THE PLEASURE GROUND. 273 



genus can it be said, that every species, without 

 exception, is beautiful throughout the year, and of 

 every period of its growth, in flower, or out of flower, 

 and of every size and age ? Suppose an individual 

 had the penance imposed on him, of being forbidden 

 to cultivate more than one genus of ornamental 

 plants, is there a genus he could make choice of at 

 all to be compared to Ericece, perpetually green, 

 perpetually in flower,, of all colours, of all sizes, and 

 of many shapes ?" 



Notwithstanding, however, all the beautiful and 

 attractive qualities of this genus, its cultivation is still 

 very limited, and not followed to the extent which 

 it so deservedly ought to be : this may, perhaps, be 

 occasioned by the supposition that various species 

 of Ericece are much more difficult in management 

 than other Cape plants, natives of the same climate. 

 They certainly require a little more delicacy in their 

 general treatment, than most other Botany Bay or 

 Cape plants ; but they may be grown to great per- 

 fection, with very little more care than is necessary 

 for a collection of Pdargonia, and at even less ex- 

 pense, as the same degree of artificial heat that is 

 requisite for the preservation of the GeraniacecBy in 

 the Winter season, would be injurious to the Ericece.. 

 Cape Heaths will bear a degree of frost and cold 

 with impunity, that would be quite destructive 

 to the whole collection of Pelargonice. In short, 

 most of the species and varieties of the genus Ericece 

 may be successfully preserved throughout the Win- 

 ter months, in pits, or frames, constructed similarly 

 to those erected for the growth of the melon or 

 2 N 



