THE HEATH GARDEN] 181 



being only practised in the raising of hybrids, although self-sown plants 

 of the common Ling are to be found in great quantities on the hills 

 and moors of Britain. A favourable seed-bed for these is, however, 

 only found after a quantity of Heather has been burned off and the 

 ground rendered bare of vegetation for a time. Propagation from 

 cuttings is also slow, but is a successful enough method if carried out 

 with sufficient care. The cuttings should be selected about June or 

 July from half-ripened shoots of the current year's growth and placed 

 around the edges of pots filled with a sandy compost. After receiving 

 a good soaking of water they should be placed in a cold frame or under 

 a bell-glass and shaded from bright sunshine. 



Layering. The most satisfactory method, however, of increasing 

 the stock of hardy Heaths is by layering, as this can be done in the 

 open, unless where the soil is unsuitable, in which case a cold frame 

 may be utilised, filling it to sufficient depth with a light, sandy 

 compost. 



As all the Ericas are liable after a few years occupation of the beds 

 to become leggy or straggling, replanting with fresh dwarf plants becomes 

 necessary, and for this purpose it is a good plan to have always a few 

 plants in reserve. These should be planted or laid on their sides with 

 the shoots buried up to within a few inches of the tips ; when left thus 

 for a year or eighteen months, fresh roots will have been produced from 

 the hard stems, and young plants or tufts of a convenient size for re- 

 planting will be easily secured. In replanting the beds with young 

 plants it will not be necessary to entirely renew the soil ; the addition 

 of some well-decomposed manure will generally be found sufficient, 

 well mixing it with the compost. Top-dressing the beds annually 

 with stable manure is found of great advantage to the plants; this 

 should be secured, if possible, where the stalls or boxes have been 

 bedded down with moss-litter. A little of the material taken fresh 

 from the stable and shaken among the plants during their season of 

 growth will well repay the trouble by assisting the production of strong, 

 healthy growth and abundance of flowers. 



Selection of Varieties. In making a selection of varieties, one 

 must be guided by the extent of ground to be treated, by the climate, 

 and whether spring or autumn flowering varieties are most desired. 

 The most interesting selection, however, would be one in which all 

 varieties are represented and planted with a view to having the beds 

 flowering in succession during the greater part of the year. Where a 

 number of beds can be conveniently arranged, each should be planted 

 with varieties flowering about the same time, in preference to having 

 them filled with many sorts flowering at different periods. The group- 

 ing of colours should also be carefully studied along with their com- 

 parative heights, commencing with those that flower early in the year. 



Heaths for Winter Effect. A large bed might be devoted to Erica 

 multiflora^ E. codonodes^ E. carnea or herbacea and its varieties. Arborea, 

 under favourable circumstances, will grow to a height of from 4 feet to 

 6 feet, and, indeed, sometimes attains to the dimensions of a small tree. 



