YEAR BOOK
OF THE

HEATHER
‘SOCIETY

1979

THE HEATHER SOCIETY
Affiliated Societies:
Nederlandse Heidevereniging ‘Ericultura’

Gesellschaft der Heidefreunde

President:
Mr. C. D. BRICKELL, V.M.H.
Vice-Presidents:
Mrs. R. GRAY Mrs. D. METHENY
Mrs. C. I. MacLEOD Mr. D. McCLINTOCK
| Chairman:
Maj.-Gen. P. G. TURPIN, C.B.,O.B.E.
Secretary:
Mrs. P. B. LEE
Treasurer:
Mr. D. B. OLIVER
Council:
Mr. A.H. BOWERMAN = wr. H. L. NICHOLSON, M.B.E.
Mrs. BOWERMAN Mr. A. J. STOW
Mrs. M. BOXALL Mr. H. STREET
Mr. F. N. CULLEY Mr. E. R. TURNER
Mr. A. W. JONES Mr. E. H. WISEMAN
Mr. T. A. JULIAN
Slide Librarian:

Mr. N. H. BRUMMAGE
Heathwood Nursery, Fakenham Road, Taverham, Norfolk.

Editors:
Year Book: Mr. A. W. JONES, Otters’ Court, West Camel, Somerset
BA22 7QF
Bulletin: Mrs. D. H. JONES, Otters’ Court, West Camel, Somerset
BA22 7QF
Administrative Office:
Harvest House, 62 London Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 5AS.

CONTENTS
Volume 2 No. 8

EDITORIAL... sis. 2203 ooe See eee 1
- FHE PRESIDENT WRITES | 7.008 00s) oe ee 2
FROM THE CHAIRMAN oo) once ess a es oy oe 4
' THE SECRETARY’S REPORT..... 2... 0.2222. e008. 000. 5
J.P. ARDRON: A TRIBUTE - Mrs. C.I. MacLeod........ 6
LOSEHILL HALL 1978 - A.J. Stow......... 002. e ee eeee fe
HEATHER GARDENS No. 5: WAKEHURST PLACE, 10
SUSSEX - Maj.-Gen. P.G. Turpin .........0 ccc cence neces

THE PROS AND CONS OF MOVING - G. Yates......... 13
LIVING WITH LIME - | Street ............0 0c cece 15
THE GOOD COMPANIONS - HEBES - D. Chalk....... 18
HAVE A GO WITH CAPE HEATHS - P.L. Joyner ...... 21
BOOK: REVIEWS 2 oc. 2 058 hese ee ee 24
The Heather Garden. The Plants and their Cultivation

Pocket Guide to Heather Gardening ......................
CALLUNA ‘DARLEYENSIS’ and ERICA SCOPARIS 27
‘MINIMA’ PLEASE - The International Registration
AUthOrily <0 OS esos Ses Oa ee Oe era
THE CONTROL OF £=PHYTOPHTHORA and 30
RHIZOCTONIA = DiJS2 Smale on ee ee
SHARP EYES HELP TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF 33
ERICA “STUAREIN, ooo aoe eae ae ks os eee oe
THE TREE HEATHS ‘GOLD TIPS’ and‘ PINK JOY - 34
Mayji-Gen. P.G. Turpin. oe. oo ie Se ee
THE CLASSIFICATION OF HARDY WINTER- 38
FLOWERING HEATHS WITH NOTES ON ERICA xX
DARLEVENSIS - A.W. Jones... 0.0. 6 oo. oe ees cee ae

NEW ACQUISITIONS - J. Platt... 2.0.00. 305. ee we 46
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ROOTED CUTTINGS OF 49
ERICA and CALLUNA CULTIVARS - D. Edge..........

POTTING ON -7.-Clancy oo ee 52

PERSONAL AND PLACE NAMES USED FOR HARDY 55
HEATHERS:- D) McClintock 5. 23.003. . yye.on pete ne oe

Editorial

Reading the first page of this Year Book shows that,
once again in 1978, changes have occurred in the
Heather Society. The post of President, which has been
vacant since the death of Sir John Charrington in July
1977, has now been filled by Mr. C.D. Brickell, who was
elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Society in
September. Elsewhere in this issue he writes on another
major step in the continuing development of the Heather
Society, the establishment of a National Reference
Collection of heathers which is to be set up at the Royal
Horticultural Society's Gardens at Wisley.

On a less happy note, the name of Mr. J.P. Ardron
has disappeared from the list of Vice-Presidents of the
Society. Mrs. C.I. MacLeoac has contributed a tribute to
him in this Year Book.

Also this year the name of Mr. B.G. London is
missing from the list of Council members. Jack has
retired after serving continuously on, first, the
Committee and then the Council since 1965, two years
after the formation of the Heather Society. He was also
the Advertising Manager of the Year Book from 1970 to
1977. Fortunately, the Society is not losing his services
entirely, as he is continuing in the important job of Group
Convenor to the Norfolk Branch.

Another retirement that is shown on the first page is
that of Mr. A.J. Stow who has relinquished the post of
Editor of the Year Book. He first became associated with
itin 1973 as Assistant to P.S. Patrick. On “‘Pat’s”’ death
in 1974, Arnold became Editor. Happily, he remains a
member of Council.

Both Jack London and Arnold Stow have given to
the Heather Society in generous measure those most
precious commodities, their time, energy and
enthusiasm. I am sure that all members of the Society
would wish to thank them for their past (and future)
labours.

We welcome Mr. Neil Brummage, the Norfoik
nurseryman, as our new Slide Librarian. He takes office
at a time when the Slide Library is being reviewed and
would welcome offers of slides from anyone who wishes
to donate them.

Threats to our natural heathlands are many and
varied. Some,which at first seem catastrophic, on further
consideration fall into their true perspective. Others
which have gone un-noticed prove to be very serious. A
case in point is provided by the Dorset Heaths which are
threatened by oil production and the winning of ball clay.
A professional scientist who is concerned with the
conservation of the heaths is of the opinion that the
minimal disturbance produced by drilling and the laying
of pipelines will soon disappear and that the effects of the
removal of ball clay need only be temporary. The heaths
have always been disturbed by man to some extent.
However the size of one of the heaths has been
drastically reduced by the encroachment of agriculture in
recent years. This heath is now recovering from the
effects of the fires of 1976 and it is Rose-bay Willow-
herb (Epilobium angustifolium) and farm land weeds
which are establishing themselves in place of the heather.

The President Writes
C.D. Brickell, Wisley, Surrey

The success of the Heather Society and its steady
and continued expansion since its inception in 1963 is a
remarkable example of how the enthusiasm and work of
a few can be transformed into a thriving organisation
which has world-wide links. Specialist societies have a
very important part to play in horticulture. As with all
horticultural societies, they act as focal points,
gathering together people whose hobby or profession -
sometimes both - is gardening. The difference lies in their
enthusiasm for a particular plant or group of plants and
the resulting stimulus, which increases greatly the
popularity and knowledge of the plants concerned.

3

Our own Society is a prime example of the
beneficial results of bringing together people with similar
gardening interests. Heathers, once a spattering of
names in nurserymen’s catalogues, have expanded
vastly in numbers and now form a major sector of
interest. They provide colour and form unthought of
fifteen years ago and their uses in the garden landscape
have multiplied greatly. Our knowledge of their history,
cultivation and hybridisation has expanded enormously
and has resulted in the Society being recognised as the
International Registration Authority for cultivar names
of heathers.

This important work, and the production of the
Register, which in due course will become the standard
for all heather names, is perhaps less well known to
members than other aspects of the Society’s activities.
The aim is to stabilise and control the multitude of
cultivar names which have appeared and will no doubt
continue to appear - a benefit to us all. Names,
however, are of little use without living plants and it is
hoped that the establishment of a National Reference
Collection of heathers at Wisley during the next few
years will provide a means of direct comparison which
will benefit all heather enthusiasts. In addition to
accommodating new introductions, the collection will
act as a reservoir for preserving old cultivars and provide
a living reference library for those who want to see the
growth, habit and flower or foliage potential of their
‘heathers before purchasing them.

It is somewhat daunting to follow such distinguished
and knowledgeable heather enthusiasts as Fred Chapple
and Sir John Charrington as your President. I hope,
however, that a happy association which began more
than ten years ago when I joined the Heather Society and
_ rashly ventured into the fraught field of heather names

will continue for many years to come.

From the Chairman
Maj-Gen. P. G. Turpin, West Clandon, Surrey

It gives me great pleasure to welcome as our new
President Chris Brickell, who for the last nine years
has been Director of the R. H. S. Garden at Wisley. Not
only is he an eminent botanist, but he has also made a
name for himself as a distinguished horticulturalist, and
two years ago was awarded the Victoria Medal of
Honour, the highest award which the Royal
Horticultural Society can bestow. He has been a member
of the Heather Society for many years. He has shown a
special interest in heathers and has written about them in
the R. H. S. Journal. We are indeed fortunate in having
such a very widely respected successor to Sir John
Charrington.

1978 has been noteworthy in other ways. We have
strengthened our ties with Ericultura, our Dutch sister
society, and with the Gesellschaft der Heidefreunde, our
German counterpart and already are in close touch with
the Pacific North West Heather Society. The fourth
edition of the ““‘Pocket Guide to Heather Gardening”
appeared in September. In this enlarged publication
Geoffrey Yates has collected together the most up-to-
date information on most of the varieties of heather
which are available commercially in this country and on
the Continent. It also includes the first complete list of all
heather names, compiled by the Society’s Registrar,
David McClintock. This is the first positive step that the
Society has taken in its capacity as an International
Registration Authority. It has been a formidable task and
let us hope that it will be rewarded by a greater degree of
sanity in the naming of so-called new varieties. As long
ago as 1927, when the list of available heathers in
Maxwell and Beale’s catalogue was less than one
hundred, D. F. Maxwell in ““The Low Road” was
deploring the indiscriminate proliferation of new names.
Although his nursery was responsible for as many as

5

most, great care was taken only to name a heather which
had proved its value (sometimes over a period as long as
seven years). How shocked he would be, if he were alive
today, to see some of the plants which have been given
names! We must, all of us, be much more discriminating
and only name a plant, if we are quite sure that it is
different from existing cultivars and is a distinct
improvement on similar heathers.

The Secretary’s Report
Mrs. Pamela B. Lee, Hindhead, Surrey

As you may have suspected from the long lists of
new members which have been appearing in, or with, the
Bulletins recently, our Society is continuing to benefit
from much fresh interest. Membership has risen to
around 1070, new members more than compensating for
those that we have sadly lost through retirement. People
have different reasons for dropping out, but the most
common is advanced age (one lady has just reluctantly
decided to reduce her activities at the age of 95!) and
many of the resignations are accompanied by letters of
appreciation for the enjoyment and interest they have
had from the Society.

The Annual Conference continues to be a
successful feature of our national programme and
members who have not yet attended one should not be
put off by the word “‘Conference’’. There are so many
helpful informal discussions during the weekend and
much else of general interest, even to the non-gardening
husband or wife. As it is held in a different part of the
country each year, there is a wonderful opportunity to
attend initially as a day visitor when it is in your area, and
we would always welcome suggestions for future venues
where there are suitable residential centres.

This year saw some new names appearing among
the winners of the Heather Competitions at the R. H. S.
Shows in London in February and August, but more
entries are needed to ensure the retention of heather
classes in these important Shows.

There is no doubt that the continued health of the
Society depends to a large extent on a programme of
activities organised within reasonable reach of many
members~- homes, and it is most encouraging to hear of
Local Group activities around the country. In the past
twelve months the established Groups - the Northern,
Midlands, Mid Southern, South West, Norfolk and
West of Scotland - have all been busy with events
advertised and reported in the Bulletins. We are pleased
to hear that the Farther West Group has started to meet
again and we wish them well; we earnestly hope that
whispers of small groups meeting in other parts of the
United Kingdom will materialise very soon so that every
member has the opportunity to participate in Society
activities.

J. P. Ardron: A Tribute

Mrs. C. I. MacLeod, Yew Trees,
Horley Row, Surrey

With the death of John Ardron on 27th July 1978,
the Heather Society lost the last of a great triumvirate:
Fred Chapple, Hugh Prew and John Ardron, all founder
members of a very small new Society. They shaped the
scheme of things to come by bringing in the members of
the North and Midlands with a forthright determination
that was altogether admirable.

A fine photographer himself, John Ardron

welcomed the setting up of the Slide Library under Mr.
Prew, while Fred Chapple, the author, was a friend of

tl

many years’ standing. John Ardron’s name in particular
will always be remembered for inaugurating perhaps the
most important piece of research ever undertaken by
members of a small specialist horticultural society: the
Harlow Car Heather Trials.

Using his influence with the Northern Horticultural
Society based on the Harlow Car Gardens, Harrogate,
he obtained the space necessary for planting out the
many young plants that had been received following a list
of “‘wanted” cultivars he had sent to all members. He
would have been the first to pay tribute to the work done
by the recording and weeding teams, without which the
five years’ records compiled and edited by Peter Vickers
could not have been achieved.

Socially, John Ardron was ever happy to arrange
visits to famous gardens in the North. Sheffield became a
focal point for publicity and to him goes the credit for
arranging our first weekend Conference in 197] at
Grantley Hall, Ripon. It is sad that he was not destined to
attend the 1978 Conference in the Peak District for
which he had undertaken the arrangements.

Losehill Hall 1978
A. J. Stow, Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire

It was in August 1971, following his invitation
earlier in the year, that John Ardron welcomed members
to Grantley Hall in Yorkshire and the first ever Heather
Society Conference was under way. I wrote in my report
of that Conference that one could not help but be carried
along by the sheer enthusiasm of that friendly
Yorkshireman.

Alas history was not to be repeated, because in July,
having laid the foundations for this year’s Conference,
his death robbed us of the opportunity of meeting him

8

again on what was virtually his home ground, but thanks
are due to Peter Vickers and his band of helpers for
stepping in and carrying on the task of running the
proceedings during the weekend.

Our Chairman, Pat Turpin, in his opening remarks,
mentioned that he felt sure that John Ardron would have
wanted the occasion to be a joyous one and indeed it was.

Stuart Anthony, the field lecturer on the staff at this
Peak District Study Centre then briefed us on the local
scene and few members will readily forget his multi-slide
presentation to the accompaniment of Beethoven’s
Pastoral Symphony.

Then there followed a light-hearted group quiz
based on sketches each with a loose connection with a
heath or heather. The selection of each group had
obviously been carefully arranged to ensure that the less
intelligent of us were kept apart to ensure that each group
was similarly afflicted.

A few slides were then shown by members before a
general adjournment, mainly to the bar where discussion
on all aspects of heather growing continued well after last
orders and for some members well into the early hours of
the following morning, as indeed was the case on the
following evening.

On the Saturday morning, Geoffrey Yates, whose
new ‘Pocket Guide” is now available, mentioned a few
of the more noteworthy recently introduced cultivars,
after which a discussion took place on the merits or
otherwise of other new introductions.

After coffee, Pat Turpin, David McClintock and
Bert Jones spoke in turn on hybrid cultivars and how to
identify them, before the former two summarised their
recent visit to Germany and Holland,during which they
were most hospitably received by enthusiasts in both
countries.

The formalities of the A.G.M. were efficiently dealt
with after lunch and then there was a choice for the rest of
the afternoon. A visit to the local Blue John Stone mine, a
six mile return walk up Losehill to sample, I
subsequently learnt, the (literally) breath-taking view of
the magnificent Edale Valley in gale force winds which
an intrepid band undertook, or a visit to the Hadfields’
garden close by, which I opted for. This had the added
attraction of refreshments on the terrace with splendid
views over typical Peak District countryside, fortunately
not marred by mining or quarrying activities. All this and
the chance to linger in a lovely garden convinced me that
I had chosen wisely!

After dinner David Small gave a talk on how he has
tackled the limestone soil in his garden with the aid of a
frightening range of chemicals. Not recommended this
for the ordinary member, but the ensuing discussion did
offer members who have to contend with these
conditions some useful information. This included the
use of Fortone E, Perlite, and powdered sea-weed, the
latter two being of particular benefit for aiding moisture
retention, so often lacking on chalky soils.

~ On Sunday the published programme suggested that
Peter Vickers was due to speak on the subject, ‘““From
Cuttings to Heather Garden’. In fact, although he
ably demonstrated that cuttings can be successfully
rooted with partial neglect as compared with excessive
pampering, he never advanced as far as the heather
garden. This was due, it must be admitted, to the
audience who obviously wished to know more of his
methods and light heartedly challenged him on various
points.

The Conference was then pleased to welcome the
Superintendent of the Harlow Car Gardens, J.D. Main,
who gave an illustrated talk concerning plants to
associate with our heathers which, after coffee, was
followed by a general forum before Pat Turpin officially
closed the Conference.

Every Conference report must reflect the
impressions of the writer and this Conference, like the
other five that I have had the pleasure of attending, was a

10

weekend of immense interest and friendliness; a time to
relax and immerse oneself in a common interest. As our
host, Peter Vickers said, ““A Conference is a time to re-
charge the batteries’. Derbyshire was no exception and
we look forward to Dorset in August 1979.

Heather Gardens No. 5
Wakehurst Place, Sussex

May.-Gen. P.G. Turpin, West Clandon, Surrey

Not far from Haywards Heath, just off the road
between Ardingly and Turner's Hill, lies Wakehurst
Place in a beautiful stretch of Sussex countryside.

Like other well-known Sussex gardens, Wakehurst
Place has been developed by carefully adapting a natural
landscape of great beauty. The higher ground slopes
down to a wooded valley where a stream, after flowing
through a number of small ponds, opens out into a broad
lake. The site provides the mild, moist growing
conditions and a mixture of sandy and acid soils, which
are particularly suitable for rhododendrons and other
ericaceous plants.

In their present form the gardens of Wakehurst
Place date from 1903, when Gerald Loder (later Lord
Wakehurst) bought the Estate. For the next 35 years he
enhanced the natural beauty of the site with plant
introductions of such well-known collectors as Farrer,
Wilson, Forrest and Kingdon Ward.

