CHAP. LXIX. i'RlCA^CE^. 1095 



App. VI. Culture of the hardy and half-hardy Species and Varieties 

 of Ytricece belonging to the Group Ericece normales. 



The hardy Species of Rricece normales are most commonly propagated by 

 layering the branches in very sandy peat. The shoots require no cutting or 

 twisting; but, if* they are buried in the soil, about 1 in. deep, and to within 

 1 in. of their points, and the soil be kept firm and moist over them, they 

 will root freely in two or three months, in the spring or autumn. Layers 

 made in October or November will be fit to take off in the following May or 

 June ; as will layers made in February or March. Some of the commoner 

 heaths are also propagated by division, or detaching stems or branches which 

 may have produced roots ; and all the species may be raised from seeds when 

 these ripen. The soil in which all the species and varieties thrive best 

 is sandy peat, though some of the species will thrive with a greater pro- 

 portion of loam intermixed with the peat than others. Whatever soil is used, 

 it ought to be mixed with pieces of freestone or brickbats, as reservoirs of 

 moisture, and placed on a stratum of gravel, as drainage, for reasons which 

 will be hereafter mentioned. 



A Heathery, or Ericetum, in the open Ground is justly considered as one of 

 the most interesting ornaments of the flower-garden or pleasure-ground, from 

 its being at all times green, and exhibiting plants in full flower during every 

 month in the year. Perhaps the most complete hardy heath garden in Eng- 

 land is that at Woburn Abbey. There, Mr. Forbes informs us, "Each species or 

 variety is confined to a separate bed, the beds being edged with the Calluna 

 vulgaris and .Erica Tetralix ; and so disposed, that the tallest-growing kinds 

 are arranged towards the centre of the parterre : whilst the whole are so in- 

 termixed, in point of colour, as to produce the most lively contrast possible." 

 (Hort. Wob., p. 282.) A plan of the parterre for hardy heaths is given in 

 the Hortus Woburnensis, exhibiting upwards of 70 groups ; but, as the dis- 

 tribution of the species and varieties, among these groups, so as that the 

 tallest-growing kinds may be " arranged towards the centre," and the whole 

 " so intermixed in point of colour as to produce the most lively effect 

 possible," is not given in the Hortus Woburnensis, we have written to His 

 Grace the Duke of Bedford, to request that he would authorise Mr. Forbes to 

 supply us with so interesting a desideratum. In every case, the shapes and 

 sizes of the beds of a parterre, especially one to be planted with ligneous plants, 

 which may be considered fixtures, are of trifling consequence in comparison 

 with the arrangement of the plants in them. We have been the more anxious 

 to indicate this arrangement, in the case of the Woburn ericetum, because the 

 late Mr. George Sinclair, F.L.S., who designed the beds, and, we presume, 

 planted them, had a scientific knowledge of, and an excellent taste in, colours. 

 His arrangement of the heaths in these beds, therefore, so as to produce a 

 harmonious effect, we consider to be of great interest to gardeners intending 

 to plant a heathery ; and we are happy in being able, through the kindness 

 of the Duke of Bedford, to lay it before our readers. 



The hardy ericetum at Woburn Abbey is situated in front of the Cape 

 ericetum, and the form of the beds is exhibited in^g. 886. In this figure, 



a is the passage under the Cape heathery, which forms a portion of a 

 covered way, leading from the mansion to the different objects of interest 

 adjoining it ; such as the green-house, sculpture gallery, tennis-court, Chinese 

 dairy, plant-stoves and palm-house now erecting, and finally to the pleasure- 

 ground, including the aviary, arboretum, salictum, grass-garden, American 

 garden, &c. 



b is a broad gravel walk ; being a portion of the main walk of the pleasure- 

 ground. 



c, Descent from the porch of the Cape heathery. 



d, Shrubbery, chiefly consisting of rhododendrons and azaleas. 



1 to 73, Heaths, and other J^ricaceae, arranged as in the following list. 



