Erica — Calluna — Heath. 67 



appearance. It produces large, fragrant, white blossoms in 

 axillary clusters, in May or June. It does well in any 

 light friable soil and can safely be planted in our Southern 

 and Southwestern States. 



ERICA— CALLUNA— Heath. 



THE ericas are said to include more than four 

 hundred species, some say nine hundred, and 

 these have in turn given off almost numberless 

 varieties. Most of these are too tender for out-of-door 

 cultivation even in the Southern States, and only a very 

 few are found to thrive in more northern localities. They 

 are largely natives of the southern hemisphere, especially 

 of Africa, and but very few are adapted to temperate 

 climates on either side of the equator. Under favorable 

 climatic influences they retain their foliage during the 

 winter and so are mostly classed as evergreen, but in this 

 country they scarcely answer to that description, though 

 even here their foliage is persistent, usually holding on 

 until late autumn. The flowers are mostly nodding, 

 axillary, or terminal, produced in fascicles and in many 

 colors. The typical form of the blossom is tubular with 

 the mouth somewhat contracted, and from one to four 

 inches in length. 



As a rule, the ericas require more care and attention 

 than most other plants in ordinary garden cultivation, and 

 are more particular as to situations. In all cases a peaty 

 soil is preferred, though any good friable compost such as 

 will answer for the rhododendron or the azalea will serve a 

 good purpose. A soil of stiff clay or one impregnated 