On Lord Wakehurst’s death in 1938 the Estate was
bought by Sir Henry Price, who continued to develop the
Gardens until 1963. On his death he bequeathed
Wakehurst Place to the National Trust: and two years
later it was leased to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
aS a country complement to Kew Gardens.

The Elizabethan mansion, built by Sir Edward
Culpeper in 1590, is used now as laboratories by the
Plant Physiology Section which moved from Kew in

11

1973. The ground floor is open to the public and
includes an information bookstall, a natural history
section showing the flora and fauna of Wakehurst and
illustrations of the soil variability. There is also a
refreshment room where lunches and teas are available
from spring to late summer.

Close to the Mansion is a small walled garden in
which grey and silver-leaved plants mix well with other
soft colours to form a restful memorial to Sir Henry
Price.

Leaving this garden on the right,a gravel path leads
into the Heath Garden, which separates the main lawns
in front of the house with their sixty yard long lavender
hedge from a larger lawn which slopes down to the
Pinetum in a south-westerly direction.

The Heath Garden is one of the many attractive
features of Wakehurst; it was established at an early date
but it has recently been expanded and enriched by the
planting of many of the newer cultivars of heathers and
associated plants. The site is an unusual one, in that the
island beds, of varying shapes, separated by grass paths,
are in many cases dominated by tall conifers up to 30 and
40 feet high, noticeably Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
*Ellwoodii’ and ‘Fletcheri’ and several golden varieties.
Through the middle runs a broadgrass path with
colourful shrubs on either side.

Although there are less than fifty different varieties
of heather, these have been carefully selected to give the
best effect in conjunction with the great variety of other
shrubs and trees with which they are interplanted. The
brightest colours have been avoided and this makes for
greater harmony between the pastel shades of the
heathers and the infinite variety of the other foliage
plants. Brilliant colour is provided in the late spring by
the rhododendrons and azaleas, which are relieved by
the clear white of Erica arborea ‘Alpina’ and E. x
darleyensis ‘Silberschmelze’.

There are many varieties of dwarf Rhododendron,
Hebe, Juniperus and Pernettya, and several species of
Fabiana, Grevillea, Leptospermum, Osmanthus and
Vaccinium, all of which make excellent companion
plants for the heathers.

12

Among a number of interesting plantings are: a
group of 85 EF. erigena ‘W.T. Rackliff surrounding a
large plant of Hebe ‘Great Orme’; Calluna “Blazeaway’
with the smokey grey foliage of Leptospermum
lanigerum as a background and framed by the prostrate
Juniperus conferta and Microbiota decussata; a large
patch of E. carnea ‘Aurea’ (looking as well here as
anywhere) with the beautiful Exochorda x macrantha
‘The Bride’, Ozothamnus_ rosmarinifolius and
Rhododendron lepidostylum; an edging of Calluna
‘Alba Tomentosa’ and ‘Gold Haze’ backed by E.
erigena ‘Coccinea and Pieris formosa var. forrestii
‘Wakehurst’ and Pinus sylvestris. Many other happy
associations of plants are to be found.

Most of the hardy heather species and hybrids are
represented at Wakehurst. I could not find E. mackaiana,
E.umbellata, E. x watsonii or E. x veitchii, but the
others are all there.

Of the tree heaths, E. arborea ‘Alpina’ (12 to 15
feet tall), E. lusitanica and E. terminalis take their place
among the taller shrubs.

In winter and early spring large splashes of colour
are provided by E. carnea ‘King George’, °Vivellii’,
‘Springwood White’ and ‘Aurea the E. x darleyensis
hybrids and FE. erigena ‘Brightness’, ‘Coccinea’ and
‘Superba’. It is instructive to see “Silberschmelze’ and
‘White Glow (now recognised as a cultivar of E. x
darleyensis) rubbing shoulders on level terms.

E. tetralix is represented by the cultivar “Con
Underwood’ and E. cinerea by ‘Hookstone Lavender’
and ‘Alba’. E. ciliaris is well grown, both in its typical
form and in that of “Corfe Castle’.

E. x stuartii (praegeri) ‘Connemara’ has recently
been replaced by the larger-flowered “Irish Lemon’ and
‘Irish Orange’.

Daboecia cantabrica spreads its carpets of colour
in the forms ‘Alba’ and ‘Atropurpurea’ and the hybrid D.
x scotica ‘William Buchanan’ is also to be seen.

There are probably more plants of Calluna and E.
vagans than of other species. Although such favourite

13

Callunas as the *H.E.Beale’ group and the other
coloured doubles are missing, C. v. ‘Ruth Sparkes’ with
its double white flowers and golden foliage is used to
good effect. Other Callunas to be seen are ‘Silver Rose’,
‘Alba Tomentosa’, “Gold Haze’, ‘Hirsuta Typica’,
‘Blazeaway’ and ‘Foxii Nana’.

E. vagans is well represented by bold plantings of
‘Mrs. D.F. Maxwell’, “St. Keverne’, “Pyrenees Pink’,
‘Grandiflora’ and “Lyonesse’, in some places trimmed
into round clumps and in others forming long banks. of
colour in September and October.

The Heath Garden is beautifully maintained and
when I last visited it at the end of September 1978, the
grass edges were perfectly trimmed and the heather beds
were entirely weed-free.

The Gardens are open all the year round, and
thanks to the care of the Curator, Mr. Tony Schilling,
and his Garden Supervisor, Mr. David Mason, a visit at
any time will be most rewarding to the heather
enthusiast.

The Pros and Cons of Moving

G. Yates, Ambleside, Cumbria

The thought of moving house twice in three years is
enough to cause trepidation in most of us, and all plant
lovers dread having to leave behind gardens they have
made, and plants they have treasured. My family faced
the problem of moving both house and business twice in
that time, and during that period we experienced the
worst climatic extremes; gales followed by the worst
drought in living memory after the first move, and the
highest autumn rainfall in Cumbria for many years after
the second. I hope some of our experiences will give hope
to heather lovers faced with a similar problem.

I always believe that fate plays a great part in our
lives, and after I had been advised to move to a damper

14

climate for family health reasons the opportunity to take
on a nursery site literally on the water’s edge of
Windermere was almost too good to be true. Although
completely overgrown with every conceivable weed,
large trees and without mains water or electricity, the
views are superb. Unless you are a sun worshipper, itis a
little bit of paradise. One envious visitor envisages me
sitting doing cuttings with my fishing rod tied to my toe -
possible, but unlikely, as I am no fisherman. Soil with a
pH of 5 or less, streams flowing through, and an
undulating site are really the sort of thing an ericaceous
plant lover dreams about.

If you are in the business of growing plants, stock
plants are your life blood, and must be moved to maintain
continuity. So, on two occasions, in 1975 and in 1978,
we moved over 5,000 plants including large
Rhododendrons, Azaleas, alpines, shrubs, trees and by
no means least heathers, large and small. By large, I
mean up to two or three feet across, but the majority
would fill a greengrocer’s tomato tray.

Our move in 1975 was only five miles, and despite
the drought of 1976, we lost very few heathers, but
several hundred large Rhododendrons and Azaleas did
succumb. Dwarf Rhododendrons proved very drought
tolerant and we lost only three out of hundreds. This time
we have moved nearly two hundred miles, and it has
taken six large lorry loads and ten thousand miles of
motoring with a large trailer to move all our plants. They
are still in boxes, sustained by the exceptionally wet
weather, and are looking better than when they left the
Midlands. Heathers will move as large plants if you
move plenty of soil with them, and even Acers,
Magnolias and other reputedly difficult movers have
enjoyed our moves as much as we have.

I hope the law of averages applies to the weather,
- and Cumbria now has a few dry weeks to counter-
balance all the wet ones, so that we can get the planting
done. By Easter 1979 we wili be opening a new garden
made out of a wilderness. One very great advantage of
Starting from scratch is that you can make changes, try
new ideas and create your own garden, thus making all
the effort worthwhile.

Living with Lime

Harold _ Street, Chipping (Campden,
Gloucestershire

When we came to live in the Cotswolds in the spring
of ’76 the only fly in the ointment was that the garden soil
was heavy, alkaline clay; wonderfully fertile, but very
restrictive for a heather grower. We mulled over various
ideas for making a bed of imported acid soil, but in the
end decided we would rather have nature as an ally than
an adversary and began to count our blessings instead.
We still had the satisfaction of having made our last
garden, which included more than one hundred and
Seventy varieties of heather, and now, we could look
forward to making the most of new opportunities.

To begin with we had a slice of luck. Through the
Heather Society we have made a new friend, Philip
Brown, who has taken a close interest in the garden and
given us a good deal of expert advice and practical aid.
We started with the raised bed, enclosed in a stone wall,
which stands in front of the house. It was planted with
floribunda roses of a strident colour, and under-planted
with daffodils. We dug them all out and naturalised the
daffodils in a near-by grass bank. Next the surface of the
bed was remodelled to make three low mounds,
separated by a long valley with a short off-shoot. In the
valleys we planted carneas, graded for flower colour
from light to dark; first “Snow Queen’, then seven or eight
‘Pink Spangles’ and so on through five or six other kinds
in groups of varying size, finishing with ‘Adrienne
Duncan’. One of the mounds we planted predominantly
with grey and blue-grey foliage plants, including rue and
several kinds of ground-covering Hebes whose blue, pink
and white flowers have been in bloom throughout the
summer and autumn. A particular favourite is
H. gracillima with elegant foliage smothered for many
weeks with slender racemes of pure white flowers; an
excellent back-drop for the carneas. The second mound
has clumps of purple, variegated and typical green sage
and a number of the smaller spring - and summer -

16

flowering shrubs. We wanted to include a plant we had of
H. ochracea (“armstrongii’’) but we found the ochre
foliage difficult to place. Eventually we put it in a corner
of the bed and under-planted it with E. carnea
‘Foxhollow’; they go very well together.

The aim has been to create a harmony of colour,
form and texture, changing with the seasons. To this of
course the carneas’ chief contribution is made in the
winter, but in the summer too their bright appearance
gives them a major role to play.

In the main garden Philip has re-modelled the rock
garden. Here among alpines, a number of carneas are
naturally quite at home, and will be at their best when
most of their neighbours are still dormant. We also
widened an existing border and planted a group of E.
carnea ‘Eileen Porter in full view of our bedroom
window to give a cheerful start to the day through the
winter.

We then cut out a new bed in the lawn. This is
devoted, in the main, to heathers and conifers. Here
again we are giving thought to the balance of colour, form
and size. It’s not easy though to get it right first time,
particularly as you have to allow for growth. However
this glorious autumn of ’78 has encouraged our favourite
pastime of moving plants around a bit. In this soil they
thrive on it. (Incidentally, some of the conifers, from
dwarts to five-footers, as well as many of the heathers,
have been in the family for years. This is the third address
they have shared with us.)

What has pleased us more than we had expected is
that heathers we can grow in this limestone area offer us
unbroken interest all the year round. We should have
known it of course, but for us in the past Callunas and
other species have taken the limelight in the summer,
leaving it to the carneas to keep the show going while
some of their number, to put it kindly, were not at their
best. The lime-tolerant winter heathers need no such
help. No sooner have they ceased flowering than their
new foliage give them fresh charm and soon the slowly
swelling buds will give them added beauty lasting
through the summer months until they flower again.

17

They would be welcome in a summer garden if indeed
this was their only virtue.

With summer gone the carneas, F. x. darleyensis
erigenas and tree heaths give us continuous blooms trom
autumn until late spring. And before they are over E.
terminalis is in full flower. This plant did well enough for
us on acid soil but here a group of them are superb, with
their distinctive habit of growth making an outstanding
feature. (In a cottage garden not far away is an E.
terminalis at least fifty years old; it is seven feet tall and
as shapely a bush as you could wish for, smothered in
flowers in summer and in russet seed heads for the rest of
the year.)

Our hopes for E. vagans were not misplaced. We
planted them with plenty of peat and in their second year
here they have done splendidly. Vagans and terminalis
had barely finished flowering before E. carnea ‘Eileen
Porter’ was beginning to display her lovely blooms again.
And quite unexpectedly by the beginning of November
E. erigena ‘Irish Dusk’ was in full bloom - a most
welcome plant, both for its lovely new shade of pink
flowers and its attractive foliage.

We have found a place for a few E. umbellata,
modest plants whose dainty flowers appeared briefly in
the spring; but more intriguing are the umbellatas raised
from seed collected in the mountains of Spain by Dr.
H.A. McAllister. These did not bloom until August and
are still blooming in November - a development we shall
watch with interest.

There is one confession we have to make. A year
ago we had the opportunity, rare in these parts, of buying
a load of lime-free soil. Despite all our going-along-with-
nature philosophy we fell for it. So now we have a few
Callunas and Daboecias - doing nicely thank you. And
just for fun, we have some experiments in hand with
Perlite and fritted trace elements.

When we re-planned this garden we were reminded
of Gertrude Jekyll’s dictum, written in 1901, that fifty
varieties then in nurserymen’s catalogues were, “far too
many for use in any one heather garden’. Backed by such

18

an authority we decided that we had had enough of
“‘collecting’’ anyway and for the future would choose
what heaths to grow solely on their merits. But willy-nilly
we seem somehow to be making another, mainly lime-
tolerant, collection. The difference is that we don’t count
them anymore. We just enjoy them.

(Both Mr. Yates and Mr. Street have described the moving of large
heathers. We have never had any doubt that this could be done, but it
must be borne in mind that after moving they require an adequate
supply of moisture, from rain, hose or watering can, until their roots are
well established in the soil of their new home. This can take many
months.

However it must be remembered that you may not remove plants
from a garden you have sold without the approval of the purchaser,
unless it has been stipulated in the contract that the vendor may take
them. Ed.)

The Good Companions - Hebes
D. Chalk, Edington, Somerset

Just as Hebe, the Cup Bearer, was a delight to the
Gods, so too can these New Zealand plants named after
her give pleasure to you and interest to your heather
garden. Have you considered growing the shrubby
Veronicas or Hebes as companion plants? There is a
wealth of hardy, evergreen Hebes and Parahebes from a
few inches up to about three feet in height, which are
more suitable for the heather garden than the taller
growing cultivars.

The attractions of the Parahebes are their carpeting
habit and their dainty speedwell-like flowers, a quarter of
an inch across in white, pinky mauve and blue. Parahebe
catarractae, the Waterfall Veronica is perhaps the best
known, but there are also P. /yallii and the thyme-like P.
decora. Parahebes, which are sub-shrubs_ and

19

intermediate between Veronica and Hebe can tolerate
and grow in soils from moderately acid to definitely
limey (pH 5.5 to 7.6).

The features of the low growing Hebes are the shape
of the leaves - round, linear, box-like, oval, whipcord or
conifer-like; the colour of the leaves - yellow-green, mid
and dark green, light to deep bronze, grey, grey-green,
grey-bronze and variegated; colour of stems - yellow-
green, green, bronzy-green, dark brown and grey; and
colour of flowers - white, pink, mauve, blue, amethyst,
purple and violet.

Most hebes are rounded in outline, but some are
carpeting whilst others are erect. Some whipcords give 4
spikey effect like H. ochracea, with its old gold,
spreading and glossy foliage. H. ochracea is often sold as
H. armstrongii, which is more erect with dull yellow-
green foliage. Other whipcords have green, conifer-like
foliage and even have juvenile and adult foliage, such as
H.. cupressoides. The dwarf H. cupressoides ‘Broughton
Dome’ has only the juvenile foliage and is a worthwhile
acquisition for a trough or small heather garden. The
dwarf H. loganioides and the medium height H.
lycopodiodes with its yellow-green foliage could also be
considered. Hebe ‘Edinensis’, with monkey puzzle like
foliage, grows to about twelve inches, spreads to about
eighteen inches and is worth growing for its unusual
form. All whipcord and H. ‘Edinensis’ have white
flowers, except H. cupressoides which has blue flowers
in May.

Further interesting Hebes to grow could be the
carpeting H. “Carl Teschner’ with small green leaves,
dark brown stems and small spikes of violet flowers; H.
‘Colwall’, a more erect cultivar from ‘Carl Teschner’
with amethyst flowers; H. *Caledonia’, a dwarf shrubby
Hebe withbronzy stems, grey red-edged leaves and small
spikes of violet flowers, also known as H.°E. B.
Anderson’ and H. ‘County Park’, which has violet
flowers.

There are a number of grey foliaged Hebes with
white flowers to choose from, such as the carpeting H.
‘Pagei, H. carnosula with shell-like leaves, H.

20

amplexicaulis, grey-green leaves, H. pinguifolia, the
erect parent of H. “Pagei’, and H. ‘Pewter Dome’, which
make an attractive dome-shaped plant. Hebes making
similar dome-shaped plants are H. vernicosa, with its
lustrous, deep green leaves and the plant sold as 4.
alpina ‘Golden Dome’ with yellow-green leaves in
winter, which is a little dwarfer than H. rakaiensis, and
grows to two feet and has similar foliage. The names H.
alpina and H. subalpina have been given wrongly in the
past to H. rakaiensis and have not been corrected
everywhere as yet.

Grey-foliaged Hebes that are a little taller are H.
albicans and H. pimeloides ‘Glaucocaerulea’ which has
purple flowers.

Of the Hebes growing up to three feet tall, the
narrow foliage group provide us with pink flowers, and
possible cultivars to grow are H. “Dorothy Peach’ and H.
‘Miss Lowe’. H. “Cranleighensis’ is more spreading, but
flowers well. Another neat Hebe with methyl-violet
flowers is H. ‘Warleyensis’. H. ‘Mrs. Winder’ has dark,
bronzy leaves, reddish-brown stems, violet flowers and
tips to the shoots which turn pink in winter. H. “Bowles
Hybrid’ is light and feathery, with narrow leaves and
light mauve flowers. H. darwiniana (glaucophylla)
*Variegata’ has lavender flowers and narrow leaves,
some sickle shaped; a flower arranger’s plant. H.
*Spender’s Seedling’ should not be forgotten with its
longer spikes of white flowers, mid-green leaves and
medium height, so too H. ‘Highdownensis’ with its royal
blue flowers, and where the coloured foliage Callunas
cannot be grown, H. ‘Tricolor’, a low growing cultivar
with green, cream and plum-coloured leaves and purple
flowers. However this cultivar can only be regarded as
being hardy in sheltered parts of the South and West in
hard winters.

