126 
ERICA MACNABIANA. 
group from which little or no profit can be reaped, he ceases, to a proportionate 
extent, to belong to his own caste, and ranks as an amateur. 
But in the instance before us, besides the extraordinary regard which Heaths 
are receiving in almost every nursery we visit, private gardens and floricultural 
exhibitions offer a similar confirmation of our position, that a remarkable revival 
in their cultivation has recently occurred : and if one individual may be mentioned, 
whose example, and influence, and printed instructions, have contributed more than 
any other circumstances to create an attachment to this incomparable genus, and 
rendered its management comparatively facile, Mr. M'Nab, the Curator of the 
Edinburgh Botanic Garden, and author of an inestimable treatise on Heath culture, 
is undoubtedly entitled to that honour. By this gentleman, the present lovely 
variety was raised from seeds of E. arista-ta, the stigma of which was fecundated 
with pollen of E. inflata Jimbriata. The hybrid is certainly fully equal to what 
might have been anticipated from two such admirable parents, and is quite fitted 
for bearing the name of its talented originator. 
Messrs. Lucombe, Pince, and Co., nurserymen of Exeter, with whose extensive 
assortment of Heaths many of our readers are perhaps acquainted, in a letter 
obligingly sent us a few days since, say : — " Amongst all our Cape Heaths we have 
not a greater favourite than the present subject. It belongs to that description of 
Heaths which cultivators call 6 hard-wooded,' and has a solidity and excellence of 
habit much to be admired. It flowers many times in the course of the year, but 
most abundantly in August." We have to thank the above gentlemen for the 
beautiful drawing of this plant here submitted, and for others which will hereafter 
appear. 
For the treatment of Heaths, although we have repeatedly referred our 
subscribers to Mr. M'Nab's excellent pamphlet, we cannot too often recommend its 
perusal. Those curious to know the prevailing or most congenial system pursued 
in our metropolitan gardens, will find it described at p. 203 of the fifth volume of 
this work. 
