54 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 21, 1905. 
of small size and nearly globular, but produced in numbers 
similar to those of E. gracilis, E. melanthera, E. persoluta, and 
other small-flowered, free-blooming Cape species. In the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London it commences to flower about March and 
continues till May, thus forming a succession to E. lusitanica. 
A peculiarity of this species is the densely hirsute character of 
the stems and branches. Those who observe this will readily 
be able to distinguish it from the commoner species above 
named, even if they fail to see differences in the flower. The 
plant also commences to flower while yet in a relatively small 
state, and although so scarce in cultivation, it is considered 
even hardier than its better-known relative. E. arborea has a 
much wider range of distribution than E. lusitanica, being- 
found along the southern shores of Europe in the immediate 
vicinity of the Mediterranean and extending to the Caucasus. 
E. mediterranea is another strong-growing sjiecies from the 
south-west of France and in Spain. It is altogether a hardier 
plant than either of those previously named, and does not 
attain the same height. In cultivation it is more often to be 
seen from 1 ft. to 2 ft. in height in the form of beds or masses, 
but if allowed to develop freely it will in coursei of time reach 
a height of 5 ft. The typical form commences to bloom in 
March and continues till May. The individual blooms are 
much more elongated than those previously mentioned, with a 
decidedly contr acted neck; indeed, to give an idea of the 
flowers of this species rve may refer to the very common E. 
camea, though the bloom is not quite so long. These flowers 
are bright rosy-red, but their deepest tints are only assumed 
after they have been in beauty for some considerable time, the 
flowers intensifying as they develop. 
This species is more variable than its relatives previously 
named, and has given rise to a number of forms differing in 
the colour of the foliage, the flowers, and in height. E. m. 
alba has white flowers, while the foliage of E. m. glauca has a 
decided glaucous or sea-green hue by comparison with the dull 
green of the ordinary form. E. m. hibernica, sometimes re¬ 
garded as a distinct species, lays claim to be a British Heath, 
because found in a native state in the peaty districts of Galway 
and Mayo in Ireland. It differs from the type in being dwarfer 
and even more suitable for planting in small beds in which 
height is not particularly desired. Within recent years a 
variety has turned up in cultivation that is usually regarded as 
intermediate between E. mediterranea and E. carnea. It. is of 
very dwarf and close habit, but is chiefly notable for its pro¬ 
fusion of richly coloured flowers that come into bloom at a 
much earlier period than any of the other forms of the species. 
It is even now beginning to be quite showy, and in a week or 
two may be regarded as one of the harbingers of spring, and 
certainly the forerunner of this group. 
E. australis is certainly one of the most handsome of the 
hardy Heaths when seen in a healthy condition. The flowers 
are tubular, rosy-red, longer than those above mentioned, and 
produced in clusters, terminating the upright stems. In these 
respects it recalls some of the Cape Heaths more than any of 
the European ones. It will ultimately attain a height of 6 ft. 
to 8 ft., though plants about 18 in. high flower splendidly ; and 
if height is not particularly desired, beds may be renewed at 
intervals with young specimens propagated in the usual way. 
It is a native of Spain and Portugal, and comes into bloom in 
April and May, thus forming a succession to those already 
mentioned. In certain positions or under certain conditions 
flowers may continue to be produced till midsummer at least. 
Although introduced in 1769, it is less common than E. lusi¬ 
tanica and the various forms of E. mediterranea. 
E. multiflora and the two succeeding ones are far less orna¬ 
mental than any of the above. We mention their peculiarities 
here for the sake of those who may wish to add them to their 
collections for the sake of variety. All the others are in them¬ 
selves highly ornamental and worthy of cultivation in the most 
select collections. In the matter of cut flowers they would 
serve as substitutes for the Cape Heaths independently of their 
beauty in the grounds. The name E. multiflora is not particu¬ 
larly applicable to the species under notice, seeing that most 
of the others flower even more profusely. The blooms are 
pitcher shape, pale rosy-red, ffnd produced in corymbs on the 
top of the plant. Usually it grows about 2 ft. in height, and 
has the recommendation of being perfectly hardy. It is a 
native of South Europe and was originally introduced in 1731. 
