HEATHER

In a general sense the term heath is applied to waste land in which the prevailing plants consist of one or more of the common species of heath — Calluna and Erica. (Calluna vulgar is, Sal. The Erica communis of Linnaeus.) This plant covers many hundreds of acres in the Highlands of Scotland, in Ireland, and in similar climates on the Continent. It attains, in many places, the height of three or four feet; and is used for thatching houses, making besoms, and for a variety of other purposes. The tender tops form a substitute for mattre es in Highland cottages; and they are also eaten green and in a dried state by horses, cattle, and sheep, in countries where the gra es and clovers do not begin to grow till late in the spring. HEAVE, in nautical phrase, to employ force to move great weights by the lever, .; as to heave up the anchor by the capstan or windla ; to heave down the ship, or pull her over on one side to get at a leak; also to heave taught (tight), or turn the cipstan till the rope or chain applied to it becomes tight. 548 [s. 562]