THE HEATH GARDEN 183 



ness. The later-flowering varieties, too, when only in bud provide a 

 certain amount of colour as a promise of what may be enjoyed in the 

 near future. The varieties, then, that we may expect to find in full 

 flower in the month of June are restricted to two, so far as I can gather 

 from my own observations. These are Erica australis and . Stuartii, 

 two plants with very different habits, the former being about 3 feet 

 high, with flowers of a curious shade of colour, which, for want of a 

 better description, I would call purplish red. E. Stuartii is a neat 

 little plant about 6 inches high, with pretty, rose-coloured flowers, and 

 forms a suitable subject for a comfortable pocket in the rock garden. 



The Best Autumn Varieties. From July to September a very large 

 number will be found in flower, and, as little difference can be noted as 

 to their respective times for flowering, I give them in alphabetical order. 

 E. Lawsonii) a neat-growing dwarf variety with flowers of a clear red 

 shade, forms a suitable subject for edging. E. mackayana, a very pretty 

 red variety growing about 9 inches high, also a double-flowered form 

 of the same, found in Connemara, give a pleasing variety among a class 

 of plants represented principally by single flowers. E. mediterranea 

 multiflora is the only one in the Mediterranean group that flowers in 

 autumn, all the others flowering in spring. This is a distinct and striking 

 variety, having white flowers with prominent chocolate-coloured anthers. 

 A bed of smaller dimensions might be filled with the last three sorts 

 mentioned, none of these being tall growers. E. m. multiflora should 

 occupy the centre, with E. mackayana next, either in broad bands or 

 suitable-sized patches, and E. Lawsonii near the margin. 



The Cross-leaved Heath. E. Tetralix is one of the most distinct 

 of the whole genus, known as the Cross-leaved Heath. The whole 

 plant when not in flower is of a greyish hue. Most of the varieties are 

 about 6 inches high, a few attaining the height of 9 inches to 12 inches. 

 E. Tetralix, pale red, also a white-flowered variety, alba, and another, 

 alba major, having somewhat larger flowers, are similar in habit. Another 

 white variety called molle has slightly shorter and denser flower-spikes, 

 but otherwise similar to the former. Pallida resembles the last-named 

 except in colour, which is of a very light shade of red. E. T. prcecox 

 grows somewhat taller than any of the above-named, and has white 

 flowers. All are, however, of neat habit, and suitable alike for the 

 rock or Heath garden. The characteristic peculiarities of the foliage 

 of this section are at all times striking and attractive. A new variety, 

 a hybrid between E. Tetralix and E. ciliaris, and named E. T. Watsonii, 

 is well worthy of being included in the list. The flowers are of a pretty 

 rose pink colour. The plant is a free and vigorous grower, with 

 attractive foliage. 



The Cornish Heath (E. vagans) is perhaps the most vigorous of 

 all the autumn-flowering Heaths, and although none of its varieties 

 exceed 1 8 inches in height, they soon form large masses, and are there- 

 fore invaluable for planting in quantity either in the Heath garden 

 proper or for clothing banks where the soil may be too poor for the 

 free growth of shrubs. I have also used this extensively for edgings to 



