482 OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Erica. 
ERI'CA.* ( Bloss. of one petal: Cal. four-leaved : Caps, supe¬ 
rior ; partitions simple, from the centre of each valve. 
Sm. E.) 
(“ Of this, old Scotia’s hardy mountaineers 
Their rustic couches form; and there enjoy 
Sleep, which, beneath his velvet canopy, 
Luxurious idleness implores in vain.” C. Smith. 
* * * * a the stranger’s bed 
Was there of mountain Heather spread, 
**#•**-** 
Nor vainly did the heath-flower shed 
Its moorland fragrance round his head,” Scott. 
If it be true, as there is reason to believe, that the ancients were wont to repose on the 
leaves of particular trees, not doubting their powers of inspiration, as Agnus-Castus to 
compose the troubled mind, the laurel to excite poetic fire, or the bay to awaken visions of 
glory, why may not the heather couch not merely refresh the wearied limbs of the “ rough 
sons of freedom.” but inspire the noblest sentiments into minds scarcely less imaginative, 
and nothing lacking in credulity. E.) 
Cabins are thatched with it. In the island of Hay, ale is frequently made by brewing 
one part malt and two parts of the young tops of Heath ; sometimes hops are added. 
Boethius relates, that this liquor was much used by the Piets. Penn. Tour, 1772, p. 229. 
Woollen cloth boiled in alum water, and afterwards in a strong decoction of the tops of 
Heath, comes out a fine orange colour. In England besoms are made of it., and faggots to 
burn in ovens, or to fill up drains that are to be covered over. (In the New Forest and 
adjacents, Hants, many poor families obtain a decent livelihood by the manufacture of 
such besoms, which are sold to the coasting traders at about eighteen pence per dozen, 
being cheaper and nearly as durable as those made from Birch. E.) Sheep and goats will 
sometimes eat the tender shoots, but they are not fond of them. (The grouse and heath- 
cock feed upon them, and, as Pennant remarks, here we have a particular provision of 
nature, in the construction of the seed-vessel, &c. to preserve the seeds a whole year, and 
ensure a constant supply. E.) Bees extract much honey from the flowers, 
( <c Here their delicious task, the fervent bees, 
In swarming millions, tend : around, athwart, 
Through the soft air the busy nations fly, 
Cling to the bud, and with inserted tube 
Suck its pure essence, its ethereal soul: 
* * # * 
* * -* * 
And yellow load them with the luscious spoil.” 
But where Heath abounds the honey has a reddish cast and is coarse. (In the north of 
Scotland ropes are made of it as strong, as durable, and nearly as pliant as those of hemp. 
Garnett’s Tour, p. 147. This plant has also been found, by boiling, to afford a good 
liquor for tanning leather, by the use of which this process is considerably cheapened 
and improved. This is the more common kind ; the other species possess qualities nearly 
similar. Heath can only be extirpated by paring and burning. Prof. Hooker recommends it 
as an edging for garden borders. It affords a favourite receptacle for Dodder. “ Calluna 
vulgaris , Erica cinerea and Telralix , give a peculiar character to the moors and fells in 
the north of England, these flourish from 100 to 3,000 feet above the level of the sea, but 
neves- on calcareous soil; which circumstance occasions the striking difference between 
our heaths and the Yorkshire Wolds, but more especially the downs of the more southern 
counties, where the sub-stratum is chalk.” Winch Geog. Dist. In certain wild and peaty 
spots, it may be found to justify the description of 
- u Heather black that wav’d so high 
It held the copse in rivalry.” 
* (From IpeUw, to break, it being formerly in repute as a lithontriptic. E.) 
