rugged form, masses of Gypsophila. A few blossoms are still 
appearing in September. "We used the flowering branches with 
great success in the house ; especially satisfactory for keeping 
were those sprays whose buds opened in water. One could scarce- 
ly find a more graceful, airy, flowering shrub, so much more 
feathery than the beautiful Escallonia montevidensis which is 
also a summer bloomer. The tiny seed pods, resembling a pouch 
(bursa), have given the name to the plant. These pods, in their 
pyramidal panicles, are very ornamental. The leaves, too, are 
small and the habit of the branches drooping. 
Thevetia nerei folia (West Indies and Mexico), an ornamental, 
evergreen shrub, grows luxuriantly in sandy loam, not too moist 
and not too dry. It grows to a height of about eight feet and is 
said to withstand a few degrees of frost. We planted ours about 
six months ago and it is now well rooted and ready to break into 
a mass of gold. The deep yellow, funnel-form flowers, two to 
three inches across, suggesting very much the perennial Linum, 
literally cover the plant. Its odor is delicate and delicious. In 
Florida it is called the yellow Oleander. For mass effect during 
the summer months one could scarcely find a more brilliant 
shrub. 
The varieties of Erica (Heather), Charlesiana, Blanda and 
President Faure are showing their appreciation of our environ- 
ment. Planted a year ago, they almost immediately responded 
with generous attempts at bloom. As their roots grew vigorous- 
ly, the flowers became so numerous as almost to cover the plants. 
They are never entirely out of bloom. All seem equally hardy. 
Charlesiana is light pink-lavender ; Blanda, old rose, and 
President Faure, almost cerise. They all have tubular form, the 
flowers being three-fourths to one inch long. Their mass effect 
is most beautiful. To encourage a general and enthusiastic 
planting of these ornamental and easily grown Ericas is my 
earnest desire. Quoting from Bailey's Encyclopedia : "The 
great trouble with heaths is the immense amount of care they 
need. Few, if any, classes of plants require more attention. The 
American retail catalogs only rarely offer more than one species. 
Another difficulty in heath culture is the poor quality of peat 
obtainable in America. Choice of soil is very important. Large- 
ly greenhouse culture." My plants have no more care than any 
of the hardy shrubs on the place. They are planted in porous 
soil, on the south slope. These varieties I have named and the 
others in our garden, E. melanthera, E. persoluta rosea, E. 
persoluta alba and E. regerminans were all purchased in Santa 
Barbara. The three varieties first named are more showy because 
of the length of the tube and its brilliant coloring. It has been 
suggested that I give these heathers the test of longer experimen- 
tation before recommending them too enthusiastically. Others 
may wish to join in this interesting garden problem. 
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