E. scoparia, sometimes named the Broom Heath, is a native 
of the western shores of the Mediterranean, and also has the 
recommendation of being perfectly hardy as far north as 
London at least. The species is characterised by long slender 
stems and branches, furnished with leaves in whorls of three, 
and this slender character may have rendered it suitable for 
the making of brooms in its native country, or the botanist 
who named it thought it would be suitable for such a purpose. 
The flowers are very plentifully produced in racemes, but as 
they are greenish, they are neither conspicuous nor attractive. 
Usually the plant may be seen 2 ft. to 3 ft. in height, but as 
far north as London at least it very quickly attains a height 
of 6 ft. to 9 ft. 
E. stricta is also a native of South Europe, and has proved 
perfectly hardy in this country. The flowers are under i in. in 
length, pitcher shaped, with reflexed segments, pale purple, and 
produced in terminal umbellate groups, somewhat after the 
fashion of E. australis. Not being very numerous, however, 
nor very bright in colour, they cannot compare in beauty with 
that species. Under cultivation it varies from 2 ft, to 6 ft, in 
height with age. The flowers appear somewhat irregularly 
between June and November. The species was introduced in 
1765, but is not widely represented in gardens. 
Shortia galacifolia. 
Hitherto the plants of this North American subject appear¬ 
ing in cultivation have had white flowers; occasionally they 
may have exhibited a faint rosy tint, especially when grown 
and flowered in the open, but a rose-coloured variety has been 
accorded the honour of a coloured plate in “ Flora and Sylva” 
for "January. No varietal name is given to it, but if the colour 
proves constant under cultivation we presume it will get the 
name of S. g. rosea. Hitherto the plant has not been con¬ 
sidered capable of much variation, and owing to its restricted 
distribution, as well as that of the order to which it belongs, 
most writers have regarded the species as a dying remnant of 
a once much more widely distributed order of plants. At the 
same time, cultivated plants of Shortia seem more amenable 
to the art of the gardener than some of the other members of 
the family, and possibly we may yet see the cultivation of this 
plant greatly extended in gardens, especially if we are to have 
colour variations that wilj prove an incentive to lovers of alpine 
subjects. It is just possible that if some skilled plantsman 
would take the trouble of fertilising the flowers and raising 
young plants from the seeds he would get a more vigorous 
race of plants, better suited to our climate than those intro¬ 
duced from the mountains of Carolina, In the event of the 
cultivator being successful in that respect, we have no doubt it 
would give a great fillip to the cultivation.of a beautiful rock 
plant. The rose-coloured variety turned up in a recent im¬ 
portation made by Messrs. William Cutbush and Son. 
Irost ox Glass. —In this country neither people nor plants 
in glasshouses have much to complain of in the way of obstruc¬ 
tion of light owing to the action of frost, at least in the southern 
counties of England. There are, however, other parts of the 
country where glasshouses that are unheated would have the 
glass obscured by frost. As the temperature in the house must 
be low, the plants in such cases would be inactive, and there¬ 
fore feel little of the effect from faint light. In the case of 
the florists’ windows, however, the frost-covered windows would 
have the effect of hiding their displays of flowers. To remedy 
tliis evil it seems that some German lias discovered a means of 
keeping the glass clear. According to “ The Pharmaceutische 
Zeitung,” a mixture of 55 grammes of glycerine dissolved in lg 
pint of 62 per cent, alcohol may be used for rubbing over the 
inner surface of the glass. This is claimed to prevent the forma¬ 
tion of frost and moisture from condensing on the glass. If 
objection is taken to the smell, some oil of amber may be put intcj 
the mixture. 
