AND FLORISTS’ GUIDE. 
HEW HYBRID HEATHS. 
EAUTIFUL as are many, very many, of the shrubs of the Heath family,'which have 
come to our gardens from the land of their nativity, the Cape of Good Hope, and 
varied as are the forms and colours they present, yet it must be confessed that 
objects still more beautiful and varied, and often more useful, because more cul¬ 
tivable, have been produced from them by the skill and perseverance of the 
hybridizer. In this, as in other instances, the hand of art, guided by science, has 
succeeded in elaborating the most lovely combinations of form and colouring from 
the exquisite “ raw material ” of nature. Some of the results of this triple com¬ 
bination—of art and science with nature—we present in the accompanying plate, on 
which are representations of two hybridized Heaths,* which have been produced, along 
with many others of great merit, by Mr. A. Turnbull, gardener at Bothwell Castle, 
to the noble representative of the name of Douglas. Bothwell Castle has long been 
famous for its Hybrid Heaths, and those now represented will take a place among the 
best of its productions of this class. 
Erica Thomsonii is the offspring of E. aristata, crossed with E. cerinthoides. It is of rather more 
vigorous growth than the former, but bears a greater resemblance to that species in its habit and mode 
of flowering, than it does to its other parent, from which it has derived something in colour, and hi the 
slight glandular hairiness which occurs towards the upper part of the tube of the corolla. The colour 
is crimson, brighter along the exposed side, and deepening about the throat, the under side being much 
paler; on each flower are eight ribs, which are deeper coloured than the rest of the flower; the limb 
has a slight coppery tinge. It is a very str ikin g Heath, and quite distinct, and has been named in com¬ 
pliment to Mr. Thomson of Glasgow. . 
Erica Mooreana has been bred from E. retorta major, crossed by E. Linnaoides. In its general 
appearance, it partakes more of the latter than the former, but is much dwarfer, and more branching 
in its growth, and a remarkably free bloomer. It will no doubt become a popular Heath, from its. being 
a plant of free growth, and blowing profusely in autumn and in the early part of winter; in fact, con- 
* Erica Thomsonii , Turnbull MS. (hyb : 9 aristata, £ cerintboides).—Leaves five in a whorl, numerous linear-lanceolate 
ciliate aristate recurved, flowers in a terminal spreading umbellate bead, pedicels bracteate near tbe calyx, and as well as it, glan¬ 
dular-bairy, corolla oblong inflated, slightly glandular bairy on tbe outside towards tbe neck, limb short erect, anthers mutic, 
and as well as tbe stigma enclosed,—M. 
Erica Mooreana, Turnbull MS. (byb : Q retorta major, $ Linnaeoides).—Leaves four in a whorl, linear recurved harry, flowers 
very shortly pedicellate, in fours terminating tbe small branches, corollas oblong inflated slightly bairy, limb spreading, anthers 
mutic, tbe style sub-exserted.—M. 
B 