There are many more of these low-growing Hebes
that could be mentioned as companion plants to
heathers. Hebes are becoming popular and maybe you
will want to grow some. Be warned, you can become
addicted.

21

Have a Go with Cape Heaths

P.L. Joyner, Totton, Southampton

“Td like to grow them but they aren’t hardy’’. This is
a comment so often made about the Cape heaths but
then, how hardy are the Geraniums, Cinerarias,
Cyclamen, Impatiens etc. so often grown during the
winter months in glass-houses, porches and on window-
sills? Certainly the plants are not as hardy as the Cape
heaths, if past experiences are anything to go on; - 5°C
has left Cape Heaths unscathed whilst Geraniums have
succumbed.

If you can provide frost-free, light and airy
conditions during the winter months and a standing area
outside during the summer, then you can grow Cape
heaths. Be careful with winter watering; but once they are
outside water freely and feed lightly with a soluble
fertiliser and then they will reward you from August
through to April with their magnificent blooms.

Some of the taller Cape heaths may require staking,
but pruning, usually during the late Spring, should keep
most of them in check and allow them to fill out and
produce several spikes during the subsequent flowering
period. Potting on should be performed prior to standing
out, at about the end of May, and the recommended
sequence at annual intervals is three inch, four and a half
inch, six inch, and possibly, nine inch. After four years
the plants may become quite large and woody but with
looking after should still bloom well.

The growing medium should be peat and one eighth
grit, mixed between one to one and seven io three by
volume, so experiment within this range. A soluble
fertiliser, such as Phostrogen, should be added at the rate
of four level teaspoons per gallon bucket of peat grit
mixture. A commercial lime-free potting compost could

22

be used but it is convenient to mix up your own, to the
above formula, as you require it.

Now we have come to the difficult bit, but those of
you with “green fingers” may well have no trouble at this
point. Propagating by cuttings is what I am referring to.
Half-ripe wood, preferably laterals, should be taken from
the parent plant, the most likely time for this would be
early Spring, and they can be any size from half an inch
upwards, perhaps shorter if you are good at it. Remove
the lower one third of the leaves and insert into a one to
one peat-grit mix with grit on the surface. Rooting
hormone may or may not help - experiment. The
container for the cuttings may conveniently be a
margarine tub, a half pot or a seed tray. The cuttings
should be spaced one half to one inch apart and then the
whole container sprayed with water and put into a
propagator, preferably with bottom heat. After that, the
containers with their cuttings should be sprayed at
intervals so that they remain damp but not “running”.
Rooting may take place anything from two months
upwards, but once rooted they should be removed from
the propagator, hardened off for at least two weeks and
then potted into three inch pots. Trouble may occur at
this point because of the tap root, and the lack of fine
roots, not holding the growing medium. It may be helpful
to replace them in the propagator after potting on until
they are growing strongly. Shade from the sun at all times
until the plants are obviously growing away well.

To describe many of the Cape heaths would require
an awful lot more space, but two of my favourites are
Erica canaliculata and E. pageana. E. canaliculata is a
tree heath with a sparse foliage but during the winter
months vanishes beneath a mass of small white blooms
possibly turning pink in cold weather. It is reputed to be
fairly hardy, but don’t experiment unless you have “back
up” plants. E. pageana is a dense-foliaged plant having
yellow bells during the late winter and early spring. This
is not a tree heath, but can grow to between one and one
half and two feet; with pruning it will form a compact
group of spikes. Other Cape heaths have flowers which

23

are tubular, straight or curved, with various shaped bells,
or corolla lobes which open out at the ends to give “star
like’’ blooms; the colours are numerous.

Well, why not have a go at growing Cape heaths? -
why should South Africa have all the pleasure? As I am
suggesting that you should grow Cape heaths,then I had
better tell you where you can get them. David Small, a
nurseryman member, of Ipswich (see list at the end of
this Year Book) grows and supplies a wide range of Cape
heaths as plants and rooted cuttings, providing plant
descriptions and cultural hints. Cape heaths can be
obtained as seed from certain seedsmen but usually as
mixtures. Sow the seed as though they were half hardy
annuals and when pricking out take the same amount of
caution as earlier recommended for the potting on of
rooted cuttings. At the time of writing (November) the
hybrid Cape heaths, /.e. those grown for the Christmas
pot plant trade, are available in some florists, as is one of
the species E. gracilis, so florists could be a source of
these beautiful plants over the winter period.

Now off you go and collect your Cape heaths and
start enjoying them from next winter onwards, it will be
well worth it.

“TI bought twenty-four Cape heath plants from (Mr. and Mrs.
Smalls) Denbeigh Heather Nurseries after reading the articles and
adverts in the Year Books and Bulletins, and because I thought that
they would provide me with additional interest in the Heather family.
~ Mrs. Small directed me to “‘Ericas in Southern Africa” by Baker and
Oliver for more detailed information. I borrowed this from the
University Library and I absolutely tingled with excitement and
emotion as I turned the pages of this truly magnificent book. I will not
rest contented until I have my own copy ......

Part of a letter from Mr. Murphy of Swallows Barn, Lisburn,
Northern Ireland to Mrs. C. I. MacLeod.

24

Book Reviews

van de Laar, Harry,

THE HEATHER GARDEN.

THE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTIVATION,
(Het Heidentuinboek)

Translated by P. Rowe-Dutton

Adapted and with a Foreword by David McClintock

London, Collins, 1978

160pp. 47 colour photographs, 21 line drawings, bibliography and
index

ISBN 0 00°2197375

£4.25

The author of this very useful book is extremely
knowledgeable about his subject and writes from a
wealth of practical experience. Not only is he at the
centre of the heather-growing industry in Holland, but he
maintains the closest links with heather specialists in this
country and on the Continent.

The book, which is deservedly popular in Holland
and Germany, covers much the same ground as the
books on heathers written by Terry Underhill and the
Proudleys; it includes chapters on Soil, Design, Planting,
Pruning and Propagation, and a section containing
descriptions of the more commonly grown varieties of
heather. But this new book is of particular value to
English readers because it provides an opportunity of
comparing Dutch and German practice and methods
with those normally followed by British growers.
Anyone who has seen how well the German and Dutch
nurserymen grow their heathers will agree that their
methods are well worth studying.

For example, on the Continent longer and more
twiggy cuttings are normally taken than is usually the
practice here; and it is claimed that this produces
stronger and more sturdy plants more quickly.
Differences will also be found in the soil mixtures
commonly used.

Harry van de Laar describes a number of
Continental cultivars, which are hardly known over here,
and several new British varieties which have not yet

25

appeared in the English literature. There is also a list of
new and rare cultivars which have not been included in
the descriptive section.

There is a very useful new key to the identification
of Cal/una and the hardy species and hybrids of Erica.
Unfortunately this leads the reader to believe that the
anthers of E. x williamsii have appendages and those of
E. x praegeri have not. In fact it is the other way round.

The translation is competent and mostly free from
errors; and the text has been skilfully adapted by Mr.
McClintock to suit English readers, without detracting
from the author's own subjective approach to his
material.

The colour photographs are mostly of a high quality
and reproduce the difficult colours faithfully. The one
exception is crimson; the illustrations do not do full
justice to such cultivars as Calluna ‘C.W.Nix’, E.
carnea *‘Myretoun Ruby’ and E. cinerea ‘C.D.Eason’.

This is a book that can be confidently recommended
to the heather enthusiast as good value for money and
one that should appeal to both the beginner and the

specialist. P. G. T.

(A review, by David McClintock, of the original Dutch
edition of this book was published in the Year Book for
1975... Ed.)

POCKET GUIDE TO HEATHER GARDENING
Geoffrey Yates

Fourth Edition, Ambleside, Tabramhill Gardens, 1978

36pp.. 8 colour photographs and 6 line drawings. Contains a con-
tribution from the Heather Society, the International Registration
Authority.

£1.65 (including postage)

(Members may obtain this book and the Society's colour chart from
D.B. Oliver, 27 Valentine Road, Leicester LES 2GH. The prices are
£1.50 and 50p respectively, to which 1Sp postage must be added).

26

The long awaited fourth edition of this booklet has
now been pubished and, as expected, is considerably
larger than its predecessors. In seven pages it contains
brief notes on why, where and how to grow heathers,
designing a heather garden, propagation, a heather
blooming calendar and the use of Perlite. However, the
main task that the author has set himself is the ambitious
one of producing a descriptive list of all the cultivars in
commercial cultivation in Europe of the genera for which
the Heather Society, as International Registration
Authority, is responsible, with the exception of Cape
heaths. At a time when the list is increasing in length at a
great rate,Geoffrey Yates has succeeded to an admirable
degree.

The majority of the descriptions are based on
personal observation, and those that are not are the result
of thorough research. The descriptions are succinct, yet
contain all the necessary information and, in many cases,
brief biographical notes on the plants. Where possible,
the results of the Heather Society’s Harlow Car trials
have been included and colours are described using the
Society's colour chart. The author is also to be
congratulated on taking note of results of recent
taxonomic investigations, so that most cultivars are
listed under their latest taxons.

It is good to see Andromeda polifolia and
Bruckenthalia spiculifolia included in the lists, but it is
perhaps unfortunate that the author has elected to omit
Erica manipuliflora and E. multiflora. These European
species are probably not fully hardy, but they are offered
by some nurserymen and are grown in some of our
gardens. Perhaps some mention should also have been
made of EF. maderensis and E. (Pentapera) sicula in
these definitive lists.

The International Registration Authority’s con-
tribution is a separate, additional list of plants that are no
longer, or not yet, available in commerce; of synonyms,
errors, misprints and botanical epithets. This con-
tribution adds greatly to the scientific value of the book.
The two sections between them list all the known,
relevant heather names.

27

This inexpensive book may be of value to the
beginner in showing him the wide range of plants that are
available to be grown, even if some of them may require a
long hunt before specimens are obtained. However it
may be recommended with confidence as an essential
vade-mecum for the heather enthusiast. ALWeJ

“It is the amateurs who contribute so much to our knowledge of
plants. It is my belief they could contribute much mote ....... All that is
needed is a good pair of eyes aided by a hand lens, a note book and
pencil, the will to explore and a little encouragement

ecceccce

Our knowledge of such simple and fascinating topics as
pollination of plants in our gardens is less than elementary. What do we
know about the biology of seeds, or about the life span of plants, or the
opening and closing of flowers, the dispersal of seeds ....“heed not the
book, but go to the plants themselves’. Even the most ordinary of plants
can give pleasure and excite wonder’.

A. E. Esher, Bulletin of the Wellington (N.Z.) Bot. Soc., (August)
1978, pp. 3-5.

Calluna ‘Darleyensis’ and
Erica Scoparia ‘Minima’, please

The International Registration Authority

The International Registration Authority has had
two sets of heather names to clarify.
1. (a). Calluna vulgaris ‘Darleyensis’
(NOT ‘Brachysepala Densa’) ea ys

This curly-headed tussocky plant derives its name
from its proximate source, the Darley Dale Nursery,
where it was received about 1926 from Scotland as the
quite different “Tenuis’.

28

In 1937 Dr. W. Beijerinck published his botanical
subform densa of J. Jansen’s form brachysepala.
(Brachysepala was described as having the sepals as
long as, or shorter than the corolla, as might be expected, _
the flowers small to very small; and densa as “of low
squat habit, part of the flowers deformed’’). He
specifically stated that this subform had been found only
once in Holland, but was known as a garden form under
the name of ‘Darleyensis’. Here is the clear distinction
between. the botanical classification for a form, or
subform, which may crop up from time to time, not
always identically, but covering a group of at least
similar plants, and the horticultural designation for just
one example of this form, an identical clone propagated
vegitatively, in this case “Darleyensis’.

Some ten years ago however it began to be called,
probably in Holland, “Brachysepala Densa’. This was
doubly illegitimate. For one thing, the cultivar already
had a good and valid name; for another no cultivar name
given after 1959 can be in Latin form. “Darleyensis’ itself
is exempt from this prohibition, having been given over
fifty years ago.

There is, admittedly, the slight drawback that the
name is also used for two Ericas. Indeed, Mr. Eric Smith
of Darley Dale protested to Mr. F.J. Chapple that “the
reclassification” (of their hybrid, from E. hybrida
darleyensis, E. mediterranea darleyensis, E. mediterr-
anea hybrida etc. ) was ambiguous for this very reason.
But any ambiguity was of Smith’s own making. E. x
darleyensis was published by Bean in 1914; Smith’s
Calluna ‘Darleyensis’ came out in 1926 and the E.
tetralix ‘Darleyensis’ in 1936. Nowadays no name
would be accepted by the Authority which duplicated
that of any other heather, even in another genus. But that
iS no reason to upset established usage: there is no
chance of confusion between these three heathers, while
the repetition of their name usefully identifies their
source.

There is no doubt that ‘Darleyensis’ must prevail for
this Calluna and “Brachysepala Densa” be used solely
in the botanical rank it represents, as f. brachysepala,
subf. densa.

29

1 (b). C. vulgaris *Penhale’

I do not remember seeing this plant, and certainly
have no herbarium specimen. But from some accounts its
flowers and habit have much in common with
‘Darleyensis’, although it is clearly of different origin -
Cornish indeed.

(I have now seen a specimen at Kew from W. Beijerinh dated 1935.
From this it seems that c.v. ‘Penhale’ may not be a representative of f.
brachysepala, subf. densa.)

I (c). C. vulgaris ‘Pentlandii’

This is a puzzle. The name is quite recent and seems
to have originated in the Low Countries. Mr. Van de
Laar says the plant looks like both ‘Darleyensis’
and‘Penhale’; and it was he, I think, who ingeniously
surmised that the name was a corruption of ‘Penhale’. In
default of further evidence, I think this may well be right
and should be accepted.

2. E. scoparia ‘Minima’ (NOT ‘Nana’, ‘Pumila’,
‘Minor’ or ‘Compacta’).

The following five names almost certainly all refer
to the same cultivar
(a). ‘Minima’. Used by Miller & Sweet of Bristol in
1808, at Woburn in 1825 and by various nurseries and
authors down to Rehder’s still current ““Manual’’, (who
gives ‘Pumila’ as a synonym), and Yates 1978, while
others also recognise ‘Minima’ in synonymy, unaware,
no doubt, of its priority. There is a small specimen of this
at Kew from the Tooting Nursery dated 1849.

(b). ‘Nana’. Hosea, and Joshua, Waterer 1851, A.
Henderson, Edgware Road, circa 1852, Dippel 1889
and in ““The Low Road” 1927, ““The Hardy Heaths”’
1928 (‘Pumila’ or “Nana’), Krussman 1960 and “The
English Heather Garden” 1966.

(c). ‘Pumila’. Knight & Perry 1851 then, apparently, a
gap until “The Hardy Heaths” 1928 (see under ‘Nana’),
Letts’ ““Hardy Heaths and the Heather Garden” 1966
also with ‘Nana’ as synonym, also Yates “Pocket Guide
to Heather Gardening’ 1970, ’71 and ’73. Finally the
1973 Bean, Vol.2, p.109, adding “‘this or a similar clone

30

was in cultivation at Woourn in 1825 as ‘Minima’.

Hillier’s ““Manual’ gives both ‘Nana’ and ‘Minima’ as
synonyms. Krussman 1976 changes to ‘Pumila’ with
‘Nana’ as synonym

(d). ‘Minor’. ‘Arends 1906 onwards.

(e). ‘Compacta’. Used by V. Proudley in our Year Book
for 1965, and then in “Heathers in Colour’ with B.
Proudley in 1974, where it is equated with “ ‘Minima’,
‘Nana’ etc. ”

The first four names are equally legitimate. The last
certainly is not, being a Latin form post-1960 (or was it
published earlier?). Furthermore it is the tail-ender in
priority. The only suggestion that any of these are not
Synonyms lies in Roliinson’s catalogues for at least
1875-7, where both ‘Minima’ and ‘Nana’ are listed, but
neither with any description. I can see no reason why the
oldest name, ‘Minima’, should not have the pre-
eminence it is entitled to and be used as the correct name.

So, in the absence of cogent facts of which I am
unaware (and I have consulted widely), may only
‘Darleyensis’ and ‘Minima’ be used for these two
cultivars. Both proposals have been agreed with the
Dutch.

(The Society's Registrar is David McClintock. Ed.)

The Control of Phytophthora
and Rhizoctonia

DJ. Small, Ipswich, Suffolk

Amateurs and professionals alike, face the risk of P.
cinnamomi and the allied fungus Rhizoctonia,
particularly whenever soil is imported into the garden or
nursery.

The symptoms of attack by P. cinnamomi were
described by Dr. Pauline Smith in the Year Book for

31

1978. It is sufficient to mention here, that the symptoms
of attack by Rhizoctonia are identical to those of P.
cinnamomi but its mode of attack is patchy. whereas P.
cinnamomi tends to spread from one point.

There are however, precautions that can be taken,
which minimise the risk of infestation. Some are
drastic, but the more precautions one can take, the less
the chance of fungal attack.

For the amateur, the most likely way for the fungus
to arrive, is with the purchase of plants. Whenever
possible, study the plants before purchase, for symptoms
of the fungus. Place newly purchased plants in
“quarantine” for six months, i.e. keep them in their
containers. Make sure that any soil water is trapped and
not allowed to come into contact with the garden soil.
After this time, the risk is slight, and if the plants show no
symptoms, they can be planted out.

For the propagator, whether amateur or pro-
fessional, great care must be taken over hygiene.

I Always use sterilised rooting mediums, making
sure that they never come into contact with
potentially infected garden soil. Place a new,
clean polythene sheet on the propagating bench
before starting work.

2. Always use new, or sterilised, seed trays.

3. Before collecting the cutting material, wash your
hands in disinfectant.

4. When collecting cuttings, avoid any that may

have been splashed with soil. ON NO
OCCASION SHOULD YOUR FINGERS
OR CUTTING TOOLS TOUCH THE SOIL
OR THE LOWER PART OF THE PLANT.
Place the material in new polythene bags.

