HOLLY WALK AND PAGODA VISTA 183 
The 
Ericetum 
Arbutus. 
spring and summer attractions. The garden varieties of rhododendron 
and azalea are, from a purely gardening standpoint, the most im- 
portant. They are grown elsewhere ( see “ Rhododendron 
Dell ” and “ Azalea Garden ”). In this sheltered and 
charming nook only the smaller and more delicate 
species of rhododendron are cultivated, but the remainder of the 
collection of ericaceous plants is here. Large numbers of them are 
evergreen, and they help largely to give warmth and greenery to 
British gardens in winter. The various species of heath (Erica) 
succeed very well at Ivew, especially those that flower in the spring. 
The several large groups of them in various parts of the grounds 
have already been alluded to. 
In point of size, the strawberry-trees (Arbutus) are the most imposing 
members of the heath family grown here. They are beautiful ever- 
green trees; the best-known species grows on the islands 
of the Lakes of Killarney, and nowhere else in the British 
Isles. This is Arbutus Unedo, which every visitor to the lakes is ex- 
pected to see and appreciate. A second species, A. Andrachne, comes 
from the mountain slopes of Greece, whilst a third is the madrono 
of the Californian woods. On the west side of the Ericetum are 
numerous varieties of Calluna vulgaris , the heather or ling of British 
moors and mountains. On the south side are all the hardy species 
of Vaccinium, many of which produce edible fruit, including the well- 
known bilberry, a moorland associate of the heather. 
Skirting the western side of the Ericetum is the northern end of 
the straight gravel path, 800 yards long, known as the Holly Walk. 
On each side of it there is planted a collection of species 
and varieties of holly (Ilex), as complete as it can be made. 
Having inspected these, as well as some specimens of the Chusan 
palm (the only palm hardy in Kew), the visitor may return to the 
north end of the Holly Walk, where there is a group of nettle-trees 
(Celtis), and then bear westwards to the upper end of the Lake. 
From this point two different detours may be made ; the first 
would be to examine the collection of conifers, for it is here that the 
Pinetum commences. This excursion is, however, dealt with separ- 
ately ( see “The Pinetum”). At present a circuit of the Lake may 
be made with two objects in view : the enjoyment of the various 
changing aspects which a walk round it reveals, and the examina- 
tion of the willows and alders on its banks. 
Hollies. 
