February 28, 1920 



HORTICULTUKE 



167 



ACACIAS. 



The characters ot the divers forms 

 of acacias are well fixed and estab- 

 lished. When they are raised from 

 seeds they come as true to type and 

 make as good and splendid specimens 

 as when propagated by cuttings. Also 

 less labor and care and attention is re- 

 quired in their multiplication when re- 

 sorted to the natural means. When, 

 therefore, seeds are obtainable, this 

 mode of propagating them is always to 

 be preferred. When they are ripe they 

 should be sown in pans and kept in 

 gentle heat till they germinate. Then 

 they should be removed to a cooler 

 place. When, however, they are to be 

 propagated by cuttings, it should be 

 done in the latter part of spring or 

 earl.N in the summer. The earlier in 

 the month of June the better. The 

 wood should be neither succulent nor 

 too hard. Half ripened wood is the 

 ideal and only kind to look for and to 

 take for this purpose. They usually re- 

 quire a very long time to root, but no 

 heat is necessary to aid them in this 

 process. The only way to encourage 

 them is to keep the propagating bench 

 shaded and the cuttings cool and 

 moist. 



They should be potted in a compost 

 of fibrous sandy loam soil, peat or leaf- 

 mould, well rotted cow manure, and 

 with some sand. They make all their 

 growth only during the summer 

 months and no labor should be spared 

 to encourage them at this period. 

 Their watering must be copious and 

 thoroughly attended to and never al- 

 lowed to suffer from want of water. 

 Like ericas, they want and delight in 

 plenty ot it. It is also very desirable 

 and of great benefit to them that they 

 be syringed at least once a day. As 

 they advance in growth they should be 

 pinched or cut back in order that they 

 branch and assume a more or less 

 symmetrical shape. Although they may 

 be plunged out during the summer 

 months in the open, in a semi-shaded 

 place, more satisfaction will be de- 

 rived when young plants are kept In- 

 doors, provided the houses are well 

 shaded and ventilated. 



Old specimens, plants carried over 

 from one season to another, should 

 be cut back and Imrnediately repotted 

 after they have done flowering and 

 kept under glass till they commence 

 to break. About ,Tune they should be 

 plunged out in the open and with the 

 approach of cold weather taken in. 

 After they are housed no attempt 

 should ever be made to force them. 

 Heat, after their completion of growth. 

 Is quite detrimental and hinders their 

 full development. All the heat they 

 need at this stage is to keep them 



above freezing. It is only when they 

 are grown cool that they are luxurious 

 and healthy and develop into perfec- 

 tion. A temperature of 50 degrees 

 throughout the winter months will 

 splendidly usher them into their 

 flowering season, which is always 

 either in early or late spring, accord- 

 ing to their nature. 



There are several hundred described 

 species in this genus, but the number 

 adapted for pot culture and excellent 

 for commercial purposes la rather lim- 

 ited. These briefly described below 

 are some of the desirable ones. 



A. armata — A very handsome shrub, 

 usually 6 to 7 feet high, flowers dark 

 or deep yellow and very fragrant, ap- 

 pearing early in March. 



A. argyrophylla — A shrub rarely ex- 

 ceeding three feet, flowers nice yellow 

 and abundant, in March or April. 



A. Drummondil — This Is the most 

 elegant one of the genus, 3 to 4 feet, 

 flowers lemon color, very freely pro- 

 duced, from March to June. 



A. hispldisslma — A very showy and 

 attractive species, flowers deep yel- 

 low, in great profusion, in April. 



A. longifolia — An excellent tall and 

 erect shrub, very vigorous and free 

 growing, flowers medium yellow, tn 

 March. 



A. pul>escens — Another tall but more 

 or less pendant species, very florlfer- 

 ous, flowers bright yellow, In March. 



A. vertlcillata — This is a spreading 

 shruh, 4 to 5 feet high, flowers rich 

 yellow, in April. 



S. J. Shebm.\n. B. S. 



GOOD HEDGE PLANTS 

 In New England there are several 

 evergreens which can be used to ad- 

 vantage In making hedges. The com- 

 mon hemlock, when In good condition, 

 makes one of the most attractive com- 



BOUVARDIA 



There 1b always a shortaee In 



BOUVARDIAS 



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April Delivery 



C. U. LIGGIT 



303 BnlleUn Bide. Fhlladelplila, P&. 



binatlon screen and wind breaks which 

 can easily be found. An unusually flne 

 exami)le always attracts the attention 

 of visitors to the Bayard Thayer es- 

 tate of Lancaster, Mass., of which Mr. 

 William Anderson Is superintendent. 

 On the same estate there is a hedge 

 of Taxus cuspidata which Is a revela- 

 tion to people who have never seen 

 this splendid plant used in that way. 

 This Yew Is perfectly hardy and keeps 

 its shape well for many years. It 

 would be well If nurserymen would 

 pay more attention to Taxus cuspi- 

 data. for It is one of the most useful 

 plants that has ever been introduced, 

 and should have a wide sale through- 

 out the country. There are several 

 forms at present, but the number could 

 be increased Indefinitely and to great 

 advantage. Seedlings are sure to 

 show wide variation and among them 

 would be forms that might be em- 

 ployed In a great many ways. There 

 is no difficulty In raising seedlings, al- 

 though the seed germinates very slow- 

 ly. It is to be hoped for the sake of 

 the country's horticultural Interests 

 that nurserymen will give Increased 

 attention to Taxus cuspidata. 



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LOUIS GRATON 



Originator and Sole Owner 

 309 Bedford Street WHITMAN, MASS. 



