not perhaps much to be taken
into account, but they have a distinct value of their own as rock-work
greenery. There are other dwarf New Zealand Veronicas of a leafy
character, differing essentially from these mimetic species, such as _V.
carnosula_ and _V. pinguifolia_, also inhabiting regions 5000 feet above
the sea-level, which are suited for localities with average advantages
of climate. Others again, such as _V. Lyallii_, _V. glauco-caerulea_,
and _V. hulkeana_, though they grow naturally at lower altitudes, and
must be reckoned only half-hardy, may yet be serviceable for Rock
Gardens on the southern sea-board, or on the west coast of Scotland.
Belonging to the larger-growing and more familiar species of Shrubby
Veronica, mention may be made of a good purple-flowered hybrid, of very
compact growth, known as Purple Queen, which is exceedingly ornamental
from its free-flowering habit. Many of the losses sustained amongst
these interesting New Zealand shrubs are owing to drought rather than to
frost, and their extreme susceptibility to dryness at the root is a fact
not recognised as it should be.

Hardy Heaths are of the utmost value in the Rock Garden, and range in
height from the 6 feet or more of _Erica arborea_ to the 6 inches of the
well-known _E. carnea_, and can be used in rough places, where more
delicate plants might not thrive. A sudden emergency once arose in the
experience of the writer, when a shelving mass of earth had to be
shored-up as quickly as possible with such material as lay ready to hand
at the moment. This happened to be found in a heap of ugly, yellowish,
water-worn boulders of great size, which abound in that particular
locality, at no great distance below the ground-level, and must be dug
out when any deep trenching has to be done. There was no time to be
wasted in facing the stones, which would have made them more sightly,
and they had to be used as they were. Fortunately a large consignment of
the best hardy Heaths had lately arrived from the Darley Dale Nurseries,
and were immediately seized upon to cover up the ugliness of the
hastily-built-up barricade. Boulders and Heaths, however, took to each
other kindly, in spite of a soil by no means specially suitable, and
with the addition, later, of a few good kinds of Cistus and other
shrubs, the bank still remains as happy a bit of rough planting as could
be desired.

Of the taller Heaths, _E. lusitanica_ is somewhat tender, and is not so
ge