92 About Hardy Heaths 



In respect of soils, however, the gardener need not 

 fall into the too common error of slavish imitation. In 

 Nature these plants almost invariably inhabit peaty 

 and sandy wastes, though they not infrequently take to 

 other soils usually deficient in lime just as kindly, or 

 even more so. A case in point occurs at Gravetye, 

 Sussex, where Mr. Robinson for many years has had 

 a heath garden upon cool, loamy soil, without a par- 

 ticle of peat added or otherwise, and not much sand; 

 and it may be said of the plants that they appear to 

 revel in it — from those of dwarfest stature to the 

 Portuguese Heath whose handsome bushes attain six 

 to eight feet. In this respect they may be compared to 

 not a few alpine plants which are quite indifferent as 

 to the soil or geological formation on which they grow 

 in Nature. 



Generally speaking, however, peat will be found 

 desirable where a heath garden is in course of forma- 

 tion. Very fine, sandy peat, as much of the one as the 

 other, will be found the best or even with a small per- 

 centage of loam added — that of a poor or stony nature 

 for preference. Within the Umits of the rock garden 

 a similar mixture will do quite well. In no circum- 

 stance should rich soil be provided. It is never wanted 

 by the plants, and in all probability would tend to an 

 excess of growth at the expense of flowers. Firmness 

 of soil about the roots of the plants is also an essential 

 to success, and rarely, indeed, are they seen to be happy 

 without it. Firm soils, too, assist in retaining the 

 character of the plants, and all the Heath tribe, whether 

 greenhouse or hardy, delight in these conditions. 



A Not Infrequent Error when growing these heaths 

 in the rock garden, or in conjunction therewith, is that 

 of piling up much rock and setting solitary examples 

 between the stones. One such, in the mind's eye, was 

 of a two-sided character and raised several feet out of 

 the ground, the heaths like specks over all. This should 

 never be. The excess of dryness by wind and exposure 

 would almost always be fatal to success, and in any case 



