336 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



July, 1906 





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The Irish heath (Daboecia polifolia) is worth the effort to grow it. Grows about a foot high and flowers con- 

 tinuously from July to fall. Requires slight winter protection at Rochester. There are many color varieties 



into the same group: The California azalea 

 (A. occidentalis) shading from cream yellow 

 to deep yellow, at the end of May. The 

 leaves are distinctly yellowish green, and 

 the plant grows about two feet tall. As 

 this passes out of flower, it is succeeded by 

 the creamy yellow and fragrant blossoms of 

 the Pontic azalea (A. Pontica). It is easily 

 distinguished from the California azalea by 

 its rough and hairy leaves. The plant grows 

 two to three feet high. 



The smooth azalea {A. arborescens) is 

 said to grow, in its southern home, twenty 

 feet tall, but I have never seen it over eight 

 feet, in cultivation. The white flowers 

 (sometimes slightly tinged with pink) ap- 

 pear at the end of lune and first of July. 

 With blossoms of this, the latest flowering 



species, the brighter colors give place to 

 white, which seems an appropriate adap- 

 tation to the increasing heat of the approach- 

 ing summer. 



Flowering about the same time, and also 

 having white blossoms, which are quite 

 gummy on the outside, is the clammy azalea 

 (A. viscosa). It can readily be distinguished 

 from the other white flowered azaleas by the 

 hairy leaves. 



The American azaleas have been hybrid- 

 ized amongst themselves, and with others, 

 to produce a race of beautiful hardy hybrids, 

 known as Ghent azaleas (A. Gandavensis). 

 These have long been in cultivation. 



THE HEATHS AND THE HEATHERS 



None of the true heaths (Erica) are natives 



Scotch heather (Cattuna •vulgaris) is the most easily grown of all the heaths, but field mice eat off the 

 branches in winter. Small, purplish flowers in August. There are several varieties, including a white one 



of the American Continent, but are quite 

 common on the moors of the British Islands 

 and Central and Northern Europe. 



They are well adapted for use as adjuncts 

 or edgings to the azalea beds, because they 

 are low growing, and destroy any ragged 

 appearance that might arise from the lower 

 leafless portion of the taller kinds. 



In early spring the flesh colored heath 

 (Erica carnea) brings cheer to the gardens. 

 Its numerous pinkish red blossoms, eagerly 

 sought by bees, appear with the first breath 

 of spring, and keep in good bloom for about 

 four weeks. It is one of the hardiest of the 

 heaths. The white-flowering form, which 

 blooms at the same time, is sometimes known 

 as Erica herbacea. These are the only 

 spring-flowering hardy heaths. 



Contrary to popular belief the Scotch 

 heather (Calluna vulgaris) is the most easily 

 grown of the hardy heaths, thriving on a 

 peaty soil. Field mice greatly enjoy making 

 their winter homes in the heather clumps; 

 they gnaw the branches, and a constant war 

 has to be waged against them. It has small, 

 purplish pink blossoms, carried in dense 

 masses, in August. There are a number of 

 named varieties in cultivation, including a 

 pure white form. 



Blooming at the same time, and much 

 more attractive, with its light purplish red 

 blossoms, is the Cornish heath {Erica vagans). 

 It forms dense cushions of bright green 

 foliage, which when thickly covered with the 

 bell shaped flowers, is very showy. The 

 white flowering variety is not often seen, but 

 is worthy of cultivation. 



In August and September the rosy-white 

 flowers of the cross-leaved heath (Erica 

 Tetralix) appear. The foliage is grayish 

 green and the branches are somewhat pros- 

 trate. It is a charming plant for edging, and 

 is quite hardy with us. 



The Irish heath (Dabcecia polifolia) , is one 

 of the daintiest of the true heaths. It grows 

 about one foot tall, and the slender branches 

 are terminated by long spikes of purple red 

 blossoms in the typical bell form. There 

 are varieties with variously colored blossoms 

 but the pure white form, Dabcecia polifolia 

 var. alba, is one of the best. The flowers 

 are produced continuously from July until 

 fall. It is not quite hardy here, but with a 

 light winter protection of dry oak leaves, and 

 a few evergreen branches to hold the leaves 

 in place, it can be successfully carried 

 through. The Dabcecias are not easily 

 grown, but they are such pretty things that 

 they are well worth a special effort. 



A GROUP OF WHITE-FLOWERED SHRUBS 



I do not know of anything that makes a 

 better foil to the bright colored plants than 

 the beautiful andromedas which grow about 

 eighteen inches high, and in May are covered 

 with lily-of-the-valley-like flowers. Perhaps 

 the best for general planting is the common 

 andromeda (Pieris floribunda) making a 

 compact, neat, evergreen bush. The flowers 

 expand at the end of April. It does remark- 

 ably well in light, sandy, moist soil, with a 

 little surface mulching of leaf mold. 

 (Continued on page 338) 



