HEATHS 341 



Leaves linear, blunt, woolly. Flowers trumpet-shaped, with spreading 

 mouth, yellow, in spikes ; June to October. Introduced from Cape, 1805. 

 E. Tetealix (the classical name). Cross-leaved Heath. Stems 

 branched, 18 inches hi|rh, wiry. Leaves linear, blunt, in whorls, the 

 margins rolled back greatly. Flowers drooping, egg-shaped, ^-inch, 

 rosy, darker on upper surface; in an umbel; July to September. 

 Native. 



E. VAGANS (wandering). Cornish Heath. Stem stout and woody, 

 erectly branched, 1 to 3 feet high. Leaves small, linear, the margins 

 turned back over midrib, three or four in whorl. Flowers erect, bell- 

 shaped, pink; anthers protruding; July and August. Native (West 

 Cornwall only), 



E. VESTITA (clad). Stem 3 feet high. Leaves linear, with rough edges. 

 Flowers somewhat club-shaped, |-inch long, downy, white, in terminal 

 spikes; June and July. Introduced from Cape, 1789. There are 

 numerous varieties, whose colour is indicated by their names. 



E. WILMOREANA (Wilmore's). Stems and branches hairy, 2 feet high. 

 Leaves linear, whitish with hairs, four in a whorl. Flowers long, tubular 

 with dilated top, crimson, with white lobes; January to March. 

 Hybrid. Plate 164. 



Culture. ^^^ *^^ ^^^^ Heaths require cool greenhouse treatment ; 



the native and Continental species will do well out of doors. 

 The house most suitable for their cultivation is light and airy, of equal 

 temperature, which need not be many degrees above freezing-point in 

 the winter— 38 to 40 degrees is high enough. When the outside 

 temperature is equal to this, and the air dry, it will do good to open the 

 lights. Care is required at all points in the culture of these plants, and 

 it is a relief to be able to say so, after telling the reader so frequently 

 that other genera could be grown without special care. Heaths are 

 particular as to soil, as to water, as to atmospheric conditions. 



The soil must be such as they are used to in nature — a fibrous peat, 

 broken into small lumps, and a liberal quantity of silver sand added, say 

 one-third of the whole. Anything in the nature of chalk is disliked by 

 them ; it is therefore important to use only rain or other soft water. 

 The drainage of the pots should be perfect, for nothing is more likely to 

 destroy Heaths than stagnant water about their roots. From mid- 

 summer to mid- autumn they should be turned outside into a very sunny 

 position, in order to make good growth and set flowers before winter. 

 After flowering the shoots should be cut back severely in the case of the 

 soft-wooded sorts, but only the tops pinched out in the case of the hard- 

 wooded ones. This will induce more vigorous andbushy growth. Those of 

 in.— 5 