32 Choose only vigorous looking plants to collect
cuttings from.
6. When all the required cuttings from one cultivar

have been taken, wrap the waste in the polythene
table-cloth and then preferably burn it.

z. Watering of the cuttings should always be done
with clean water. Tap water, however hard, is
perfectly adequate, unless mist propagation is
being practised.

32

8. Make sure the surface on which the seed trays
rest, is also sterilised. Hygiene has to be
continued into potting on and growing on -

9. Always use sterilised potting-on mediums. If
loam and sand are used, very great care should
be exercised to ensure that they are free from
fungus AND ITS SPORES.

10. Always use new, or Sterilised, pots.

11. Again lay down a polythene sheet before potting
on commences, to minimise the risk of cross-
contamination.

Pe: Make sure hands are washed after each seed tray
is finished.

13. When laying out in the growing-on area, care

should be taken to avoid cross-contamination on
footwear. Laying-out beds should be narrow, so
that all pots can be reached without having to
tread on the gravel.
(Pots should be laid out on a surface which
provides minimum contact with the pot and
keeps it out of any build up of surface water. A
five to ten centimetre (two to four inch) layer of
gravel is thought to provide the best defence.

14. Water for irrigation must come from a source
which cannot be contaminated by soil water. If
done by hose, great care must be taken to ensure
that water does not splash from infected soil into
the pots.

Protectant fungicides are beginning to appear on the
market, particularly for use by professional growers.
Some are drenches, others are included in the potting
compost. The effect of these is to control the disease and
hence suppress the symptoms. The use of such chemicals
is likely to cause considerable debate within the Society
and I am sure that views expressed in the Bulletin would
be read with interest.

Great play has been made of this fungal attack
during the last few years. It is here to stay, at least until
research gives us chemicals which are both safe to use
and capable of completely destroying the fungus and its

33

spores. Until that time, by taking some, if not all, of the
above precautions, we should be able to keep infestation
at a low level.

Sharp eyes help to solve the
mystery of Erica ‘Stuartii’

Erica *Stuartii’ has been an enigma ever since its
discovery in Connemara in 1890. It was first regarded as
a sub-species of FE. tetralix and in 1902 as a hybrid, with
_E. mackaiana as one of its parents. The practice of using
the generic name followed directly by the cultivar name
without a specific epithet underlined the uncertainty of
the status of the plant.

In 1977 Rinus Zwijnenburg, the Dutch
nurseryman, found a reversion on a plant of EF. ‘Stuartii’.
This was passed to Harry van de Laar, who sent it to
David McClintock. Professor D.A. Webb of Trinity
College, Dublin, examined the mutant branch, which is
now in the herbarium of the Heather Society. He stated
that it passed every test for FE. x praegeri, the hybrid
between E. tetralix and E. mackaiana.

The epithet x stuartii was first published, at the
specific level, by the Revd. E.F. Linton in 1902, thus
pre-dating Ostenfeld’s E. x praegeri, which appeared in
1912. The deletion of Article 71 of “The International
Code of Botanical Nomenclature’’, which stated that no
name could be based on a monstrosity - which *Stuartit’
had been deemed to be, means that E. x stuartii is now
the correct binomial, both for the cultivar ‘Stuartii’, and
for all the cultivars which were formerly listed under E. x
praegeri.

David McClintock has written, in Watsonia Vol 12,
No.3 (Feb.) 1979, a complete account of the history,
status and nomenclature of E. *Stuartii’ as affected by the

34

finding of the important mutant branch in August 1977.
Professor Webb’s photograph of the reverting shoot is
published, for the first time, elsewhere in this Year Book.
We wish to thank him for his kind permission to use It.
A. W. J.

The Tree Heaths ‘Gold Tips’ and
‘Pink Joy’
Maj.-Gen. P.G. Turpin, West Clandon, Surrey

Over eighty years ago there appeared in the nursery
of Robert Veitch & Sons at Exeter, a chance seedling
which turned out to be a hybrid of the tree heaths Evica
arborea and E. lusitanica. This was propagated and
several plants were sent to Kew around 1 900, where they
flourished. By 1905 one of them had reached a height of
two to two and a half feet, with a spread of about the same
measurements. Robert Veitch & Sons exhibited the plant
at two R.H.S. shows in the spring of 1905, at the second
of which, on the 14th of March, it received an Award of
Merit. It was much admired for its floriferousness and
the length of its flowering period - from February to May.
It was described and named by W.J. Bean in 1905, and
in 1969 our President gave it the clonal name ‘Exeter’.

It is remarkable that there has been no record of a
similar cross between these two species, which must
have been growing together in many gardens and
nurseries, aS well as in the wild in south-west Europe.
Although their flowering periods are not the same,
nevertheless there is sufficient overlap to make cross-
pollination by insects a likely occurence. Hybrid
seedlings, of course, might easily have been overlooked.
I cannot find any record of an attempt to make a
deliberate cross.

The clone ‘Gold Tips’, which was raised and
introduced by Maxwell & Beale in about 1948, as a
cultivar of E. arborea, has always puzzled me, and
others, because its flowers resemble those of E.

35

lusitanica and E. x veitchii more than those of E.
arborea. Recently I have made a very careful
comparison of these four plants and I am convinced that
‘Gold Tips’ is, in fact, a hybrid with the same parents as
E. x veitchii “Exeter. It is possible that FE. arborea
‘Alpina’ was one of the parents of “Gold Tips’, but this
could hardly have been so in the case of E. x veitchti
‘Exeter’, as the cultivar “Alpina’ was only introduced
into England in 1899.

I have tried to find out how °Gold Tips’ originated in
Maxwell & Bealés nursery,but without success. No clue
is given as to whether it was a sport or seedling, either in
Maxwell & Beale’s catalogue or in “The English
Heather Garden” by D. Fyfe Maxwell and P.S. Patrick.
The presumption is that it was a seedling.

The young stems of “Gold Tips’ are covered with
hairs which are partly simple and partly branched, like
those of E. x veitchii. The best time to examine the hairs
(a 10 or 15 x lens is required) is mid-June when the
young shoots are about three inches long. The hairs show
up well against the reddish-brown colour of the stems.
The leaves are much the same colour as those of
E.lusitanica, but their habit is that of E.arborea; they
grow out stiffly from the stem, instead of giving the
plumose effect of E. /usitanica. The bracteoles on the
pedicels and the base of the calyx resemble those of E.
arborea. The flowers are cylindrical like those of E.
lusitanica, but are slightly smaller and the anthers reach
almost to the lobes of the corollas, which are not so
recurved as the lobes of E. /usitanica. The young buds
are frequently pink but this colour disappears as soon as
the corolla develops. The style and the stigma, which are
exserted, and the shape of the ovary resemble those of
‘Exeter, and are intermediate between EF. arborea and
E. lusitanica; so are the anthers and their appendages,
which are similar to those of EF. /usitanica, but smaller
and pale pink, instead of brown. The time of flowering is
later than E. /usitanica but earlier than E. arborea.

In all respects the similarity between ‘Gold Tips’
and ‘Exeter’ is striking, although the former tends to

36

grow taller and more upright. The conclusion appears to
be unanswerable, that this is another hybrid with E.
arborea and E. lusitanica as its parents. Its name should
be E. x veitchii ‘Gold Tips’.

It has been suggested that E. x veitchii sets seed and
is fertile. This was the opinion of the late J. W. Porter, but
no-one appears to have put this to the test. If this were so,
‘Gold Tips’ could have been a seedling of EF. x veitchii
‘Exeter.

The tree heath ‘Pink Joy’ appeared among a batch
of seedlings in the nursery of P.G. Zwijnenburg of
Boskoop in Holland. It was first distributed in 1969 and
described in “Ericultura’’ (No.5, 1972, p.7), the Bulletin
of the Dutch Heather Society. The seed had been
collected from £. arborea and it was assumed that ‘Pink
Joy was a new variety of that species. I have since
verified that plants of FE. /usitanica were growing nearby.
Careful examination of authentic plants of ‘Pink Joy’ has
Shown that they have all the characteristics of FE. x
veitchii and it appears almost certain that this is another
hybrid, with the same parentage, which should be named
E. x veitchii ‘Pink Joy’.

Below is a comparative table showing the
characteristics of EF. arborea, E. x veitchii and E.
lusitanica. Both ‘Gold Tips’ and ‘Pink Joy’ closely
conform to those of E. x veitchii and should be shown as
cultivars of the hybrid.

References

Bean, W.J., Trees and Shrubs: Erica Veitchii X, Gardeners
Chronicle, 1905, Vol 37, 4th March, p.138

Erica Veitchii X, Gardeners Chronicle, 1905, Vol 37, 15th April, p.
228

Dallimore, W., Notes of the Week, The Garden, 1905, Vol 67, 20th
May, p. 298

Daillimore, W., An Uncommon Heath(Erica Veitchii), The Garden,
1907, Vol 71, 2nd March, p. 101

Bean, W.J., Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, 1st Edn,
London. John Murray, 1914, Vol 1, p. 525: 8th Edn, 1973, Vol 2, p.
111

37

Veitch’s Heath, My Garden, 1943, Vol 27, Dec., p. 522
McClintock, D., Notes on British Heaths: 2. Hybrids in Britain, The
Year Book of the Heather Society, 1965, Vol 1, No. 3, p. 15

Brickell,

C.D., Notes

XCIV, (9), p. 375
Maxwell, D. Fyfe, and Patrick, P.S. The English Heather Garden,
London, MacDonald, 1966, pp. 151 and 154-5

Chapple, Fred. J.,

The Heather Garden,

from Wisley, J.R.H.S.,

Ist Edn,

1969, Vol

London,

Collingridge, 1952, p. 137: 2nd Edn, 1960, p. 117; Revised Edn 1964,

pp. 143-4

Underhill, Terry L., Heaths and Heathers, Newton Abbot, David and
Charles, 1971, p. 199.
Proudley, Brian and Valerie, Heathers in Colour, London, Blandford
Press, 1974, p. 145.

1. Stems

2. Leaves

COMPARATIVE TABLE

E. arborea
Branched hairs

Stiff. 45° angle
to stem

3. Inflorescence

4. Flowers

5. Pedicels

6. Calyx

7. Corolla

Long spreading
panicles, up to
18 in. long

In clusters of 3
to 10

Bracteoles at
or near base,

(1.2mm)
Saccate. Lobes
ovate

White, glob
ular bell-
shaped. 3 mm
long. 2 mm

wide

E. x vettchii
Some branched

some simple
hairs
Intermediate.

45° angle to
stem

Open spreading
panicles,
pyramidal

In clusters of 3
to 6

Bracteoles mid-
way along
pedicel,
(1.2mm)
Saccate. Lobes
triangular
Cylindrical,
white 4.5mm
long. 2 mm
wide

E. lusitanica
Simple hairs

Soft and narrow.
Small angle to
stem

Upright panicles

In clusters of 3
(but sometimes
more)
Bracteoles
mostly less than
mid-way along
pedicel (0.8mm)
Not saccate.
Lobes triangular
Cylindrical,
white flushed
pink. 5mm long.
2.5mm wide

38

8. Stamens Anthers visible Anthers semi- Anthersincluded
in intersections exserted Appendages
of corolla lobes. Appendages pectinate, pro-
Appendages pectinate, nounced, brown
small, white. white to pink : 0.5mm
0.25mm 0.5mm

9. Stigma Style stout, Style stout, Style slender,
capitate, with4 capitate, ex- exserted. Tip
bosses on tip. serted. Tipwith concave (obcon-
Greenish white 4 bosses, white ical) with pink or
exserted to pink reddish lip

10. Ovary . Bowl-shaped, Semi-ovoid, Ovoid, green
green flushed green withpink flushed reddish
purple. 1 to flush 1.5mm brown. 2mm
1.5mm long’ long. l1mmwide long. 1mm wide
Imm wide

11. Time of MarchtoMay /JanuarytoMay November to

flowering May

(Since the above article was written, David McClintock
has come across the following note, written by the
Spanish botanist D. Maximo Laguna in “Flora Forestal
Espanola’, 1890, Vol 11, p. 73:- (1 translate)

**'.....in the mountains of Irisari (near San
Sebastian) we have collected specimens intermediate in
their characteristics between EF. arborea and E.
lusitanica.”

P. Gr T,)

The Classification of Hardy Winter-
flowering Heaths with notes on
Erica X darleyensis

A.W. Jones, West Camel, Somerset

Uncertainty has existed, even among know
ledgeable plantsmen, as to whether certain cultivars
should be placed in E. carnea or E. x darleyensis. 1
propose to cite some examples and then discuss the
diagnostic tests which may be used to distinguish
between E.carnea, E.erigena and E. x darleyensis. One

39

of these techniques is the examination ot pollen grains.
This technique has also provided some information on
the sterility of the hybrid and this is discussed in the latter
part of this article.

It was in 1914 that Bean(1) published the name E. x
darleyensis. He stated that the plant had “characteristics
intermediate between those of FE. carnea and E.
mediterranea (erigena)’. He went on to say - “In the
characters of its leaves, young wood, and flowers it is
identical with those two species, which themselves
scarcely differ, ...... it eventually forms dense masses 2 ft.
high - at least twice as high as carnea, yet never showing
any disposition to grow erect and form a single stem like
mediterranea ...... A valuable character of E. x
darleyensis is its habit of commencing to flower as early
as November - at least a month before E. carnea - and
continuing until May.” To my knowledge, Bean’s
Opinion on the parentage of the hybrid has never been
disputed, and is supported by the results of experiments
carried out by Mrs. Parris (2,3,4). The description in
later editions of Bean is identical but requires
modification in some details in the light of later
introductions. Mature plants of E. x darleyensis can
reach more than three feet in height, and plants of E.
carnea have been collected in the wild with stems 21
inches long (5). Most cultivars of E. x darleyensis that
we know today bloom from January to May, while a
number of cultivars of E. carnea begin to bloom in
November or earlier, a few even showing the extended
blooming period of E. x. darleyensis. (In many places E.
erigena ‘Irish Dusk’ and ‘Irish Salmon’ bloom from
November to May, but it would be difficult to mistake
these plants for cultivars of E. x darleyensis.)

All the cultivars of E. x darleyensis arose as chance
seedlings in cultivation, since nowhere do the parents
grow together in the wild. Possibly due to its horticultural
origin, &. x darleyensis seems to have received less
attention from botanists than for example, E. x watsonii,
E. x williamsii and E. x stuartii ( Bigesen), which all
occur in the wild.

The first example of uncertainty. is provided by

40

Maxwell and Patrick (6), who suspected that perhaps the
E. carnea cultivars ‘Aurea’ and ‘Eileen Porter’ should be
regarded as cultivars of hybrid origin. They also mention
an opinion that they did not share, that E. erigena “‘W.T.
Rackliff is a hybrid.

Another cultivar about which there has been a
question is “White Glow’. Here I will quote from a letter
to me, dated Dec. 10th 1977, from the finder, Jack
Drake of Inshriach Nursery. “I found it in the garden
here as a strong sport of E. carnea ‘Ruby Glow’ and
propagated it. ..... The cuttings developed into plants,
which looked almost identical to EF. carnea (or
darleyensis?) ‘Silberschmelze’ ..... The plant that we
raised, however, was a larger and stronger grower than
its host ‘Ruby Glow’ and seemed to have darleyensis

blood in it. This makes one wonder if the parent plant
also had darleyensis blood, although appearing to be a
true carnea.”’ As explained later in this article, “White
Glow is a cultivar of E. x darleyensis, but two questions
remain. In a note to David McClintock, dated May 15th
1967, Jack Drake confirmed his certainty that it was a
sport, and not a seedling growing through the carnea.
Furthermore, the winters in the Spey Valley are
frequently sufficiently severe to preclude the growing of
E. erigena, so whence the other parent?

A further example is provided by the cultivar ‘Pink
Spangles’. This was found in 1961 by Neil Treseder in a
garden in Devoran, Cornwall. The seedling was growing
at the foot of an E. erigena. (Later Mrs. Parris used E.
erigena as the female parent in her experiments.) At two
years old ‘Pink Spangles’ showed twice as much growth
as plants of E. carnea of the same age. On that evidence

it was sent to the Wisley trial as a hybrid in 1965 and in
1966 it was introduced by Treseders. At Wisley it was
considered to be an E. carnea and received its Award of
Merit under that name.

It is possible that plants showing exceptional vigour,
longer racemes or larger flowers than normal, such as E.
carnea ‘Pink Spangles’ (or E. erigena “Brian Proudley’),
may have extra chromosomes (North, 7). The
chromosome numbers of one hybrid and eight species of
European Evica have been determined, but none of them

41

on more than four occasions. All have proved so far to be
diploids with 2n=24. However, no work has been
published on their detailed cytology on the individual
cultivars, so this must, for the present, remain
speculation.

The first method of distinguishing between E.
carnea, E. erigena and E. x darleyensis is provided by
Bean’s description of the hybrid. In general, mature
plants with heights intermediate between E. carnea and
E. erigena will be hybrids. However this is not an
unambiguous diagnosis of hybrid origin. The results of
the Harlow Car trials (8) show that E. carnea ‘Myretoun
Ruby’ was as tall as FE. x darleyensis ‘J.W. Porter’ and
taller than E. x darleyensis ‘Margaret Porter’. It is thus
possible to be uncertain about tall growing EF. carnea
cultivars and low growing cultivars of E. x darleyensis,if
height is used as the sole diagnostic characteristic.
Furthermore, height is of little value for identifying the
correct classification of young plants.

Ross (9) has described two further points of
morphological difference between FE. carnea and E.
erigena, but he did not mention E. x darleyensis. The
first of these is that in mature flowers of E. carnea the
anthers are fully exserted, with their bases level with, or
above, the tips of the corolla lobes. In FE. erigena the
anthers are semi-exserted, with their bases only reaching
the sinuses between the corolla lobes. I have noticed that
FE. x darleyensis and E. carnea ‘Pink Spangles’ also have
semi exserted anthers, thus negating the diagnostic value
of this critical characterisic. His second point of
difference concerns the length and prominence of infra-
foliar ridges in the two species, which he illustrates. In E.
carnea these are half as wide as the leaf scar and extend
as far as the next whorl of leaves, while in E. erigena they
are much shorter and less prominent. My own
observations on fresh material suggests that E. x
darleyensis resembles E. carnea in this matter, but the
infra-foliar ridges cannot always be detected on E.
erigena stems. Most others have been unable to
distinguish between FE. erigena and E. carnea on the
basis of infra-foliar ridges, and the value of this “‘test”’
must be regarded as doubtful.

