E. MEDITERRANEA.—­Mediterranean Heath.  Portugal, 1648.  This is a robust-growing species, of rather erect habit, and often attaining to fully a yard in height.  Flowers abundantly produced, and of a pretty pinky hue.  Of this there are several varieties, the following being best known:  E. mediterranea hibernica, found in Ireland; E. mediterranea alba, with white flowers; E. mediterranea nana, of very dwarf growth; and E. mediterranea rubra, with showy, deep red flowers.

E. SCOPARIA and E. ERECTA are desirable species, the former bearing greenish flowers, and the latter of decidedly upright growth.

E. TETRALIX.—­Cross-leaved Heath.  A native species of low, and bushy growth, with close umbels or terminal clusters of pretty pinky flowers.  The varieties of this most worthy of notice are E. Tetralix alba, white flowered; E. Tetralix Mackiana, crimson flowered; E. Tetralix rubra, deep red flowers; and E. Tetralixbicolor, with parti-coloured flowers.

E. VAGANS..—­Cornish Heath.  A native species, bearing pinky-white flowers, but there are forms with white and red flowers, named E. vagans alba and E. vagans rubra.

The various kinds of Heath succeed best either in peaty soil, or that composed for the greater part of light, sandy loam, but many will grow and flower freely if planted in rich yellow loam.  They are very desirable plants, either for bed formation, for rockwork ornamentation, or for planting around the shrubbery margins.  Propagation is effected either by cuttings or sub-divisions, but seedlings of several species spring up freely under favourable conditions.

ESCALLONIA.

ESCALLONIA FLORIBUNDA (syn E. montevideusis).—­New Grenada, 1827.  This is one of the handsomest species, bearing long, arching clusters of white flowers.  It is a very desirable shrub for wall or lattice-work covering, against which it grows rapidly, and soon forms an object of great beauty by reason of its neat foliage and graceful habit, as also wealth of pretty flowers.

E. ILLINATA.—­Chili, 1830.  This should also be included, it being a handsome and pretty-flowered plant.

E. MACRANTHA.—­Chiloe, 1848.  This is a general favourite in English gardens, where it succeeds well, but especially in maritime parts of the country.  It is of stout growth, 6 feet or more in height, of spreading habit, and with elliptical, serrulated, bright green leaves, and clusters of crimson-red flowers produced in summer.  For wall-covering this is an almost invaluable shrub, although it succeeds well as a standard in all but the colder parts of the country.  Any free, open soil suits it well, but thorough drainage must be attended to.  There are several very distinct and good varieties, such as E. macrantha sanguinea, with flowers deeper in colour than those of the parent plant; and E. macrantha Ingrami, a profuse-blooming and very desirable form.