22 THE BOOK OF THE WINTER GARDEN 



when open are an attractive pale red. Some plants 

 produce deeper coloured flowers than others. 



The white-flowered form, E, carnea alha, opens its 

 first flowers in December in Edinburgh — considerably- 

 earlier than the above — but is not so attractive. These 

 heaths appear to advantage when in isolated beds in the 

 turf, and are neat at all seasons. They are said to grow 

 even in limestone soils. They certainly thrive best in a 

 light soil largely composed of leaf soil and peat. Grown 

 in such material, they make fine subjects if grouped with 

 large rocks, and with age the branches will extend over 

 and drape them. For planting, stuff measuring 12 or so 

 inches across is suitable. 



Erica hybrida is probably a hybrid between mediter- 

 ranea and E, carnea. In Edinburgh it flowers later than 

 the preceding. The flowers usually appear in March, 

 but in other gardens it is sometimes the earlier. E, 

 lusitanica (codonodes) is apt to be cut badly in Edinburgh, 

 but grows freely in a loamy soil. It becomes a small 

 bush, producing very numerous small round white flowers. 

 E. arborea is similar, but with whiter and more globular 

 flowers. Neither of these two heaths have the same 

 hardihood or the same attraction (their flowers being 

 white) as the warmly-coloured E. carnea. E. Veitchii is 

 a hybrid between the foregoing bush heaths. All are 

 easily increased by cuttings two inches long, dibbled in 

 thickly into pans of sandy soil during August. Cover them 

 with a bell-glass. Or insert cuttings in closed frames. 