42

Yet another characteristic of hardy hybrids (but not
of the tree heaths), which has been noted by Maxwell
(10) and others, is the presence of coloured foliage. This
iS most noticeable on the new growth in spring, but it
persists on the mature foliage throughout the year to
some degree. There are a very few non-hybrid cultivars
that also have discoloured foliage. It is safe to say that ifa
plant does not have coloured foliage it is not a hybrid, but

if it does there is a slight chance that it is not e.g. E.
carnea ‘Lesley Sparkes’ and “W anda’.

Webb (11) gives the examination of pollen as a
method of distinguishing between E. tetralix and E. x
stuartii( praegeri). I therefore examined the pollen of a
number of unambiguous cultivars of EF. carnea, E.
erigena and E. x darleyensis in an attempt to find
reproduceable differences. I did this by expressing the
pollen from the anthers on to microscope slides and
examining them,using a simple optical microscope at a
magnification X 400. The pollen from E.
carnea appeared roughly triangular in shape, and was
approximately 25 micron ( 1 micron - 10~* metres)
across. That of FE. erigena gave an outline which was
slightly less angular and was approximately 20 micron in
diameter, The pollen from E. x darleyensis appeared
roughly spherical and was about half the size of that from
E.. carnea. These observations have been repeated by
Mrs. Parris. The size estimates for E. carnea and E.
erigena are in reasonable agreement with the
measurements given by Oldfield (12) and the shape of
the E. carnea pollen agrees with a micrograph in
Oldfield’s paper. Oldfield’s work was directed towards
the identification of fossilised pollen, and did not
consider E. x darleyensis.

On the basis of the observations which had been
made, the technique seemed to provide a method of
distinguishing between E. carnea, E. erigena and E. x
darleyensis, and I therefore examined the doubtful and
debated cultivars. These yielded the results that ‘Aurea’,
‘Lesley Sparkes’, ‘Pink Spangles’ and ‘Wanda’ were
cultivars of FE. carnea, ‘Ada S. Collings’ and “White

43

Glow were E. x darleyensis and*W.T. Rackliff was an
E. erigena. The results for all cultivars that have so far
been examined are given in an appendix at the end of this
article.

Micrographs of the pollen of seventeen species and
one hybrid of European Evica at magnifications up to
X30,000 have been produced by Visset (13,14) using
the scanning electron microscope. As with Oldfield,
Visset’s work was done for palaeo-botanic reasons, and
E. x darleyensiswas omitted. Dr. I.K. Ferguson of Kew,
kindly made for me scanning electron micrographs of
pollen from specimens of E. carnea ‘Vivellii’, E. erigena
‘Superba’ and EF. x darleyensis ‘Darley Dale’ which I
supplied. Some of these micrographs appear, with his
kind permission, elsewhere in this Year Book. The
micrographs of the pollen from the two species are very
similar to those published by Visset. They appear to
suggest that E. erigena should appear more angular than
E. carnea under the optical microscope, but it must be
remembered that in the latter instrument, under
transmitted light, only a silhouette is seen. If only the
outlines of the micrographs are considered, it will be seen
that there is no inconsistency.

The micrographs of E. x darleyensis pollen show it
to be very collapsed in comparison with its parents, and it
seems likely that the grains have no contents. Miss M.
Jones of the British Museum (N.H.) kindly carried out
differential staining test for me on E. x darleyensis
pollen, and indeed found that the grains which were
examined contained no cytoplasm (15). Both the
collapsed appearance of the pollen grains and the
absence of cytoplasm indicate that E. x darleyensis is
normally almost totally male sterile.

I know of no work on the ovary of E. x darleyensis
but I have traced these records of seed being produced by
this hybrid. The first of these is Porter's account of the
cultivar “Carryduff (16). This cultivar is thought to have
been lost, but I would be most interested to hear from
anyone who has an authentic example. McClintock (17)
reported the collection, by Mr. R. Measham of Exmouth,
of seed from a seedling authenticated by Wisley as E. x

44

darleyensis, and Underhill (18) has reported the
collection of seed by an un-identified research worker at
Boskoop, but does not give the name(s) of the plant(s)
from which the seed was obtained.

Both Mrs. Parris and I have tried, without success,
to fertilise E. x darleyensis with pollen from both its
parents. This cannot be regarded as evidence that the
hybrid is female sterile, as cross pollination of the
parents themselves by insects must occur quite
frequently in gardens and nurseries without viable seed
being produced, or if it is, without the progeny being
recognised.

It seems that E. x darleyensis is probably male
sterile and possibly female fertile, and furthermore, that
in cases of doubt it may be distinguished from its parents
by the discoloured leaves and in detail by a simple optical
microscopic test.

Finally I should like to thank all those who have
helped and encouraged me in this work. Most have been
mentioned in the text, but I must especially thank David
McClintock for his invaluable help and advice, both in
the work and in preparing this article for publication

SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF MICRO-
SCOPIC EXAMINATION OF POLLEN GRAINS

E. carnea - ‘Adrienne Duncan’, ‘Alan Coates’, ‘Ann Sparkes’,
‘Aurea’, “Foxhollow Fairy’, ‘Gracilis’*, ‘Jennifer
Anne’, ‘King George**, ‘Lesley Sparkes’,
‘Myretoun Ruby’**, ‘Pink Pearl’, ‘Pink Spangles’,
‘Praecox Rubra’, “Ruby Glow’, ‘Snow Queen’,
‘Springwood White’, ‘Vivellii’, ‘Wanda’, ‘Winter
Beauty’**

E. x darleyensis-‘ Ada S. Collings’, ‘Arthur Johnson’, ‘Darley Dale’**,
‘Ghost Hills’, ‘Jack H. Brummage’, ‘J.W. Porter’**,
Mrs. Parris’s Hybrid A, Mrs. Parris’s Hybrid C ,
‘Silberschmelze’**, ‘White Glow’

MRS We WS RIVE SEE wW/ oiive late
The President of the Heather Society

Erica ‘Stuartii’ showing reversion to typical k. x praegeri.
Photo by Professor D.A. Webb.

Erica carnea pollen grain

Scanning electron micrographs by Dr. I.K. Ferguson

Erica erigena pollen grain

Lrica x pollen grain

JOHN ARDRON

45

E. erigena - ‘Brian Proudley’, ‘Irish Dusk’, ‘Irish Salmon’**,
“Superba’, ‘W.T. Rackliff'**

* Examined by Mrs. A.A. Parris.

** Examined by Mrs. Parris and the author independently.

(‘Eileen Porter’ did not yield any pollen, an observation that was again

confirmed by Mrs. Parris, but it is considered to be a cultivar of E.

carnea on the grounds of the absence of discoloured foliage and fully

exserted, but aborted, anthers.)

References
1. Bean, W.J., Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles,
Ist Edn, London, John Murray, 1914, Vol 1, p.
521
2. Parris, A.A., Preliminary note on a cross between Erica
erigena and Erica carnea, Year Book of the
Heather Society, 1976, Vol 2, No. 5, pp. 48-9
3. Parris, A.A., Further note on a cross between Erica erigena
and Erica carnea, ibid., 1977, Vol 2, No. 6, p.
10
4. Parris, A.A., Further notes on the induced Erica erigena x
Erica carnea hybrids, ibid., 1978, Vol2, No. 6,
pp. 42-3
5. McClintock, D., private communication dated 16th Jan. 1979
6. Maxwell, D. Fyfe, and Patrick P.S. The English Heather Garden,
London, MacDonald, 1966, pp. 86-9 and 100
7. North, C., Plant breeding, The Garden, 1978, Vol 103,
No. 12, p. 470
8. Heather Trials 1971-5, (Vickers, G.P., Ed.), Leicester, The
Heather Society, 1976
9. Ross, R., On some Linnaean species of Erica, J. Linn.
Soc. (Bot), 1967, Vol 60, No. 381, pp. 61-73
10. Maxwell, D. Fyfe,The Low Road, London, Sweet & Maxwell,
1927, p. 70
11. Webb, D.A., Erica L. Hybridisation and the Flora of the
British Isles, (Stace, C.A., Ed.), London,
Academic Press, 1975, p. 339
12. Oldfield, F., The Pollen Morphology of Some of the West
European Ericales, Pollen et Spores, 1959, Vol
1, No. 2, pp. 19-48
13. Visset, L., Etude au microscope électronique a balayage
des pollens des espéces européennes du genre
Erica L., Bull. Soc. bot Fr., 1975, Vol 122,
No. 5-6, pp. 203-16

46

14. Visset, L., Compléments pour la Determination au
Microscope électronique a balayage des
Ericacées du Massif Armoricain Bull. Soc. Sci
nat. Ouest Fr., 1972, Vol 70, pp. 13-16

15. Jones, M., private communication dated 27th Feb. 1978

16. Porter, J. W., Erica carnea ‘Eileen Porter’.
AGS Bulletin, 1957, Vol 25, p. 101
(correcting an entry on p. 84)

17. McClintock, D., Self Fertility of Heaths, Bulletin of the Heather
Society, 1968, Vol 1, No. 5, p. 4

18. Underhill, T.L., private communication dated 22nd Dec. 1977.

NEW ACQUISITIONS
J. Platt, Ulnes Walton, Nr. Leyland, Lancashire

(Mr. Platt continues to add to his collection of
cultivars. Below are described the plants he has obtained
in 1978. Some of these have been available, but not
widely, for a few years, some are quite new, one very
important one being described for the first time here. The
sources of earlier published descriptions, where known,
are given in parentheses - for example (P.G.12) - Pocket
Guide to Heather Gardening, 1978 Edn. p. 12. It must
be remembered that as these plants are quite new, we do
not have an accurate idea of their ultimate size and the
heights that are given are estimates. Ed.)

Calluna vulgaris

*Chindit’ Aug.- Sept.
25cm. Pale lilac-mauve flowers. Low growth with twisted stems
and grey-green foliage. Introduced by Williams Parsons by
1977. (PZG 2}

“Dunnet Lime’ Aug.- Sept.
25cm. Lilac pink flowers. Foliage yellow-green in summer.
with orange tips in winter. Found by David McClintock near
Dunnet Head. Caithness. in 1972. (P.G.12).

*‘Dunwood Sept.- Dec.
30cm. Flowers remain in bud and appear crimson. Foliage dark
ereen. A very attractive plant. Introduced by 1977 by Mr. and
Mrs. Warner.

47

“Glen Mashie’ Aug.- Sept.
20cm. White flowers freely borne. Spreading growth. A nice
plant. Known by 1973. (P.G.13)

‘Grey Carpet’ Aug.- Sept.
15cm.Mauve flowers: A slow growing plant with a spreading
habit and grey downy foliage. Seedling in David McClintock’s
garden in 1969, named by Will Ingwersen (P.G.14)

‘Grizzly’ Sept.- Oct.
70cm. Lilac-pink flowers. Upright growth with grey foliage. A
vigorous plant introduced in 1966. (P.G.14)

‘Hamlet Green’ Aug.- Sept.
30cm. Flowers mauve. A most unusual cultivar, different from
any other. Foliage is yellowish grey-green in summer, changing
to orange yellow-green in winter. Found by Albert Turner in
1972.

‘Ide’s Double’ Aug.- Oct.
Flowers double, heliotrope. Open habit with green foliage.
A seedling among ‘Ruth Sparkes’. Introduced by R.A. Ide:
This. plant is said to be very similar to ‘Tib’.

‘Olive Turner’ Sept.
40cm. Mauve flowers, very sparse, if at all. A nice foliage plant
with cream tips in spring, which keeps its colour well into
summer at Ulnes Walton. Introduced by 1975. (P.G.16 and
Year Book, 1976. p.56)

“Orange Max’ July - Aug.
20cm. Light purple flowers. Foliage bronze-yellow in summer,
turning bronze-red in winter.Open spreading habit. Seedling in
J. Dekker’s garden, introduced in 1975. (P.G.16)

‘Parsons Gold’ Aug.- Sept.
25cm. Pink flowers. Compact, slender habit, foliage gold tinted
bronze which darkens in winter. Introduced by William Parsons
pre 1977. (P.G.16).

‘Parsons Grey Selected’ Aug.- Sept.
35cm. Mauve flowers. Loose habit with twisted stems and pale
grey foliage. Introduced by William Parsons pre 1977.
(P.G.16)

‘Parsons Spectrum’ Sept.- Oct.
45cm. Pale lavender-mauve flowers. Spring foliage in shades of
orange, pink and cream carried in an upright habit. Introduced
in 1973. Seedling with William Parsons. (P.G.16)

‘Schurig’s Sensation’ Aug.- Oct.
50cm. Double flowers of dark rose pink, which appear deeper
than those of ‘Peter Sparkes’. A sport on ‘H.E. Beale’ found by
K-H. Schurig of Barmstedt in 1967. Introduced in 1973.
(Year Book, 1977, p.32 and P.G.17) |

48

‘Springbank’ Aug.- Sept.
25cm. Mauve flowers. Spring foliage tipped red. Very compact
growth. By 1975 (P.G.18)

‘White Lawn’ Aug.- Sept.
Habit completely prostrate. White flowers on long spikes. At
three years the spread is 30cm. This plant is a real gem and
should be in every heather garden. (P.G.18)

Erica carnea

‘Altadena’ Feb.- April
15cm. Pale cerise flowers. Yellow foliage which is tipped pink
and bronze at various times of the year. Slightly redder in winter
than ‘Foxhollow’. Seedling found by Alan Taylor circa 1973.

‘John Kampa’ Feb.- April
15cm. Flowers dark rose pink. Spreading open habit. Found by
Mr. Kampa and introduced in 1974. (P.G.20)

Erica cinerea

‘Bucklebury Red’ July - Sept.
15cm. Scarlet-crimson flowers. Tall upright growth with dark
green foliage. Introduced by 1977 by William Parsons. (P.G.22)

‘Mrs. E.A. Mitchell’ July - Aug.
25cm. Magenta flowers. Low open growth with dark green
foliage. (P.G.24) Introduced by G.H. Mitchell 1965.

Erica erigena

‘Bnan Proudley’ Nov.- April
120cm. White flowers, yellow in bud, very freely borne in
30cm. long racemes. A very vigorous shrub with an erect open
habit. This was collected by John Letts and Mrs. Proudley from
the late J.W. Porter’s garden in 1968. It is named, with Brian
Proudley’s permission, on account of the exceptional
length of the racemes, which make it quite distinct from ‘Alba’.
An outstanding plant.

Erica x darleyensis

‘Dunreggan’ (formerly “Snowdrift’) Nov.- April
45cm. Pure white flowers with light brown anthers. Upright
compact growth. Lemon tips to spring foliage. A free flowerer,
the young plants being in full bloom in November 1978. This
plant originated as a sport from ‘Silberschmelze’. Introduced by
Oliver & Hunter and on sale 1978.

“White Perfection’ Dec.- April
45cm. Creamy white flowers over dark green foliage. Upright
open habit. Seedling circa 1972 with H. Knol of Gorssel, who
named and introduced the plant. (P.G.26)

49

Erica arborea

‘Albert’s Gold’ March - May
White flowers. Gold foliage throughout the year. Found as a
sport on ‘Alpina’ in Albert Turner’s garden in 1971. A very
choice plant. (This plant was distributed as ‘Alpine Gold’ in
1977 and early 1978).

The Establishment of Rooted
Cuttings of Erica and Calluna

Cultivars
D. Edge, Ringwood, Hampshire

This article is based on my training and experience
as a professional grower. It must be borne in mind that
my prime aim is to produce plants of high quality within a
reasonable period of time. My heathers are grown in 3%
inch plastic containers.

The main factors affecting the establishment of
rooted cuttings are:

Climatic conditions and protection.
Pests and diseases.

1. Time of potting-on.

2. Soil type.

3. Fertilizer and trace element availability.
4. Watering.

3.

6.

1. Time of potting-on.

Although the time of potting-on is not critical, it
partially depends on whether protection is available.
Late autumn and winter-potted cuttings, which are not
protected from frost, are likely to be lifted and will thus
require constant attention to ensure that young roots
remain covered with soil. However, I have found that
cuttings rooted during July or September, and having a
good root system, may be potted during October and
November of the same year. These plants, given
protection, establish an initial primary root system

50

throughout the autumn and winter and therefore have
an advantage over spring-potted cuttings. The spring
growth is produced earlier and to a greater extent.

2. Soil type.

Although heathers can be grown successfully in
various types of compost of suitable pH. I believe that
the compost should provide the plants with a good
reserve of nutrients. This reserve is essential if the plants
are to retain their attractiveness prior to purchase.

The compost selected should possess the following
properties:

a. pH between 5 and 6.

b. Allow easy penetration by the roots of the

young plants and yet give the plants adequate

Support.

ra Retain sufficient moisture for the plants’
needs.

d. Allow sufficient drainage to remove excess
water.

e. Retain, for a sufficient period, the nutrients
and trace elements required for healthy
growth.

i Be easily available and simple to handle.

The potting compost I have found to give the best results
is composed of three parts peat, two parts sand and one
part soil, all by volume. To each cubic yard of this
mixture I add two and a half pounds of Osmocote, six
ounces of fritted trace elements and one ounce of
Aeterra. These additions are discussed in more detail
below.

3. Fertilizer requirements.

Osmocote is a relatively new plastic coated pelleted
fertilizer. This ensures a slow release of nutrients and
provides the plants with nitrogen. phosphorus and
potassium for a period of up to twelve months. This
removes the need for repeated liquid feeding.

Fritted trace elements are included in the compost
to prevent any deficiency of them. Although heathers are
not acutely sensitive to a deficiency of trace elements.

51

and the inclusion of loam in the compost will tend to
provide a limited supply, I still find it best to add the frit.
4. Watering.

