Acacias and Their Culture 



Tudging from the interest taken in the exhibition of 

 this ctass of plants shown at the recent International 

 Flower Show held at New York, it is very evident that 

 Acacias will become more popular and more widely cul- 

 tivated in the near future. Having such a varied collec- 

 tion as we now have in the horticultural establishments, 

 from which can be selected varieties or species to meet 

 and suit all tastes and fancies, as they lend themselves 

 either for pot work, for pillar coverings, for planting in 

 the borders of the conservatory or for the roof covering 

 of the same. And those planted out always supply a 

 good amount of cut flowers during the winter season, 

 when any sort of flower is useful. 



A collection of acacias should be found in all large es- 

 tates, not only for their floral beauty, but also for their 

 curious and sometimes quaint foliage. The diversity of 

 the leaves is so marked that they always afford great 

 pleasure to those at all interested in collections of plants. 

 These plants are not only useful by their floriferous na- 

 ture, but in some cases are much grown for their eco- 

 nomic value — on which I shall touch later. 



Acacias belong to the natural order of Leguminoss, 

 but come under sub-order III, namely Mimoesas, and are 

 mostly found in Australia : at least most of the trade- 

 cultivated species come from that region, while most of 

 the economic species hail from India, Arabia, and South 

 Africa. But Acacias are for general purposes classed as 

 Australian plants, and are known on the continent as 

 Wattles. 



Perhaps the most popular Acacia grown for the florist 

 pot trade is A. armata, or A. parodoxa, as it is sometimes 

 called. This variety has a lovely dark green foliage com- 

 posed of small leaves, and the flowers are of a good yel- 

 low and are fragrant. It lends itself to slight growing, 

 which adds greatly to its usefulness. 



There are some twenty Acacias that one may safel}- 

 say are good for garden culture ; but to attempt to de- 

 scribe them in detail here would take too much space in 

 these columns. However, I shall detail a few of the best 

 for general use. 



When one uses the term "best'' it is difficult to curtail 

 one's remarks, as most Acacias, if given root and head 

 room, will prove valuable flowering plants. 



Acacia dealbata. This is known as the Mimosa, and 

 is very popular as a cut flower. This species will grow- 

 up a large tree, and does well for pillar covering or for 

 covering the roof of a high greenhouse. Perhaps this 

 Acacia is one of the most fragrant of Acacias, and has 

 yellow flowers in large branching racemes and glaucous 

 colored pinnate leaves. 



Acacia baileyana (see illustration). This is of more 

 recent introduction, and is a native of New South Wales, 

 and there it grows a large shrub with pyramidal outline, 

 but is not at all general ; it is very full flowering and pro- 

 duces long racemes of rich yellow flowers, and is now 

 taking the place of Acacia dealbata as a cut flower, but 

 it has not, to my ideas, the fragrance of Acacia dealbata. 

 Under normal conditions it will flower in the early part 

 of the year and will furnish one mass of flowers for the 

 conservatory. 



Acacia cultriformis is most useful as a foliage plant, as 

 its leaves are evenly shaped and are of a pretty glaucous 

 nature, being single. It is most effective for grouping. 



Acacia drummondii. This appears to be distinct from 

 the general run of Acacias in its rich green, compound 

 and glabrous leaves, while the flowers are long and lemon 

 colored. This species may be said to be the most difficult 

 of Acacias to really grow with success, as the grower 

 must be most particular when watering — otherwise it 



will turn \ellii\v quickl}', and if in a damp situation it is 

 often attacked by mildew. 



Acacia cordata, or Acacia Listulata. This has small 

 simple leaves, growing thickly round the stem, the flow- 

 ers are pale yellow, and are crowded on long, slender 

 shoots a yard long. This Acacia requires to be held 

 when in pot culture owing to its slender habit. It is most 

 useful when worked in five-inch pots for bench work; it 



SPECIMEN OF .-VC.^CIA VERTICILL.3iT.\. 



can also be used as standards and the long shoots al- 

 lowed to hang down. Then it is most graceful. 



Acacia longifolia. This and its varieties — which are 

 many — are widely grown, and make strong bushes, grow- 

 ing very quickly. The flowers are in upright racemes, 

 and are very full. The best varieties are floribunda, 

 smaller than the type, but produces masses of flowers ; 

 magnifica is large like the type but a shade darker in 

 the flowers, while Acacia longifolia, var. mucronata. is 

 the best of all. Its flowers are larger than the type and 

 of a deeper color than magnifica, and it is very floriferous. 



Acacia pubescens. This is perhaps the Acacia most 

 sought on account of the difficulty in raising stock. Va- 

 rious methods have been tried such as cuttings, graft- 

 ing and root cutting, and success has attended most at- 

 tempts at a very low percentage. Acacia pubescens is of 

 the character of a tree, but it is most effusive when al- 

 lowed to run up to ten or twelve feet and then stopped, 

 while the shoots will hang over in a very graceful man- 

 ner. It is very floriferous in character. 



.Acacia verticillata (see illustration). Thi' i- most 



