92 
REMARKS ON SOME GENERA OF THE ORDER ERICEA. 
great quantities is said to be narcotic^, and there is no doubt but a similar quality 
exists in several other plants of this order. Rhododendron ponticum and maximumj 
Kahma taiifolia, and some others are well known to be venomous. 
The shoots of Andromeda ovalifoUa poison goats in Nepal. Dr. Barton states 
in the American Philosophical Transactions, that in the autumn of 1790, the honey- 
collected near Philadelphia proved fatal to many. The honey collected from our 
common heath does not appear to possess any pernicious qualities, of which we have 
daily experience. 
The Order contains upwards of 30 genera and nearly a thousand species, the 
greater part of which are greenhouse plants, only about three hundred being hardy 
in this country. They are nearly all deserving of cultivation, many of them 
delicate, some really beautiful. 
Arctostaphylos. This genus contains but two species, both of which are 
natives of Britain. The Bears- Grape or Uva-ursi grows in abundance on our moors. 
The other species (^alpind) is chiefly confined to the mountains of Scotland, and 
can only be made to thrive in our gardens by being planted in moist shady situa- 
tions. They both require sandy peat earth, and are propagated by cuttings and 
layers with very little trouble. 
Bross^a. This genus contains but one species, native of South America, and 
consequently an inhabitant of our stoves. It thrives in a mixture of sandy loan 
and peat. Young cuttings will root planted in sand under a glass, and plunged in 
heat. 
LvoNiA, All the species are perfectly hardy, they require to be grown in 
sandy peat, are propagated by layers, and in all respects may be treated like the 
hardy Andromedas Vol. 1, page 
Mylocarpum or Buck Wheat Tree. This genus contains only one species, 
the ligustrinum, which has much of the habit of cletkra. It grows about eight feet 
high, and requires the shelter of a conservatory or pit. It is propagated by layers 
or cuttings planted in sand under a glass. The best soil for it is peat and loam. 
Cyrilla. The two species of this genus are very pretty greenhouse shrubs, 
growing about six feet high : they will thrive in equal parts of loam and peat^ and 
may be propagated by cuttings planted in sand, under a hand or bell-glass, but do 
not root very freely. 
Elliottia. There is but one species belonging to this genus, which is well 
worthy of cultivation. It is a native of Georgia ; it grows in sandy peat, and is 
increased by layers. 
Bljeria. This genus differs little in habit from the Erica. All the species 
are natives of the Cape of Good Hope, and, therefore, require the shelter of the 
greenhouse. They may be propagated by young cuttings, planted in sand under a 
bell-glass, and placed in a shaded situation, without moist heat. 
Sympieza requires the same treatment as Blceria, 
Menziesia. These have all much of the habit of the Erica, and require 
similar treatment. The usual method of propagating is by layers and seeds. All 
the species are perfectly hardy. 