Water should ideaily be slightly acid (pH of 7 or
less). Application should be by a fine sprinkler and
applied as necessary to keep the compost moist without
water-logging. The most critical period is immediately
following potting-on when the young roots are just
covered by the soil surface and therefore liable to shrivel
if drying out occurs.

5. Climatic conditions.

Generally speaking temperature control is
unnecessary. Only protection from extremes of
temperature is needed, but frost protection throughout
the winter aids growth and establishment. It may be
provided in the form of walk-in or low level polythene
tunnels, frames or cloches, plastic netting or green-
houses.

6. Pests and diseases.

Heathers are not subject. to any pest sufficiently
generally to warrant its discussion in an article of this
sort. The only serious disease, Phytophthora cinn-
amomit, is very difficult to control and only recently have
Suitable chemicals become available to nurserymen.
Symptoms are similar to those caused by drought. It is a
fungus which kills the roots of the plant whose foliage
first fades and eventually becomes brown.

As always prevention is better than cure and thus
good hygiene is the primary factor in limiting the spread.
ny dead plants should be immediately removed and
unhealthy ones placed in a quarantine area. Pots,
soil etc. should not be re-used unless sterilized. The
addition of Aeterra to the potting compost provides
protection against Phytophthora for approximately eight
weeks but has no curative action.

52

Potting On
T: Clancy, Aylsham, Norfolk

Having either purchased your rooted cuttings, or
rooted them yourself, you are faced with the problem of
what medium to use when potting on, and what size pot.

The size of pot is no real problem. I have used three-
inch rigid plastic pots and three-inch black polythene
bags. The former are useful if the ensuing plant is to be
planted out in a relatively short time, say three months.
They do have two disadvantages; namely the plants
soon become pot bound and they dry out very quickly.
Thus they need to be watered regularly. To reduce the
watering I made a bed of sharp sand on top of a sheet of
black polythene and buried the pots to half their depth in
the sand. Watering twice a week in the dry weather was
ample, whereas before,the plants had had to be watered
every day. The three-inch black polythene pots have the
disadvantage of using twice as much of the potting
medium. Drying out does not pose the same problem in
this case. I believe that the loss of many young plants
when potted on is due to shortage of water. Just one day
without water and they die. On the other hand too much
water is just as bad.

Next comes the choice of growing medium. I have
tried several, all with varying rates of success. The first
was Jiffy 7’s. I thought that, as the mixture was peat-
based and contained nutrients, the rooted cuttings could
do nothing but succeed. I was wrong, and it proved to be
an expensive lesson. Three hundred cuttings were potted
on into Jiffy 7’s and I lost one hundred and eighty five.
Those which survived made reasonable plants, but the
roots seemed to have difficulty in breaking out of the
mesh containers. Once dry, these are very difficult to re-
moisten. The medium obviously did not agree with
certain plants, for example Evica cinerea ‘Golden
Drop’. All twenty rooted cuttings died, some slower than
others; not one survived in this medium.

The second method was a50/50 mixture of peat and
sharp sand, supplemented with a liquid feed of Coltishall

53

Red Fertilizer. I thought that, as the cuttings had rooted
in this very mix, to pot on into this mixture could do no
harm, but of course a feed would be necessary. I chose
this fertilizer because it was low in nitrogen and high in
phosphorus and potassium. Two hundred cuttings were
potted in this mixture. Thirty were lost, but some of these
were weakly rooted in the first place. Healthy plants
were obtained and none seemed to dislike the medium.

This year I had to change the mixture,as my original
supply of sharp sand had run out and I was reluctant to
use builders sharp sand. I chose a 50/50 mixture of peat
and potting grit. The Coltishall Fertilizer was no longer
manufactured, so I chose Phostrogen as the liquid feed
with this mixture. The rooted cuttings seemed to do quite
well, but the mixture appeared to be too coarse: care had
to be taken when planting out as the root ball broke rather
easily. Strong sturdy plants were obtained. Very few
were lost, only thirty out of four hundred, but I cannot say
that the final plants were as good as I had obtained last
year.

Finally, I decided to try Arthur Bowers Ericaceous
Mix, as David Small highly recommended this when I
purchased some rooted cuttings. I decided to compare it
with the mixture above. The growth of the cuttings was
tremendous, and the root bali very good. Nothing I have
used previously can compare with the rapid growth
obtained with this mixture. Will the growth be too tender
to withstand the frost and winds of winter? This is the
question I have to ask myself and I am now waiting to see
what happens.

In conclusion I can say that the Bowers Ericaceous
Mix has given me the best results this year. Next year I
_ will try the following mixtures as I am not convinced that
the Bowers Mix by itself is a complete answer. It does
appear to become waterlogged easily.

Mix A
50/25/25 Peat/Grit/Sharp sand
Liquid feed - Sangral
Chrysanthemum & Dahlia

54

Mix B 50/25/25 Peat/Grit/Sharp sand

Liquid feed - Phostrogen
Mix C TS/i25 Bowers Mix/Sharp sand
Mix D S25 Bowers Mix/Perlite

The addition of sharp sand to the Bowers Mix is to
try to improve drainage. The use of Perlite in place of
Sharp sand is again a recommendation from David
Small.

“Correct pruning must start at the rooted cutting stage.
ce when potting or planting out in the spring the tips are
nipped off to promote side shoots. As some of the more
vigorous varieties such as “Springwood White’ or
mediterranea ‘Superba will grow as much as 4
inches without side shoots, these are shortened to 2
inches or less so that side shoots are formed low down to
form the basis of a neat bushy plant. For Cal/una,
cinerea and vagans, side shoots are required lower so the
cuttings are nipped off to an even lower level.

During the first few months of growth the plants are
examined and if bushy growth is not produced the longer
side shoots are nipped shorter resulting in further side
shoots and so a symmetrical bushy plant results.”

F.Hamer and G.P. Vickers, Pruning Heathers, Year
Book of the Heather Society, 1973, Vol2, No. 2, p.30.

55

Personal and Place Names used for
Hardy Heathers

SECOND SUPPLEMENT
David McClintock, Platt, Kent

Lists were given in the Year Books for 1971-2 and
1976 of personal names used for hardy heathers, and in
1973-6 of place names. (A similar list for Cape Heaths
has awaited comment for two years).

There was no clue to whom or to where some of
these names referred: anyone who knew was asked to
pass on the information. No-one ever has! This may well
be because nobody, or practically nobody, knows; but I
did discover one correction by chance from a member
who didn’t know I didn’t know.

I most sincerely thank the dozens of people who
have answered letters, but please see if we cannot get
some of these unknowns clarified - they are those giving,
in brackets, only the earliest traced place and date.

PERSONAL NAMES:

Leaf Agnew (cinerea). (Argyll, 1966).

Albert’s Gold (arborea). Albert Turner of Birmingham, finder, 1971.

Almi (Calluna).Wife of W. Harten of Lutterloh, Germany. pre 1978.

Kirsty Anderson (Calluna). (Delaney & Lyle, 1973).

Asso (tetralix). 1.J. Asso del Rio, of Saragossa (1742-1814)

Eric Birse (tetralix). Finder's father, of Aberdeen, 1976.

Anja Blum (cinerea). Third daughter of H.J.M. Blum _ of
Steenwijkerwold, 1976.

Marion Blum (Calluna). Eldest daughter of H.J.M. Blum, 1974.

Candollei (erigena). A.P. de Candolle of Geneva (1778-1841).

Catherine (Ca/luna). Daughter of raiser, C.T. Harding of Puddington,
Cheshire, 1973.

Cinderella (Daboecia cantabrica). No special connection, pre 1970.

R.B. Cook (carnea). Horticulturalist, of Corbridge (1881-1973).

Richard Cooper (Calluna). (Listed by Pennyacres, 1977).

Corbett’s Red (Calluna). (Darthuizer, 1977).

56

Dallimorei (syn. of x darleyvensis). W. Dallimore of Kew (1871-
1959).
Dandy ( Ca/iuna). Mrs. Ruth Dandy of Eccleston, 1975.
Nellie Dawson(cinerea). Wife (d.1976) of Stanley Dawson of Sandal,
Yorks.

Dickson's Blazes (Calluna). A retired colleague of R.J. Brien, by
1976. But ““Dickson’s Blazes” was also the bright light from the
forge near Lanark, seen from the train pre-1914.

Hermann Dykhuizen (cinerea). Finder, ir Spain 1972.

Eric Eason (Calluna). “Mr. Bumby”’, helper of H. Mitchell, raiser, of

Yorks, c. 1972.

Forskaltt (syn. of manipuliflora). P. Forskal of Helsingfors (1732-

63).
ue (Calluna). Wife of M.G. Frye, raiser, of Essex, 1975.
B.M. Goffey (Calluna). (Hayes, pre ;1935).
Gwenda (Calluna). Mrs. A. Richmond, then of Crowborough, pre
1976.

Hardwick’s Rose (cinerea). R.E. Hardwick of Newick, Sussex, by
1965.

Ide’s Double (Calluna). R.A. Ide of Camberley, Surrey, by 1976.

Ilka (Calluna). Daughter of finder, B. Aalderink of Zelhem, Holland,
by 1973.

Isobel Hughes (Ca/luna). Seedling in Mrs. Hughes’ garden at
Bearsden, c. 1970.
Jack's Favourite (Calluna). (In New Zealand long before 1977).
Jan (Calluna). Mrs. Janet Longhurst of Crowborough, finder - and it
flowers in Jan.
John Ardron (cinerea) A Vice- president of the Heather Society
(1896-1978)
Ewan Jones (erigena). Eldest son (b.1970) of Mr. and Mrs. A.W.
Jones of West Camel, Somerset, 1973.
Longfellow (Calluna). Name given by P.S. Patrick in reference to
himself - he was tall, C. 1970.
James McCluskey (ciliaris). Boy employed by R.J. Brien, c. 1976.
Betty Macdonald (cinerea). Mrs. Macdonald of Taynuilt, wife of
finder, 1957
Christina MacDonald (cinerea). Mrs. Bezzant’s mother, of Bettyhill,
1974.
Diana Macdonald(cinerea). Younger sister of finder, N. Macdonald of
Taynuilt, 1971.

Mrs. H.V. Manning (Daboecia x scotica). Of Manning's Heather
Farm, Sebastopol, California, by 1976.

Marie(Ca/luna). Finder, employee at K. Kramer's Nursery, Suddorf,
Germany c. 1973.

Maura (mackatana). Miss M.J.P. Scannell of Glasnevin, finder in

1970.

57

Mauvelyn (Calluna). Invented name, connected with flower colour,

_ pre 1972.

Golden Max (Calluna). Max is J. Dekker’s, the finder’s, dog, pre
1975.

Orange Max (Calluna). See above.

Red Max (Calluna). See above.

Minerva (Calluna). Roman goddess of wisdom. At Spaeth’s 1939.

Herbert Mitchell (Calluna). Seedling named by H. Mitchell after
himself, c. 1966.

Morvarid (Calluna). Persian girl’s name, c. 1970.

Parsons Gold (Calluna). W.R.A. Parsons of Woolhampton, pre
1977.

Parsons Grey Selected (Ca/luna). See above.

Penaz (cinerea). Mr. Penaz, chief of State Nursery, Litomizy]l,
Czechoslovakia, pre 1976.

Petra (Calluna). P. van Dijk, grand-daughter of P.J. Zwijnenburg,
1971

Barbara Phillips (Daboecia cantabrica). Wife of Brig. C.E. Lucas
Phillips, 1976.

David Platt (Calluna). Seedling in his father, J. Platt’s garden at
Ulnes Walton, Lancs., 1975.

Julie Ann Platt (Calluna). Daughter of J. Platt, by 1977.

Platt’s Surprise (Calluna). J. Platt of Ulnes Walton, Lancs., 1976.

Arthur Pooley (Calluna). Man who noticed sport at Proudleys, 1964.

Porter's Red (carnea). (Mrs. Harper in 1960’s).

Brian Proudley (erigena). Nurseryman and author.

Carl Roders (Calluna). Of Soltau, Germany, (d. 1965).

Happy Sam (Calluna). Nobody. Synonym of ‘Braemar’, c. 1972.

Schurig’s Sensation (Calluna). K;H. Schurig of Barmstedt, Germany,
1967.

John Simmerson (Calluna). Gt.-gt-nephew of Mrs. Godbolt of
Crowborough, 1976.

Margaret Simmerson (Calluna). Gt.-gt.-niece of Mrs. Godbolt, 1976.

Dr. Small’s Seedling (cinerea). Dr. A.W. Small of Middlesborough;
plant from Co. Galway, by 1977.

Valerie Smith(vagans). Daughter of S. Dawson of Wakefield, 1970.

Stella Felicity (cinerea). (Sparkes, 1972).

Jack Stitt (x darleyensis). Lt.Col. J. Stitt of Blairgowrie, by 1977.

Susan (Calluna). (Maxwell & Beale.)

Sylvia (Calluna). Mrs. Douglas Ward of Lawton Tower, York, c.
1970.

Terrick’s Orange (Calluna). (Harlow Car, 1975).

Hilda Turberfield (Calluna). Wife of C. Turberfield of Blyth, Notts.,
pre 1976.

58

Amanda Wain (Calluna). (Woolworths, 1977):

Waley’s Red (Daboecia cantabrica). F.R. Waley of Sevenoaks,
finder, in Spain c. 1970

Wanda (carnea). (At Pennyacres Nurseries by 1976).

Gwen Whatmore (cinerea). Of Lyndhurst, Hants., 1973.

Claire Wilkinson (carnea). Gt.-grandmother of the Simmersons,
1976.

Alison Yates, (Calluna). Seedling in her father’s nursery, 1973.

Heather Yates (Daboecia cantabrica). As above, by 1977.

Yvonne (cinerea). Daughter of D. Boer of Boskoop, finder, 1976.

Yvonne Claire (Calluna). Miss Wilson, niece of raiser, H. Mitchell of
Yorks., $972.

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES

Altadena (carnea). Home of Mrs. Godbolt of Crowborough, c. 1973.

Angarrack (cinerea). Village in Cornwall, 1974.

Barnellan (cinerea). Cottage near Tarbet, Scotland, c. 1973.

Beoley Crimson (Calluna). Village near Sparkes nursery, Worcs., pre
1973.

Beoley Pink (carnea). As above.

Beoley Silver (Calluna). As above.

bethurica (australis). Roman region between rivers Betis and Urium in
S. Spain.

Braeval (Calluna)(not Briavel) Hill at Aberfoyle, by 1972.

Bucklebury Red (cinerea). Common near Newbury, Berks., by 1977.

Callander (cinerea). Town in Perthshire, by 1976.

Covadonga (Daboecia cantabrica). N. Spain, 1973.

Dart’s Amethyst (Calluna). Darthuizer Nurseries, Leersum, Holland,
by 1976

Dart’s Beauty (Calluna). As above.

Dart’s Brilliant (Calluna). As above.

Dart’s Flamboyant (Calluna). As above.

Dart’s Hedgehog (Calluna). As above, by 1977.

Dart’s Parrot (Calluna). As above, by 1976.

Dart’s Squirrel (Calluna). As above.

Dart’s Surprise (Calluna). As above.

D¢gmmesmoen (carnea). Horticultural School in Norway, by 1971.

Dunkeld White (Calluna). Town in Perthshire, 1976.

Dunnet Lime (Calluna). Dunnet Head, Caithness, 1972.

Dunoon Queen (Calluna). Town in Argyll, Scotland, 1976.

Dunreggan (x darleyensis). (Part of Moniaive, Dumfriesshire where

Olive and Hunter’s nursery is situated. 1978)

Dunwood (Calluna). Hamlet in Staffs.. near Warners’ nursery, by

1977.

Egdon Heath (ciliaris). Heath in Thomas Hardy’s novels, set in S.E.

Dorset, named 1978.

59

Estrella Gold (arborea). Sierra da Estrela, Portugal, 1972.

Felthorpe (cinerea). Village in Norfolk, pre 1978.

galaica (erigena). Galicia, Spain, 1946.

Glendoick Silver (Cailuna). Gardens near Perth, by 1975.

Glen Mashie (Calluna). Scottish distillery, by 1973.

Glen Roy (cinerea). Near Fort William, Scotland, by 1970.

Hamlet Green(Calluna). The Hamlet, Hall Green, Birmingham, Mr.
A. Turner’s house, 1972.

Heidberg (Calluna). Hospital at Hamburg/Langenhorn, pre 1968.

L’Ancresse (Calluna). The common in N.Guernsey, 1969.

Leon (Calluna). Village S. of Bordeaux, France 1969.

Linford (tetralix). Village NE. of Ringwood, Hants., 1963.

Mercedes Gold (scoparia). Teneriffe, 1972.

Mizzen (Calluna). Mizzen Head, farthest S. tip of Ireland, by 1976.

Moss Morar (Calluna)-(not Mossy Morar) Area near Clydebank,
Scotland, by 1976.

Murcar (cinerea). Golf course near Aberdeen, c. 1974.

Norden (ciliaris). Norden Heath, Dorset, 1929.

Oxabach Carpet (Calluna). Oxabach Mountain, Sweden, pre 1976.

Picos Pygmy (arborea). Picos do Europa, Spain, 1972.

Putford Pink (x darleyensis). West Putford, Holsworthy, Devon;
village of L. Woolner’s house, c. 1976.

Rijneveld (cinerea). Street in Boskoop, with nursery of
R. Zwijnenburg, finder in Portugal, 1972.

St. Kilda Whites (Calluna). Island group in N. Atlantic, off Scotland,
by 1966.

Sedlonov (Calluna). Village in Czechoslovakia, pre 1975.

Springbank (Calluna). (at Pennyacres in 1975)

Spring Cottage Crimson (carnea). Mrs. Parris’s house near Usk,
S. Wales, by 1976.

Sutherland Late (Ca/lluna). County of N W Scotland, by 1976.

Tabramhill (Daboecia x scotica). G. Yates nursery, then near
Nottingham, by 1976.

Terschelling (tetralix). Dutch island, plant found near Hoorn, 1972.

Torogay (Calluna). Islet off N coast of N Uist, and house opposite,
belonging to sister of finder, 1975

Torrisdale Bay (Calluna). Sutherland, N Scotland, by 1976.

vetonicae (erigena). for plant from Province Caceras, Spain.

