 3 to 4 inches 

 high, bears white or pink flowers in June ; 

 and A. tomentosa is much used for bedding 

 on account of its silvery leaves. A. alpina 

 is also a favourite for bedding. 



