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kind, but that it has more yellow in it; and another, called the Yellow Mountain Heart's-ease, of British growth, which, notwithstanding the name it bears, is as often purple and yellow, or even purple alone, as all yellow.

It would be an impertinence to attempt to describe the Heart's-ease; therefore let us proceed at once to the treatment of this little favourite. The roots may be purchased so cheaply, and the flowers of these will be so much finer than any that are sown at home, that this will be much the best way of procuring them. At a nursery, or at CoventGarden flower-market, six or more may be had for a shilling, all of them covered with flowers and buds. They love the sun, but must be liberally watered every evening to replenish the moisture, which it will consume.

It is said somewhere that the Heart's-ease is sacred to Saint Valentine. It must be confessed to be a choice worthy of that amiable and very popular saint; for the flower, like love, is painted in the most brilliant colours, is full of sweet names, and grows alike in the humblest as well as the richest soils. Another point of resemblance, too, may be added, that where once it has taken root, it so pertinaciously perpetuates itself, that it is almost impossible to eradicate it. The poet Herrick tells us, too, that

"Frolick virgins once these were,
Over-loving, living here;
Being here their ends denied,

Ran for sweethearts mad, and died.

Love, in pity of their tears,

And their loss in blooming years,

For their restless here-spent hours,

Gave them heart's-ease turned to flowers.

ERICINE.

HEATH.

ERICA.

OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

In some parts of England Heath is called Ling, probably from the Danish, lyng: in Shropshire, Grig, from the Welsh, grûg: in Scotland, Hather, or Heather; which, like the English Heath, is derived from the Anglo-Saxon, hæth.-French, la bruyere; lande; la brande; le petrole.-Italian, Erica, Macchia, Scopina, Sorcelli, Brentoli.

"THIS genus," says Mr. Martyn, " has, within the compass of a few years, risen from neglect to splendour. Every one remembers that Mr. Popè marks it with contempt, at the same time that he celebrates the colour of the flowers:

'E'en the wild heath displays its purple dyes.'

"Mr. Millar, so late as the year 1768, makes mention of no more than five; four of which, as being wild, he consigns to oblivion.”

There are now some hundred species; of which many require the heat of a stove, and very few of them are hardy enough to bear this climate unsheltered. The species from the Cape are many of them very beautiful.

All Europe, and the temperate parts of the vast Russian empire, abound with Heath. The Common Heath, which is little regarded in warmer climates, is used for a variety of purposes in the bleak and barren Highlands of Scotland, and in other northern countries. The poor people use it as thatch for the roofs of their huts, and construct the walls with alternate layers of heath, and a kind of cement made of black earth and straw. The hardy Highlanders frequently make their beds with it. In the Western Isles it affords a dye. Woollen cloth boiled in alum water, and afterwards in a strong decoction made from the green tops and flowers of this plant, becomes of a beautiful orange

colour. Brettius relates, that a kind of ale brewed from these young tops was much used by the Picts: and it is said to be still an ingredient in the beer in some of the Western Isles. In many parts of Great Britain besoms are made of this Heath; and it is an excellent fuel. The flowers are either a kind of rose-colour slightly tinged with purple, or they are quite white. Bees collect a great quantity of honey from them.

This kind, the Fine-leaved, the Cornish, the Ciliateleaved, the Many-flowered, the Irish, and the Cross-leaved, are hardy, and will bear the open air. The latter is very handsome, and blows twice in the year.

The White Three-flowered Tree Heath, the Portugal, and the Purple Mediterranean, are not very tender, but must be sheltered in severe frost.

The following kinds may stand in the open air in the summer, and be housed about the end of September:

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These are all beautiful; but an attempt to enumerate all that are so would be vain. The earth about the roots of a Heath should be as little stirred as possible; and they should be seldom and sparingly watered.

"The Erica here,

That o'er the Caledonian hills sublime

Spreads its dark mantle, (where the bees delight
To seek their purest honey) flourishes,
Sometimes with bells like amethysts, and then
Paler, and shaded like the maiden's cheek
With gradual blushes-other while, as white
As rime that hangs upon the frozen spray.
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.”

The bees delight in heath-flowers:

MRS. C. SMITH.

"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 oft, with bolder wing, they soaring dare
The purple heath, or where the wild thyme grows,
And yellow load them with the luscious spoil."

THOMSON'S SPRING.

Dr. Leyden alludes to the same circumstance:

"The tiny heath-flowers now begin to blow;
The russet moor assumes a richer glow;
The powdery bells, that glance in purple bloom,
Fling from their scented cups a sweet perfume;
While from their cells, still moist with morning dew,
The wandering wild bee sips the honied glue;

In wider circle wakes the liquid hum,

And far remote the mingled murmurs come *.”

The Highland Heath-bed is pleasantly described in the novel of Rob Roy :-"While the unpleasant ideas arising from this suggestion counteracted the good effects of appetite, welcome, and good cheer, I remarked that Rob Roy's attention had extended itself to providing us better bedding than we had enjoyed the night before. Two of the least fragile of the bedsteads, which stood by the wall of the hut, had been stuffed with heath, then in full flower, so artificially arranged that the flowers, being uppermost, afforded a mattress at once elastic and fragrant. Cloaks, and such bedding as could be collected, stretched over this vegetable couch, made it both soft and warm." ROB ROY, chap. 20.

* Memoirs and Poetical Remains of the late Dr. J. Leyden, p. 323.

HELIOTROPE.

HELIOTROPIUM.

HELIOTROPEÆ.

PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA.

The word Heliotrope is derived from two Greek words, signifying the sun, and to turn the leaves or flowers of this plant having been supposed to turn with the sun. For the same reason it is called Turnsole, which is, indeed, only a French translation of the Greek name. The Italians call the common European species, orologio dei cortegiani [courtiers' dial]; eliotropio; verrucaria.-French, l'heliotrope commun; l'herbe aux verrues; le verrucaire, from its use in taking off warts; le tournesol.

THE Peruvian Heliotrope is chiefly admired for its fragrance it is an elegant and delicate plant, but not showy. The blossom is very small, of a pale blue, often inclining to white, and shedding an almond-like perfume, which has gained the plant general favour. It should be housed in autumn, before the weather becomes sharp. If in a pure atmosphere, it will flower great part of the winter: but, though carefully guarded from cold, it must be placed where the air is refreshed by frequent ventilation. In dry summer weather it should have a little water every evening: in winter, not more than twice or thrice a week, and very little at a time.

The Indian, Glaucous, and Small-flowered kinds are annual plants-natives of the West Indies-flowering in June, July, and August; and may be treated in the same manner as the Peruvian.

The Canary Heliotrope (to which the gardeners, it is not known for what reason, have given the name of Madame de Maintenon) is not so tender*; it must be sheltered from frost, but should have plenty of fresh air in mild

If the name, "Madame de Maintenon," is of French origin, it was perhaps a piece of flattery to Louis the Fourteenth, as the sun to which his favourite lady always turned her eyes.

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