_ Wentwood Red (carnea). In Forest of Dean, c. 1965.

West End (cinerea). Village near Woking, Surrey, by 1973.

Winsley (Calluna). Mrs. V.O., Poole’s garden at Crowborough, by

1976.

60

AMELIORATIONS

In addition to the names listed here for the first time, earlier entries
for the following need to be amplified or amended:-

Archie Graham (x darleyensis). Former Superintendent of Belfast
Botanic Gardens Park.

Mrs. E.A. Mitchell (cinerea). Wife of H. Mitchell of Nawton, Yorks.,
1965.

G. Rendall (x darleyensis). C.D. Eason’s father in law.

Roma (Calluna). Wife of E. Hoare.

Smith’s Lawn (cinerea). In Windsor Great Park.

One of two other minor corrections need not be set out here.
In all, about 550 such names have now been listed, almost equally
divided between people and places.

‘**We went to the barn, and tyed up twae prime
heather lights, thrae a bunch or twae, which I had gae’d
the miller lad dry on the killn ten days afore. They may
talk o’ ruffies and birk bark baith; but gie me a good
heather light, weel dried on the killn, for a throat o’ the
Queed.”’

William Scrope, Days and Nights of Salmon
Fishing in the Tweed, 1843.

The lights referred to were used for the, then legal,
method of taking salmon in low water known as “burning
the water’. The fish were driven from their lies by the
blazing heather, and by its light were speared with
“‘leisters’’, long-handled iron forks with five, barbed,
tines.

61

Recent writings on Heathers 1978

ANON. Plant of the week. Erica carnea. Amateur Gardening, 1978,
25th March p.25 “Here is heather to grow’.

ANON. Deep Freeze. Garden News, 1978, 19th August.
Gen. Turpin’s early flowering species kept four months in deep
freeze.

ANON. Gesellschaft der Heidefreunds. Garten Praxis, 1977, Vol 10,
p.517
Details of the new “Pflanzenliebhabergesellschaft’’. The
Heather Society is on p 515, “important for all who like
heathers’’.

AUBERT, G. Relations entre le sol et cing espéces d’Ericacees dans
le sud-est de la France.
Oecologia Plantarum, Vol 13, No.3, pp.258-69.
The physio-chemical soil conditions which determine the
distribution in Provence of E. multiflora, E. arborea, E.
scoparia and Calluna.

BALLESTER, A. ALBO, J.M. and VIETTEZ, E. The allelopathic
potential of Erica scoparia. Oecologia, Vol 30, pp.55-61
The suppression of herbs, especially grasses, in heathlands can
be explained, at least partially, by phytochemical action of E.
scoparia.

BANNISTER, P. Flowering and shoot extension in heath plants of
different geographical origin. Jnl. Ecology, 66, 117-31
In E. cinerea and Calluna late flowering tended to be
associated with a warm southerly origin; early flowering and a
rapid rate of extension with a northerly one.

BROUGH, P. R. and McCLINTOCK, D. Heathers with parts in fives
or sixes.
Watsonia, Vol 12, No. 2, pp.156-7.
An account and assessment of those forms, unstable at least in
E. tetralix.

CARON, J.E.A. Ziekten en plagen in Erica en Calluna. Groen, Vol
10, pp.399-400.
Expert comments and advice on Phytophthora, Thread Mould,
Grey Mould etc. and the new Glomerella cingulata beetle.

COURIER, J. Good Hope for Cape Heaths, Amateur Gardening,
1978, 28th December pp.60-3.
Milton Hutching’s nursery and good advice. Colour photos of
‘Delight’ and Snowfall’.

DEPPE, R. Plus 12,000 Prozent. Garicnbone - Gartenwelt, 46,
1136-7.
The 25th anniversary of Azerca. In 1954 members sold 27,000
Ericas, in 1978 4,603,300 - 12,000% up. But these will be E.
gracilis. —

62

de SMIDT, J.T. Heathland vegetation in the Netherlands.
Phytocoenologia 4(3) 258-316
A thorough “syntaxonomic”’ survey, for addicts.

EAGER, A.R. Early cultivation of Erica ciliaris and a list of Thomas
F. Bergin’s writings.

Irish Naturalists Journal 10 (8) 290.

E. ciliaris catalogued in 1804. Unpublished minutes of the
RDS meeting on Friday, 7th December 1 848; “The year before
last a new Erica added to the flora of Ireland, E. ciliaris by Mr.
Bergin’.

EAGER, A.R. NELSON, E.C. and SCANNELL, M. Erica ciliaris
in Connemara 1846-1852. Irish Naturalists Journal 19 (7)
244-5.

First found in Ireland on Monday 14th September 1846. Six
days later three plants received at Glasnevin from Thomas (not
J.) Bergin.

EAGER, A.R. and SCANNELL, M. William M Calla: his published
papers overlooked in scientific literature. Irish Naturalists
Journal 19 (8) 281.

The schoolmaster at Ballynahinch who found E. mackaiana
and died young (1814-39) of cholera. He was primarily a
phycologist, but wrote also on molluscs, worms etc.

FRENCH, J. Heather: valuable to everyone, captivating to some.
Popular Gardening, 1978, pp.36-7.

An adequate summary.

GROSSER, W. Die VEHA. Gartenborse - Gartenwelt 77 (2) 684
The Vereinigung der Eriken, Hortensien and Azaleen-
kultivateure was founded in 1941. Its members produced in
1965 266,000, in 1976 1,000,000 Erica plants, again E.
gracilis.

HERMANN, P. Wachstumregulatoren bei &Ervica-hybriden.

Gartenborse - Gartenwelt 77 (29) 687-8.
Cycocel kept plants compact and made them more floriferous.

HERMANN, P. Erfahrungen im Erikenbau. Gartenborse -
Gartenwelt 77 (41) 990-2.

Watering substrates with Previcur has prophylactic effect
against Phytophthora cinnamomi.

HEWSON, R. The effect on heath, Calluna vulgaris, of excluding
sheep from moorland in north-east England. Naturalist 1977,
133-6.

HIEKE, K. Dir Vermehrungsverhaltnisse im heutigen Calluna-und
Erica-Sortiment.

Baumschulpraxis, 1978, Nov., pp.372-3.
How well cvs. in the collection (of some 225) at Pruhonice in
Czechoslovakia rooted, with illustrations.

63

HOUSTON, J. Hunting heathers on Scotland’s heaths. Horticulture
(Boston, Mass.) Vol LVI, No. 4, pp.54-7.

“Heather competes with the rose .....thereby making the roster
of the Heather Association (sic) an international one’. The
author met Mr. Brien.

JANKE, I. Eriken und Ihre Begleiter. Garten, 1978, Dec., pp.14-16.
Sound stuff on heathers and a bit on companion plants.

KAMPS, F. Eine Auswahl _ spat-bluhender Heidesorten.
Gartenpraxis, 11, pp.567-8.

A knowledgeable commentary.

KIRSTEN, G. Dr.Hans Dulfer. Veld & Flora, Vol 63, No.4,pp.13-4
An account of this monographer of Erica, (1900-77), with a
coloured drawing of his E. cristata.

LEE, G. Heathers for Christmas. Amateur Gardening, 1978, 28th
Dec.,p.68.

_ Good advice.

McCLINTOCK, D. The Heather Society. The Garden, 1977, Vol
102, No. 10, pp.411-2.

An account of the Society.

McCLINTOCK, D. The St.Dabeoc’s Heaths and their hybrids. The
Garden, 1978, Vol.103, No.3, pp.114-6.

A summary of the genus with the formal publication of the name
Daboecia x scotica.

MARRS, R.H. Ecological aspects of the mineral nutrition of several
members of the Ericacae. Ph.D. thesis, University of Stirling,
1977.

MARRS, R.H. Seasonal changes and multivariate studies of the
mineral element status of several members of the Ericacae.
Jnl. Ecology 66 533-45.
Species in the more base-rich heathland soils had higher tissue
concentrations of calcium and magnesium; species with an
oceanic distribution (E. erigena, E. mackaiana, E. ciliaris, E.
cinerea but not E. vagans) had higher concentrations of
sodium. Other species studied were E. tetralix, E. carnea and
Calluna.

MENDEZ, J. Isofraxidin in Erica flowers. Phytochemistry, Vol 17,

No. 4, p.820.
Flowers of E. cinerea and E. vagans yielded ...... isofraxidin.
This was not found in flowers of Daboecia cantabrica,

E. arborea, E. australis or E. umbellata.

MILNE, P. Summer-flowering heathers for winter colour. Popular

Gardening 1978, 4th Feb., p.21.
An excellent account of ‘the relevant ccoplendour Of ess

Calluna vulgaris and other species.

64

MILNE, P. Make a better garden. Popular Gardening, 1978, 23rd
Sept., p.23
‘““You may not consider heathers an essential requirernent of
your design...... their presence will be an infinite improvement’.

NELSON, E.C. Craiggamore, the earliest record. Jrish Naturalists
Journal, Vol 19, No.7, p.250.

The name of the locus classicus for E. mackaiana, still
unmarked on any map, dated back to 2nd September 1835.

NILSSON eral. Atlas of airborne pollen grains and spores in northern

Europe.

Natur och Kultur, Stockholm,

Callina on pp. 48-9 (distribution map on p.150), with several
scanning electron micrographs of up to x15,000 magnification.

OLIVER, E.D.H. The identity of Erica flavisepala. Bothalia, 12
195-7.

A hybrid between E. thunbergii and E. sphaerocephaia.

PALGRAVE, K.C. Trees of Southern Africa. Johannesburg, Struik.
Seven species of Erica on pp.711-5 with distribution maps and
“common names’. E. canaliculata ““Grooved Bark Tree
Erica”’ reaches 4m.

ROBERTSON, B.L. and MCNAUGHTON, J.E. The reproductive
potential of Erica junoniana Bolus, Megasporogenesis and
Megagenetogenesis. Jnl. S. African Botany, Vol 44, No. 2,
pp.97-102.

An embryological study into the inadequate natural
propagation of this species.

RYVOAN. Heathers. The Lady, 1977, 3rd March, p.382.
Standard stuff, plus ““Daboecias have ..... leaves needle-like in
shape’.

SHELYUTO, V.L. GLYZIN, V.L. SMUINOVA, L.P. and
BAN’KOVSKIHI, A.I.

(Flavonids in Calluna vulgaris). Khimiya Prinodynkh
Soedinenii, Vitebsk 6 859-60.

The discovery of dihydroherbacetin and 8-glycoside of
herbacetin reported in addition to quercetin and hyperoside.

SMITH, D.J.A. How to plant and care for heaths. Horticulture
(Boston), Vol LVI, No. 4, p.56.

Short but sound.

TRADESCANT. Crown of Heather. The Garden, 1978, Vol 103,
No. 3, p.86
The E. gracilis outside Buckingham Palace.

VEGH, I., BAILLOT, F. and ROY, J. Etude de lactivite de
lethylophosphite d’aluminium vis-a-vis de Phytiatrie-
Phytopharmia cinnamomi. 26 (1) 85-95.

Aluminium ethylophosphite used as a soil drench controlled
Phytophthora in E. x hiemalis.

65

VEGH, I., FABER, E. and le BERNE, A. Nouvelles perspectives de
lutte contre Phytophthora cinnomami. Horticulture francaise,
Vol 91, pp.7-14.
Good control in E. gracilis and E. hiemalis obtained with
aluminium tri-o-ethyl phosphonate, and growth stimulated.

VICKERS, G.P. The heather trials. The Garden, 1977, Vol 102, No.
10, pp.412-3.
An account of the Harlow Car trials.

WEBER, H. Forderungen der Friedhofsgartner. Gartenborse -
Gartenwelt 77 (29) 688-9.
Red-flowered E. gracilis preferred. These should be chosen to
flower from mid-September to early October - earlier if it is too

dry.

WILL, H. and HERMANN, P. Schaumstoffe auch zu Torfsubstraten:
Versuchsergebnisse mit...... Ericeen. Gartenborse- Gartenwelt
77 (36) 863-4
The addition of Hygromull, Styromull or Hygropor to peat
increases water-holding capacity and water availability to

_ plants, with a simultaneous increase in aeration.

WHITSEY, T. Winter-flowering Heathers, Popular Gardening,
1978, 9th Dec., pp.12-3.
Just praise.

WINTER, J.H.S. Erica nana. Vald & Flora 64 (3) 81-2.
This dwarf yellow-flowered species was introduced in 1774 as
E. depressa (although Linnaeus had given this name to a
different white-flowered plant in 1771). It has lately been
refound and re-introduced but, “in captivity it does not set
seed’’.

WOOD, B. Here’s more heathers. Amateur Gardening, 1978, 29th
July, pp.20-1.
Easy ways of increasing heathers, including in a jar of water.

Nurserymen Members
OUR APPRECIATION AND THANKS are due to the
following whose advertisements appear in this issue:-

ANGUS HEATHERS, (Mr. & Mrs. Sturrock) 10 Guthrie Street,
Letham, Forfar, Angus DD8 2PS
~BARNCROFT NURSERIES, (Mr. & Mrs. Warner) Dunwood
_ Lane, Longsdon, Stoke-on-Trent ST9 9QW
_C. BELL, Harepie, Harepie Cross, Tawstock, Barnstaple, N.Devon.
MR. & MRS. L.R. BELL, Graizelound Nursery and Water Garden,
Akeferry Road, Graizelound, Haxey, Doncaster DN9 2NF.
MRS. P. BENSON, Ridgway Wood Heather Nursery, Crossway
Green, Stourport on Severn, Worcs. DY13 9SH.

66

ADRIAN BLOOM, Bloom’s Nurseries, Bressingham, Diss, Norfolk.

R.A. BROOKS, Little Park Nursery, Flowton, Ipswich IP8 4LN.

MR. & MRS. D. CHALK, Polden Acre Gardens, Edington,
Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 9HA.

H.J. COLE, Furzey Gardens, Minstead, Lyndhurst, Hants.

G.J. COOKES, 2 Drayton Lane, Fenny Drayton, Nuneaton, Warks.

CRAIL NURSERIES LTD., Newstead Abbey Park, Linby, Notts.
NGI5 8GD.

MR. & MRS. DERMOT, Kerins, Fernhurst Garden Nursery,
Kenmare, Co.Kerry, Ireland.

J.H. GILL, Stour Gardens, East Bergholt by Colchester CO7 6TF.

MR. & MRS. LEIGHTON & ELIZABETH JONES, Linden Lodge,
Broughton Astley, Leicester.

J. NETTLETON, Nettleton’s Nursery, Ivy Mill Lane, Godstone,
Surrey.

OTTERS’ COURT HEATHERS, (Mr. & Mrs. A.W. Jones) West
Camel, Somerset BA22 7QF.

C.P. PIPER, Pennyacre Nurseries, Crawley House, Springfield, Fife
KY15 5RU.

GERVASE SMITH & SONS, Hackney Road, Darley Dale,
Matlock, Derbyshire.

TABRAMHILL GARDENS, (Mr. G. Yates) Ash Landing, Far
Sawrey, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 OLW.

D.W. WILLIAMSON, T.W. Christie (Forres) Ltd., The Nurseries,
Forres, Moray [V26 OEA.

WINDLESHAM COURT NURSERIES LTD., London Road,
Windlesham, Surrey.

H.J. TOMLINSON, Greenwood Gardens, Ollerton Road, Amold,
Nottingham, NGS 8PR.

Other Nurseries
Wholesale Only

A. ANNABEL, Springwood, Church Drive, Ravenshead, Notts
NGI5 9FG

CLIVE BENSON, The Nurseries, 281 Croston Road, Farington,
Preston, Lancs.

D. & M. EVERETT, Greenacres Nursery, Crossway Green,
Stourport on Severn, Worcs. DY13 9SH

R. KOERPER, Battle House Gardens, Bromham, Nr.Chippenham,
Wilts.

D. MANSELL, Meadow Cottage Nursery, Chelwood Gate,
Haywards Heath, Sussex.

MILTON HUTCHINS LTD., Pield Heath Nurseries, Hillingdon,
Uxbridge, Middx.

67

IAN PACEY, Martinvale Nurseries, Caverswell Common,
Caverswell, Stoke-on-Trent, ST11 9EU.

G.B. RAWINSKY, Primrose Hill Nursery, Haslemere, Surrey.

J. W. SPARKES, Beechwood Nurseries, Gorcott Hill, Redditch,
Worcs.

P. G. ZWIJNENBURG, Rynveld 35, Boskoop, Holland.

Retail/Wholesale

Zone 1:

R. J. BRIEN, Pitcairngreen Heather Farm, Perth.

W. A. CADMAN, Woodside, Blackpark, Inverness IV3 6PW.

DELANEY & LYLE, Grange Nursery, Alloa, Clackmannanshire.

GRAMPIAN LANDSCAPE GARDENERS, 78a Garden Place,
Aberdeen.

A. D. McFARLANE, Craigmarloch Nurseries, Mid Barrwood,
Kilsyth

D. A. LAMBIE, Speyside Heather Centre, Dulnain Bridge, Skye of
Curr, Inverness-shire, PH26 3PA

P. SWINDELLS, Bothy Cottage, Castle Kennedy Gardens,
Stranraer, Wigtownshire DG9 9RT

J. D. WILSON, Oliver & MHunter, Moniaive, Thornhill,
Dumfriesshire.

Zone 2:

DAISY HILL NURSERIES, Newry, Co. Down, Northern Ireland.

S. J. MAGOWAN, Aberfoyle Nurseries, 21 Northland Road,
Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

MISS MARGARET HEARN, Heather Hill, Coolballow, Wexford,
Ireland.

Zone 3:

T. BARDEN, Netherton Moor Nurseries, Honley, Huddersfield
HD7 3RD

H. BARNES, 97 Blackpool Road, Great Carleton, Poulton le Fylde,
Lancs.

J. A. BENTLEY, Roselyne Nurseries, Totties, Holmfrith,
Huddersfield, W. Yorks.

G. M. HAMER, Sunnymount Nursery, Glossop Road, Chisworth,
Hyde, Cheshire.

C. G. HOLLETT, Greenbank Nursery, Sedbergh, Yorks.

J. D. & S. M. LICHMAN, Heighley Gate Nursery and Garden

| Centre, Morpeth, Northumberland.

