For inly. V23 



177 



The Cultivation of Acacias Under Glass 



THOMAS ROLAND 



ACACIAS do e(|iially well in puts, tiiljs, or when 

 planted in beds and can be trained and shaped to 

 any desired form or to fit any and all positions. 

 All tlirive under approximately similar conditions of soil, 

 temperature, light and moisture. A sandy or gravelly 

 loam, with some cow manure added, makes a suitable 

 compost for them. They require an abundance of sun- 

 shine and fresh air and j)!enty of water when well estab- 

 tablished and making" new growth, but they cannot endure 

 sour soil or stagnant moisture, and it is essential that the 

 jdant.'', whether growing in beds, ]>ots or tubs, should be 

 careful!}- and sufficiently drair.ed. I prefer to grow the 



iCuintesy of The Garden, British) 

 .li\icia Bailcyaiia 



plants under glass continually, because they can be better 

 and more easily controlled. 



Practically all my plants have Ijeen raised from seed 

 or cuttings and grown on under the same general treat- 

 ment. With one or two exceptions they all root easily 

 from cuttings of half-ripened wood. The latter part of 

 October is usually a good time in which to put in a batch 

 of cuttings because from then on the temperature can be 

 easily controlled. If the cuttings are placed in pots or 

 pans of sandy soil and kept fairly close, in a temperature 

 of about 55 to 60 degrees, they should root in from eight 

 to twelve weeks, depending upon the variety and on the 

 condition of the wood. Cuttings of Acacia pubescens may 

 take six months in which to root. Cuttings made of new- 

 growth after plants have been cut back may also be put 

 in in the Spring. As it is not, however, easy to control 

 temperatures at that season, I believe more uniform suc- 

 cess is likelv to result when the cuttings are put in in the 

 Fall. 



Perhaps the easiest method of raising stock is fr(.!m 

 seeds which are freely produced by cultivated plants. 

 Seeds sown in January will produce nice little plants in 

 2y2 or three-inch pots by the end of the first year, after 

 which they grow quite rapidly. It is a good plan before 

 sowing the seed to pour over it water heated to just below 

 the toiling point and allow the seed to remain in the water 

 over night, thus making sure the seeds do not become dry 

 before they are sown. After sowing, the seed should be 

 placed in a temperature of about 60 degrees. As plants 

 raised from seed show much variation, it is desirable when 

 a special variety is needed to propagate it either by cut- 

 tings or bv grafting. 



As soon as our plants h;ive bloomeJ they are pruned 

 into whatever shape or form is desired. Those requiring 

 putting- are attended to at the same time. We find the 

 |)Iants grow as freely in tubs as in pots and that the tubs 

 are much more suitable and better than jjots in every way. 

 After pruning and potting, it is best to keep the plants, 

 especially those having been much disturbed at the roofs, 

 slightly shaded from bright sun and frequently given a 

 light spraying. They should be placed where strong 

 draughts cannot reach them until they have made new- 

 roots. After they become wed established they should be 

 given ample spate so that they wid receive plentv of sun- 

 shine and plentv of air. 



At no period do Acacias thrive in a moist atmosphere. 

 During the period when they are getting plenty of sun 

 and air it is well to spray them overhead two or three 

 times a day. Several times weekly it is well to give all 

 plan.'s a very hard and thorough syringing. \\'e find this 

 is sufficient to keep the plants free of insects. In the i-'all 

 wl-ien the plants have set their buds, spraying should cnly 

 be done on fine days and not too freciuently. but it will 



.Icdiia icriicilUila 



be found advbsable to ,give all plants a hard svringing at 

 least once a week until Winter. 



In case the wood of any plant has becon-ie unduly hard 

 because of defective roots, it is advisable to keep it on the 

 least sunn)' side of the house and perhaps give a slight 

 shade during the brightest-portion of the day. 



Plants that were not repotted in the Spring mav need 

 feeding during the Summer and practicallv all plants that 

 are well budded and have not n-iade an extra heavv rank 

 growth are, I find, benefitted by a feeding of cow manure 

 w-ater. 



It is, possible to cut Acacia fio'vvers during everv month 

 in the year, but I do not believe it is worth while to at- 

 tempt to have flowers during June, July, August, and 

 September, because during these hot n-ionths thev are apt 



