THE HEATH GARDEN 185 



bronzy foliage, which is more pronounced in winter than in summer. 

 The variety flore plena should not be omitted, as its double red 

 flowers, having a silvery sheen, are very attractive. The plant is free- 

 flowering, with a compact habit. A few other varieties of vulgaris 

 worthy of mention are decumbens alba, tomentosa alba, hypnoides, pilosa^ 

 pygmea, and rigida. These are of slow growth, and are better adapted 

 for the rock garden than the Heath garden. Having disposed of the 

 principal varieties of Erica vulgaris^ those remaining are generally a 

 little later in flowering, and, with one or two exceptions, are not 

 recommended for planting in large quantities. 



The Dorset Heath (E. dliaris), however, makes a very effective 

 mass about a foot in height, bearing pale red flowers, coming in a little 

 later than E. vulgaris. 



E. cinerea, sometimes designated the Scotch Heath, embraces a fair 

 number of dwarf-growing plants, rarely exceeding 12 inches high, and 

 mostly of red and purple shades. The type is represented by a neat 

 little plant of about 9 inches high, with purple flowers shading to 

 lilac. Alba and alba major are the only white forms we have noted, 

 the former being a facsimile of the type, except in colour, the major 

 form being slightly larger and later. Atropurpurea (9 inches), afro- 

 sanguinea (6 inches), cocdnea (6 inches), purpurea (9 inches), rosea 

 (9 inches), and rubra (6 inches), are appropriately described in the 

 names they bear. Spicata is perhaps the tallest of this section, bearing 

 long spikes of a dull red, showing somewhat dingy when placed beside 

 those already named. 



A rather curious specimen is found in E. scoparia, the flowers of 

 which are of a greenish hue ; the plant attains a height of about 2 feet, 

 and the flowers are distributed unevenly on longish spikes. 



The Corsican Heath (E. stricta) forms a large bush about 3 

 feet in height, and possesses more of an upright habit than any of the 

 genus. Its foliage is also especially attractive, particularly in the 

 earlier stages of growth ; the flowers are a pale red colour, and are 

 borne near the terminals of the shoots. 



With E. maweana, a dwarf-growing variety, rarely more than 9 inches 

 in height, and having flowers of a rich purplish red, which are usually 

 at their best in the month of October, we would close our list of hardy 

 Heaths; but another very interesting genus belonging to the same 

 Natural Order is found in Menziesia, and which is usually included 

 among the Heaths, having a similar habit and succeeding under the 

 same treatment. 



The Irish Heath (Menziesia polifolia^ syn. Dab&da polifolia^ the 

 St. Dabeoc's Heath, and perhaps better known as Irish Heath) is a 

 very pretty plant, and quite as hardy and as free-growing as any of the 

 Heaths. There is a purple and also a white variety each about a foot 

 in height and of upright growth ; the foliage is attractive, being a glossy 

 green above and white beneath. The individual flowers are larger than 

 any of the Ericas, and are drooping, the white form being very pretty. 



