149 
ERiCA JACKSONII. 
(mb. jackson’s heath.) 
CLASS. 
OCTANDRIA. 
ORDER. 
MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
ERICACEAE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx four-sepalled, inferior. Corolla with four divisions. Stamens inserted in 
the receptacle. Anthers bifid. Capsules four-celled. 
Specific Character. — Plant an hybrid. Leaves in whorls, or in opposite pairs, each composed of one 
larger and one smaller one, the latter above the former, short, rigid, channelled, reflexed, and mu- 
cronulate. Flowers generally four in a cluster, much inflated at the base, of a deep pink colour 
with a very dark ring round the apex ; petals reflexed. 
The practice of hybridising Heaths, though generally productive of advantage 
when judiciously applied, should never be attempted except for the purpose of com- 
bining the elegant, bushy, or otherwise ornamental habit of one species, with the 
beautiful or splendid flowers of another. Its legitimate object is to improve the 
character of certain admired kinds, by associating the features in which they are 
superior with those in which they are deficient, but which may be possessed by 
other sorts ; and not to seek the intermixture of species far removed from each other 
merely for the sake of variety. 
An instance of the successful intermixture of the better characteristics in two 
showy species is afforded by the beautiful and graceful hybrid here represented. It 
was raised by Mr. Jackson, nurseryman, of Kingston, Surrey, between E. Irby ana 
and E. retorta , and the more elegant mode of growth common to the latter is 
united to the splendid blossoms of the former. It is a hard-wooded plant, appa- 
rently more robust and less difficult to cultivate than E. Irby ana ; while the 
flowers, which are very well depicted in our plate, are pleasingly disposed, and 
covered with that shining glutinous varnish which so much enhances the beauty of 
many Heaths. 
