Heaths Or Ericas Give Big Range Of Colours

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29263, 22 July 1960, Page 8

Heaths Or Ericas Give Big Range Of Colours

The significance of the names heath, heather, and erica depends a good deal on the country in which the plants have originated. The English heath, the Scottish heather, and the botanical erica, all belong to the one family. Not all are hardy enough for Canterbury gardens, but enough of them are to make their inclusion almost imperative. Just now, the English heath—E. darleyense—is outstanding as a continuous bloomer from winter onwards. Growing only a foot or so high, it is a spreading bush

with sprays of rose-pink bells. It somewhat resembles the Scottish heathers, but these favourites can be obtained in half a dozen variations from white to rosy red, and with single or double flowers. The varieties, Mrs Beale and David Eason, are very attractive.

Two tall-growing kinds are now flowering freely, these are the white Cape heath <E. pyramidalls) and the pink, E. melanthera. Both are lovely for cutting, and this tends to keep the plants healthy and free flowering. One of the most distinctive is the red-tubed E. cruenta, flowering in summer along with the satin pink form, E. parkeri.

Ireland contributes two very effective sorts, one white and the other purple with distinctive large bells in small clusters, and growing less than a foot high. There is a striking variety in the Erica family, with colours ranging from white, yellow and pink, red, green, to purple, so that the collector can go a long way in establishing his fancy. They do not need a rich soil, but take kindly to a gritty, welldrained position. Here And There in The Flower GardenHedge trimming and shrub pruning can usefully fill In time when working of the ground cannot be thought of. Hedges need a severe cutting in winter and a milder one about December. Only in this way can a neat, compact hedge justify its existence, and it is all the more necessary where other purposes than shelter are thought of, as, for instance, dividing hedges in the back or side garden. Shrubs as a rule need little attention in this respect, but shaping by reducing height or spread is often desirable. Here it would be best to cut Out the offending limbs, after which secondary growths will soon fill up any gaps, and flowering will not suffer in consequence.

This is not to say that shrub pruning should be general, for it is not now done with the lovely spring-flowering things like forsythia, lilacs, broom, and the flowering fruits. These are best trimmed in November, just after the spring bloom is over. It was previously recommended that all border perennials needed attention by lifting and dividing. Better results will follow for three or four years after their replanting.

No class excels border perennials in value for continued garden display, and as choice flowers for cutting. This applies to carnations, Iceland poppy, pyrethrum, campanulas, helenium, blue scabious, perennial phlox, paeonies, delphinium, etc. They are worthy of being regarded as more than mere space-fillers. Such everyday jobs as digging and providing manurial nutrient are not always seen to, with the result that plants deteriorate, and much good work can be done now on the borders in preparation for the summer show. Where animal or poultry manure is available, this should be freely used to develop plant growth, and in the absence ■ of either of these manures, the less valuable superphosphate or chemical fertilisers should be used. Even if neither of these courses is adopted, digging or forking over the ground to aeratp the soil and to destroy weeds is to be recommended. This work can be taken as good preparation for the planting, of roses, shrubs or trees at this time of the year and, while there is almost no limit to either variety or colour, it is as well to use judgment to ensure that the subjects chosen are suitable for filling the spaces available. As a fence covering, the rose Is hard to beat, combining as it does beauty with its utility for this purpose. Conifers are popular, imparting a distinctive effect provided they have the space available in which to grow naturally. Where this is possible, their varied colourings and habits will provide a very desirable effect. Chrysanthemum stocks can be broken up. Plant out as cuttings selected young centre shoots, which will make good plants to put out in September and October. Garden paths should have attention by poisoning surface weeds and repairing edgings, while attention may well be given to any trellis work and climber supports that may be in need of repair. Birds sometimes play havoc with young shoots of carnations and polyanthus. About the best check is to place a few sticks round the plants, festooning them with black cotton—sparrows will keep away from the threads.