I 
SHRUBS FITTED FOR PLANTING IN BEDS. 229 
or four feet apart, so that tliey can spread themselves on all sides without over- 
running their neighbours. A bed of this description will be always attractive ; for 
while there is a dearth of bloom, the contrast of the fine green foliage with the 
black heath-soil will be perpetually agreeable. 
One advantage of growing these hardy Heaths is that they never require any 
attention after being planted, and that very few weeds will grow in the soil 
that suits them best. If the plants be healthy at the time of transplantation, they 
will extend their branches naturally and regularly in all directions, and form the 
most symmetrical and pleasing objects, without pruning, support, or any kind of 
tendance. They demand, originally, a good depth of heath-mould ; and if this be 
supplied, tlieir wants are at an end. 
Dwarf Heaths may, at pleasure, be collected into a small garden by themselves ; 
and as some of the different species or varieties will be nearly always in flower, 
such a feature is a very delightful one in a garden. The Heathry, however, ought 
rather to front a grotto, summer-house, or other rustic erection, than to be near 
any highly- adorned or architectural structure. And its arrangement should never 
be in the formal parterre fashion, but more in the irregular and diversified manner 
of the modern English style. There is something in the nature and habits of 
Heaths which adapts them better to scenes and objects in which there is some 
degree of wildness and rudeness, than to more artificial and polished places. 
A Heathry may be arranged upon grass, and intersected with grass paths, or 
have gravel or paved walks among the beds. Paved paths are particularly objec- 
tionable, because they give too much of the appearance of art, and gravel ones are 
but a slight improvement on them. They may be tolerated, however, for the sake 
of introducing the common Ling (^Erica vulgaris) and its varieties as an edging. 
If kept neatly trimmed, this constitutes a very excellent substitute for Box. Still, 
the turf walks are in all respects preferable. 
Instead of having only one or two plants of a sort in a Heathry, there should 
be at least one entire bed of every kind. No plants are more liable to die off 
suddenly than Heaths, and it is, therefore, important to provide against the loss of 
a few specimens. They should, nevertheless, be planted far enough apart to admit 
of each specimen extending itself without obstruction, so as to form an individual 
object ; departing from this rule in the case of some of the common species, for the 
purpose of producing variety. Nothing at all like arrangement according to 
afiinity should be attempted, but each sort should be placed where its height, or 
tlie colour or figure of its flowers, will give it the best effect. A glance at the 
period of flowering, too, with the view of having those which bloom at the same 
time distributed as equally as possible, will not be unserviceable. 
While noticing Heaths, we cannot refrain from suggesting that the common 
Ling might be more frequently employed in the pleasure-grounds. In those 
wild and sequestered spots where the ground is rugged, or presents here and there 
an uneven slope, near a walk, a few masses of Heath, with pieces of weather- 