D. WARD, Wards Nurseries, Eckington, Coal Aston, Sheffield S18
6BA

68

Zone 4:

C. PUDDLE, Bodnant Gardens, Tal y cafn, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd.

W.H. M. YEOMANS, Tyn Yr Ardd Nurseries, Towyn, Merioneth,
Gwynedd.

Zone 5:

P. W. BINGHAM, Kingfisher Nursery, Gedney Hill, Spalding,
Lincs. PE12 OPP

J. HESLOP, Rockyfield, Priory Lane, Ulverscroft, Leicester.

H. H. LEWIS, Morton Nurseries, Bicton, Shrewsbury, Salop.

J. P. SWAIN, Thatched Cottage, Main Street, Burton Overy,
Leicester.

T. G. VEITCH, Notcutts Garden Centre, Stratford Road,
Monkspath, Shirley, Solihull, W. Mids.

D. WATKINS, Green Room Designs, 44 Blacksmith’s Way,
Hartweli, Northants.

Zone 6:

N. H. BRUMMAGE, Heathwood Nursery, Fakenham Road,
Taverham, Norwich.

MR. & MRS. D. SMALL, Denbeigh Heather Nurseries, The Poplars,
All Saints Road, Creeting St. Mary, Ipswich IP6 8PJ

M. G. FRYE, The Willows, Poors Lane (North), Daws Heath,
Thundersley, Essex.

Zone 7:

P. G. DAVIS, Timber Tops, Marley Common, Haslemere, Surrey.

HARDWICKS NURSERIES, Newick, Lewes, Sussex.

HARTLEY HEATHER FARM, Hartley, Cranbrook, Kent.

HYDON NURSERIES, Clock Barn Lane, Hydon Heath,
Godalming, Surrey.

T. H. SANDFORD, Timber Lodge Nursery, Northiam, Rye, Sussex
TN31 6QL

J. van der BORGH, Bulls Farm Nursery, Magpie Lane, Horsham,
Sussex.

Zone 8:

J. N. ANDERSON, Broadhurst Nursery, Grampound, Truro,
Cornwall.

S. W. BOND, Land of Nod Nurseries, Petersfield Road, Whitehill,
Bordon, Hants.

I. J. H. DUNGEY, Felsberg Nurseries, Dobwalls, Liskeard,
Cornwall.

MRS. J. FOOT, 29 Wheelers Lane, Bournemouth, Dorset.

69

D. B. LOWNDES, MacPenny’s Nurseries, Bransgore, Christchurch,
Hants.

R. C. J. MERRIFIELD, Ebford Nurseries Ltd., nr. Topsham, Exeter.

GEORGE OSMOND, Archfield Nursery, Wickwar, Wooton under
Edge, Glos.

MR. & MRS. D. C. RANDALL, Lyalls Cottage, Dunchideock,
nr.Exeter, Devon.

Zone 9:

MRS. ROBERT M. KNIGHT, Heather Acres Inc., 62 Elma-Monte
Road, Elma, Wash. 98541, U.S.A.

MANNINGS HEATHER FARM, 12450 Fiori Lane, Sebastopol,
Calif. 95472, U.S.A.

SWISS PINES, Box 97, Upper Darby, Pa. 19082 U.S.A.

Local Organisers

ZONE 1: WEST OF SCOTLAND

Bremner, Mr. M. Coruisk, Dennistoun Road, Langbank, Port
Glasgow PA14 6XH

ZONE 5: MIDLANDS

Street, Mr. H., 2 The Green, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
GL55 6DL

ZONE 6: NORFOLK

London, Mr. B. G., 6 Roedich Drive, Taverham, Norfolk NR6 6RB.

ZONE 7: MID SOUTHERN

Lee, Mrs. P. B., Birches, Kingswood Firs, Grayshott, Hindhead,
Surrey, GU26 6EX.

ZONE 8: SOUTH WEST

Joyner, Mr. P.L., 84 Kinross Road, Rushington, Totton, Southampton

ZONE 8: FARTHER WEST

Randall, Mrs. J., Lyalis Cottage, Dunchideock, Nr.Exeter, Devon.

Committee Members

Events:

BOWERMAN, Mrs. M., Champs Hill, Coldwaltham, Pulborough,
_ (Chairman).

BOXALL, Mrs. M. Gilridge, Sandy Lane, Kingswood, Surrey.
DUVALL, Mrs. A. C. R., Sandacre, Pine Ridge Drive, Lower
Bourne, Farnham, Surrey.

LEE, Mrs. P. B., Birches, Kingswood Firs, Grayshott, Hindhead,
Surrey, GU26 6EX.

70

STREET, Mr. H., 2 The Green, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
GL55 6DL.
TURPIN, Maj. - Gen. P. G., Cottswood, west Clandon, Guildford,

Publications:

STOW, Mr. A. J., 15 Highlands, Flackwell Heath, Bucks. HP!0 9PP
(Chairman)

JONES, Mr. A. W., Otters’ Court, West Camel, Somerset BA22
7QF.

JONES, Mrs. D. H., As above.

LEE, Mrs. P. B.,

OLIVER, Mr. D. B., 27 Valentine Road, Leicester. LES 2GH.

Finance & General Purposes:
OLIVER, Mr. D. B., (Chairman)
BOWERMAN, Mr. A. H.

LEE, Mrs. P. B.

STREET, Mr. H.

TURPIN, Maj.-Gen. P. G.

Technical:

JULIAN, Mr. T. A., Lee Wood, Reservoir Road, Whaley Bridge,
Cheshire. (Chairman)

CHALK, Mr. D., Polden Acres, Edington, Bridgwater, Somerset.

JONES, Mr. A. W.,

EO Mr. H. L., Farm Cottage, Westcott Road, Dorking,

urrey.

SMALL, Mr. D. J., The Poplars, All Saints Road, Creeting St. Mary,
Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 8PJ

UNDERHILL, Mr. T. L., Gardens Cottage, Dartington Hall, Totnes,
Devon.

VICKERS, Mr. G. P., 139 Swinston Hill Road, Dinnington,
Sheffield.

71

CHRISTIES OF FORRES

is for Ceanothus of heavenly blue

is for Hamamelis and Heather too

is for Roses for wall or for bed

is for Ilex with berries so red

is for Sambucus - in Scotland ‘Bourtree’
is for Tamarix, grows well by the sea

is for Iris, some dwarf and some tall

is for Escallonia - it thrives by the wall

is for Stranvaesias - are such hardy plants
And it adds up to ‘CHRISTIES’ for your
garden wants.

AM HAS WTO

(Competition. For the best 3 improvement entries

based on above received here by 30 June 1979 we
offer £5.00 Gift Vouchers).

| You can use whatever mnemonics you wish but you will
still arrive at CHRISTIES for nice things for your
garden.

Heathers, Dwarf Conifers, Herbaceous, Hedging,

Ornamental Trees & Shrubs, Roses, Floral Work, Fruit

Trees & Bushes, Forest Conifers & Broadleaves. |
(Catalogue on request.)

T. & W. CHRISTIE (Forres) LTD.,
The Nurseries, Forres. [V36 OEA
(Established 1826)

1ig2

Heathers for the Enthusiast

The complete service from rooted cuttings to mature
plants and the choice from our very comprehensive
collection of most cultivars in cultivation.

Design and advisory service for those who want
help.

OUR NEW GARDEN (Lake Windermere
Heather Garden) will open at Easter 1979 situated
alongside the B5285 road which leads to Far
Sawrey from the car ferry across Windermere. The
garden is on the lakeside, newly landscaped, and
incorporates a comprehensive reference collection
based on the Pocket Guide to Heather Gardening
published by us.

Opening hours: 2 to 5 p.m., Friday, Saturday,
Sunday, and Monday or by appointment.

Send stamp for lists.

Pocket Guide to Heather Gardening £1.65 post

paid.

TABRAMHILL GARDENS
Ash Landing,

Far Sawrey, Ambleside,

Cumbria LA22 OLW

Telephone 09662 4255 (Office only)

| Suppliers of:-
Polythene Greenhouses, U.V.I. Polythene
Sheeting, Windbreaks & Nettings.

Manufacturers of:- Black Polythene Flower
pots and Polythene bags,

Labels, Rigid Pots, Hosepipes and many other
horticultural sundries.

Send for Wholesale brochure to:-

L. B. S. Polythene, Whiteholme
Mill, Trawden, Colne, Lancs.
7 Tel Colne: 862200.

R. V. Roger Ltd.

Write for our FREE Price List
(Postage 1 5p.)

to
Fully Descriptive Catalogue
£0.50 - post-paid
THE NURSERIES, PICKERING, NORTH
YORKSHIRE YO18 7HG

OTTERS COURT HEATHERS
West Camel, Nr. Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7QF

We specialise in a wide range of lime-tolerant
cultivars and welcome visitors who wish to see
these plants established in our own garden.

S.A.E. catalogue, or Tel: Marston Magna 285.

73

74

The name in quality mail order

BRESSINGHAM
GARDENS

give you even more to look forward to
in 1979.

| New Plants include Calluna vulgaris My Dream
and many Abies, Picea and Pinus suitable for the
heather garden.

Also Shrubs, Alpines, Perennials, Dwarf
Rhododendrons and Azaleas, Ferns, Grasses,
| Bamboos and Hardy Cyclamen.

The 1979-80 edition will be published in May 1979 (those who
ordered from us during the last two years will automatically
receive their copy).

OPEN WEEKEND - SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER Ist and SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 2nd must be dates for your diary. The
only weekend in the year Adrian Blooms garden is
open.

WRITE TO:-

BRESSINGHAM GARDENS,
Bressingham,

Diss, Norfolk.

[P22 2AB.

75

LITTLE PARK NURSERY
Flowton, Ipswich, Suffotk.
Tel: Offton 334 (047 333)

HERE YOU WILL FIND A GOOD SELECTION
OF HEATHERS AND CONIFERS, AND
SHOULD YOU NEED IT, OBTAIN SOME
USEFUL ADVICE ON CULTIVATION. IN
FACT, WE CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING
ABOUT ALL OF THE 2,000 ODD VARIETIES
OF PLANTS WE GROW. THESE INCLUDE
TREES, SHRUBS, ROSES, PERENNIALS, ROCK
PLANTS, HEDGING PLANTS, ALL KINDS OF
FRUIT TREES AND BUSHES.

We are situated 7 miles west of IPSWICH betwixt
the Villages of BRAMFORD and SOMERSHAM.
Our business hours are WED. to SUN. inc.

9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
CLOSED MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS.

RIDGWAY WOOD HEATHER
NURSERY
HORDERLEY
Nr. Craven Arms (off A 489)

High quality container grown Heathers
propagated from plants in the display garden.

Collection only. Always open.

Heather Society Members particularly welcome
but please telephone if possible

Mrs. BENSON, LYDBURY NORTH 278.

76

NETTLETON’S NURSERY

IVY MILL LANE,
GODSTONE S.

Phone
GODSTONE 842426

Growers of Quality

Heather, Azaleas
Rhododendrons
Conifers, Trees,
Shrubs, Camellias
Fruit Trees

etc. etc.

-
AW? “UG

1G

Graizelound Nursery

and

Water Garden

Tel: Haxey 752559
Akeferry Road, Haxey,
Doncaster, S. Yorks, DN9 2NF

Hardy Heathers, Alpines, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and Conifers, also
Fancy Coldwater Fish.
Offered for sale to callers only - Good selection of Water Lilies and other
Aquatic Plants.

Because Aquatic Plants are light in weight we are able to operate a postal
service for these. List of Aquatic Plants may be had on receipt S.A.E,
available May to August.

STOUR GARDENS
& GARDEN CENTRE

(Formerly the home of the late Randolph Churchill)

9 acres of beautiful landscape gardens overlooking the Stour Valley.
Open throughout the year.

A very comprehensive collection of Dwarf Contfers, Heathers, and Shrubs
vlc.

GIFT SHOP, I8th Cent. TEAROOMS, COACH PARTIES
WELCOME. Enqutries write to Stour Gardens, East Bergholt,
Colchester, Suffolk.

78

GREENWOOD GARDENS

OLLERTON ROAD, NEAR ARNOLD
NOTTINGHAM NGS 8PR
Telephone - Nottingham 205757

(On the A614 5 miles north of Nottingham, | mile north of
junction with A60)

Open 6 days a week (excluding Tuesdays) 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Heathers, Herbaceous Plants, Trees, and Shrubs.
We also specialise in Bonsai, Retail/Wholesale.

ANGUS HEATHERS

10 GUTHRIE STREET
LETHAM, FORFAR
ANGUS DD8 2PS

WE ARE HEATHER ENTHUSIASTS

If you are ever in this area we would be delighted
to talk heathers all day.

Come and look round our nursery which 1s always
open for inspection.

GEORGE AND JOYCE STUKROCK
Tel: Letham (Angus) 504

Us)

In the Sherwood Forest region of
Nottinghamshire, where Robin Hood
and his merry men onee roamed,
stands Newstead Abbey, once tlhe
home of Lord Byron. Within the
Abbey Park, you will find Crail
Nurseries, where heathers, conifers,
leylandii green and gold, azaleas,
rhododendrons and various shrubs
are propagated and grown mainly
for trade purposes. If however
Heather Society members would
like to pay us a visit, they would
be very welcome. We cannot
promise Robin Hood, but we

can promise quality Heathers.

Crail Nurseries Ltd.

Newstead Abbey Park
Linby,
Nottinghamshire

Tel. Blidworth 2866

Business Hours Monday to Friday
9a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Lists available on request.

80

“LITTLE FROOME”
HEATHER NURSERIES

specialise in
: QUALITY
CONTAINER GROWN HEATHERS
and rooted cuttings

-Collection only - by appointment please

Beautifully landscaped gardens for you to enjoy
whilst making your choice. Advice freely given.

O—a>s 96 96 6-6 9“ 6 9S 6 Ed 9-6 9-6 9 om somar fe

a 40
| We are the raisers of the beautiful new calluna

““My Dream’, a double white sport found on
H.E. Beale with all the characteristics of the | :
parent. |
Plants will be available Autumn ’79. All ]

enquiries please to:-Bressingham Gardens
Ltd. Diss, Norfolk. l
Trade enquiries to Blooms Nurseries Ltd. sole ]
distributors to the trade. ]
fy

Bi aes oes 9s pts 96 9a 8 9 9 9 tn 0 9 8 98 9S 9 9a 6 9 8 Sd

2, Drayton Lane,
Fenny Drayton,
NUNEATON, WARWICKS
Tel. Atherstone 3382

POLDEN ACRES

Container Grown
GARDENS Heather & Hebes

Edington, Bridgwater =p af Hebes make
Somerset TA7 9HA good companion
Tel: Chilton Polden plants

722331 (std 0278)
(% mile north of A.39 & halfway between
Bridgwater and Street)

HEATHERS BY POST

Container grown plants at competitive prices
Illustrated catalogue

20p post free
PENNYACRE NURSERIES (Dept. H9)
Crawley House, Springfield, Fife, KY15 5RU

NEXT YEAR

over a thousand households could be
reading about your nursery, or business, in
this space!

Write NOW for the very reasonable special
rates for members to:-
| The Treasurer,
27 Valentine Road, Leicester.

BARNCROFT
NURSERIES

Plants for Heather Gardens
DUNWOOD LANE,
LONGSDON,

STOKE-on-TRENT

Telephone: Leek (0538) 384316
off A53, 3 miles west of Leek

We propagate and offer for sale to callers, only the varieties
of plants which can be seen growing in the garden. These are
chiefly heathers, (more than 450 varieties) associated shrubs
and conifers, but also include many other interesting plants.
Retail opening hours: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 2-8 p.m.
(or dusk if earlier), but Heather Society members are welcome
at any time - please ’phone if possible.

*Heatherscaping”

Our new name for a complete heather
planning and supply service. Our Spring list
of 60 cultivars will be available in February
and our 1979 Season will open on March 3rd.

Opening hours:- Saturday and Sunday,
9 a.m. - 6 p.m. or by appointment.

“Heatherscaping™
109A Station Road, Fete plone.

Broughton Astley, Sutton Elms (0455)
Leicestershire. 282505

Clifford Bell
HAREPIE

HAREPIE CROSS
TAWSTOCK
Nr. BARNSTAPLE

HEATHER & HEATES
SPECIALIST

WE GROW 380 VARIETIES
ALL IN CONTAINERS FOR
PLANTING ANYTIME

RETAIL AND TRADE LISTS
AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

——
eae

Phone:
NEWTON TRACEY 298

Windlesham Court Nursery

London Road (A.30)
Windlesham, Surrey.
Ascot (0990) 21456

WHOLESALE GROWERS OF HEATHERS

Visits by Heather Society Groups
welcome but by appointment please.

Hardy Derbyshire grown Heathers, Rose and Fruit
trees, Ornamental and Flowering Shrubs, Rock
and Herbaceous plants, etc.

Catalogue and Gift Vouchers on request

Gervase Smith & Sons Ltd.

Top and Fairfield Nurseries, Hackney
Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2PW
Phone: Matlock 2425

Nurseries always open for inspection

Fernhurst Garden Nurseries

Kenmare, Co Kerry
freland

Tel: (064) 41469

A wide range of excellent quality ericas:
Wholesale and retail enquiries welcome .

The Scottish Rock Garden Club

If you are interested in beautiful heathers, you may also be
interested in rock gardens. Learn all about the natural
companions for heathers by joining the Scottish Rock Garden
Club. Membership: £2.50 per year. Particulars from: R. H. D.
Orr, C.A., 70 High Street, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland.

OUR ADVERTISERS

help to make this Year Book possible
we have thanked them but -

PLEASE SUPPORT THEM!

and thank them too!

Hf

ge

eet
i ee

asuindss er

|

?.
i
t
\
“
4
.
j
j
ed
omen
y
nut 5
+
¢
i
.
”
us
3 rs
i) i
i
’ F
hie a ih
.
4 \ s
56 ‘!

fv