Copyright, 1699, by 

 rUORISTS- PUBLISHING CO.. 520-535 Caxton Bulldlnft. CtllCAGO. 



Vol. m. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, MAY 18, 1899. 



No. 77. 



PANAX VICTORIAE. 



This prettily variegated plant is a 

 relative of the Chinese Ginseng, 

 though not a native of China, P. Vic- 

 toriae having been discovered a few 

 years ago on some of the South Paci- 

 fic islands, and was, I think, among 

 the introductions of Wm. Bull, a well 

 known London grower. 



It is a compact growing shrub, much 

 branched and bearing leaves that are 

 almost pinnate, the leaflets, more or 



less divided and edged with a white 

 variegation. 



Though introduced under a specific 

 name, it is stated by botanists that P. 

 Victoriae is probably only a form of 

 P. fruticosum, a species that seems to 

 be quite variable, but this does not 

 affect the fact that the plant in ques- 

 tion is quite an attractive one when 

 nicely grown, and one that may be 

 sometimes used to advantage where 

 a general collection of plants is han- 

 dled for the retail trade. 



Panax Victoriae. 



One of the uses to which P. Victo- 

 riae may be put is in the filling of 

 vases and veranda boxes for outdoor 

 decoration during the summer, its 

 feathery foliage giving a good effect 

 among other plants, and the panax 

 being fully as hardy as Aralia Veitchii 

 or A. Guilfoylei, both of which are 

 good plants for this purpose. 



But in using this or any other mem- 

 ber of the aralia family for outdoor 

 work we should always take into con- 

 sideration the fact that plants that 

 have been grown in a close, warm 

 house are tender, both in foliage and 

 root, and consequently they should not 

 only not be put outdoors too early in 

 the season, but should also be harden- 

 ed off to some extent by a gradual ex- 

 posure. It is the spring chill that is 

 most frequently responsible for failure 

 of tender foliage plants when placed 

 in the open garden, often causing 

 them to drop their leaves and look 

 generally miserable for more than 

 half the season. 



But to return to our subject, P. Vic- 

 toriae is a very easy plant to manage 

 and also quick in growth, and the most 

 useful sizes for the purpose indicated 

 are nice, stocky plants in 4 and 6-inch 

 pots, and such plants may be grown 

 on almost as readily as geraniums if 

 given a rather light and rich soil and 

 a temperature of 60 to 65 degrees dur- 

 ing the winter nights, and also well 

 supplied with light and moisture. 



Propagation is readily effected by 

 means of cuttings not only of the tops, 

 but in common with most oiembers 

 of the aralia family short pieces of the 

 stronger roots planted in sand or 

 light soil and kept in a warm house 

 will soon develop shoots, and may 

 then be potted off either singly or sev- 

 eral together in a pot, as may be best 

 adapted for the purpose in view. 



W. H. TAPLIN. 



SHADING. 



Geo. Wittbold, Chicago, is using bur- 

 lap to shade his palm houses. Over 



