The Garden of British Wild Flowers. 197 



over the pot, and then it may be removed for some 

 time to the outside of a window on the shady side 

 of a house, the pot being placed in a saucer con- 

 stantly filled with water. Thus you may enjoy, 

 even without leaving the house, a plant that any 

 botanist would be grateful to you for growing, so 

 much do botanists admire it, while it is at the same 

 time pretty enough to ensure admiration from those 

 unlearned in plants. 



That the Heath family is likely to afford much 

 interest I need hardly remind any person who has 

 seen the wide spread of beauty on our heaths and 

 mountains in summer or autumn. But of the variety 

 of loveliness which exists among our native heaths 

 few people have any idea : not even the sportsman 

 or botanist, who continually wanders over their 

 native wilds, or the plant collector, with a quick 

 eye for everything attractive or noble in the way of 

 a plant. The species themselves are of course very 

 beautiful ; but from time to time sports have ap- 

 peared amongst them which nurserymen have pre- 

 served ; and thus, where you see a good collection 

 of these, the variety of gay colour is quite sur- 

 prising. Though I knew all the species and ad- 

 mired them, I had no idea of the beauty of colour 

 afforded by the varieties till I visited the Comely- 



