308 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICDIiTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 23, 1873. 



heavier crops than the first batch. Plants thus grown and 

 forced will yield a supply of rich and luscious fruit at a season 

 when it is much wanted. — A. Pettigkew, Priory Vineijard, 

 Sale. 



HOTEIA JAPONICA. 



In answer to "W. G." (pages 291 and 292), the plants from 

 which I took the flowers so late in the season were forced early 

 in spring, and after blooming were placed in a cold frame, 

 gradually hardened-off, and allowed to rest for a time by giving 

 httle or no water. They were then divided if required to in- 

 crease the stock; indeed, if the plants are large I always like 

 to do so, as I imagine they bloom better in consequence. In- 

 deed, it is impossible to have too many plants of it, and the 

 smallest piece makes a good plant in one season, and will throw 

 np some spikes of bloom even before frost comes to cut it down. 

 If the stock is not to be increased, and large plants are pre- 

 ferred, after resting as above just shake them out of their pots 

 gently, prick the soil out from between the roots, and plant out 

 at a good distance apart. They grow amazingly when placed 

 in a situation suited to their wants, which in summer is a cold 

 rich hght soU in a moist rather shady spot. A north border is 

 just the place for them. Such a place mine have had this 

 summer ; last year they grew in a wet bog bed, and never did 

 they do better. They are taken np, potted, and placed in a 

 frame when the leaves die dovm in autumn, if required for 

 forcing. Perhaps "W. G." does not want them for forcing. 

 Little they require — a window, a frame, or a greenhouse will 

 bring them on very early in spring. If he has none of these, 

 then an early border with a little protection may help. Get it 

 to flower as soon as possible, then cut the leaves down to the 

 ground. Let the plant just stai't into growth again ; then take 

 it up, divide if required, and plant it in very rich soil, and in a 

 situation similar to that recommended above. I think that 

 with this treatment " W. G." may reasonably expect plenty 

 of this plant's beautiful graceful flowers to place with his 

 Gladiolus. — J. TAyxoE, Maesgicynne. 



FLOWERS FOR OUR BORDERS.— No. 19. 



ACACIA GEANDIS.— Grand Acacia. 



To the vast genus Acacia the phrase impcrinm in imperio 

 may well be applied, for among the plants of the Legxuninons 

 family it stands pre-eminent, if not for its utility to mankind, 

 at least for the considerable number of species included within 

 its limits. A large proportion of them are natives of Australia, 

 and from these we select one of the neatest and dwarfest spe- 

 cies, more especially adapted for window or frame culture. 



The Acacia grandis is a native of Western Australia. It forms 

 a shrub of moderate size, and flowers freely while small. The 

 stems are angular, grooved, and usuaUy, but not invariably, 

 quite glabrous. The leaves consist of two pinnte, articulated 

 at their base, each pinna being about an inch long, and com- 

 posed of from eight to ten pairs of linear, alternate, smooth 

 leaflets, the rachis or stalk to which they are attached being 

 flattened, and terminated by a small leafy point. 



At the junction of the pinme with the branch, several 

 curious appendages arise which deserve attention. First, 

 between the two pinniE wiU be found a short thread-like pro- 

 longation of the petiole, terminating in a little globular head ; 

 next, a minute gland-like body, which is apparently an abortive 

 flower bud ; then either one or two small cup-like involucres, 

 out of which the flower stalks arise ; fourthly, an articulated 

 woody spine, about half an inch long; and, lastly, at the base 

 of the leaf are two bristly stipules, and occasionally a third, 

 beneath the prolonged petiole first mentioned. The flower 

 heads are generally in pairs, on smooth stalks about three- 

 quarters of an inch in length,*and are very numerously pro- 

 duced. 



The beauty of the flowers of the Acacias is entirely due to 

 the long projecting stamens, the calyx and corolla being so 

 email as not to be easily distinguished after the full expansion 

 of the capitule or flower head. Both the floral envelopes 

 referred to are composed of five equal divisions, regularly 

 arranged ; and, in this respect, there is a departure from the 

 type of the order, which, as our readers are well aware, is 

 chiefly characterised by its papilionaceous flowers, of which 

 those of the common Pea and Laburnum are examples. 



The Acacias, including the species now figured, generally 

 ripen seed ; but the number of legumes bears but a very small 

 proportion to that of the flowers, for it must be borne in mind 



that most of these contain stamens only : of the twenty or 

 thirty florets composing the capitule, but a very few contain 

 both stamens and pistil. 



In some of the Acacias' the spiny process in the axil of the 

 leaf is so largely developed as to be a very formidable organ, 

 and capable of inflicting a serious wound, as in the A. horrida 

 and A. Caffra ; in others it is altogether absent, as in the species 

 dealbata, discolor, spectabilis, and most of the species in- 

 cluded in the section Bipinnatte. 



A. grandis is a most charming window-plant for spring 

 flowering, being at that season loaded with its golden yellow 

 balls ; and at aU periods of the year its elegant foUage gives it 

 an ornamental character. 



Acacia grandis. 



Its propagation is effected either by seeds or cuttings, usually 

 by the latter method ; they should be inserted in white sand, 

 or very sandy soil, and covered with a bell-glass or tumbler. 

 As they are impatient of damp, they require a little more care 

 during the rooting process than those of the leafless species ; 

 the inside of the glass should be wiped daily, and as soon as 

 the cuttings are fairly struck they must be potted-off into 

 sandy peat, and eventually into good fibrous peat containing 

 less sand. During the summer the pot may be placed out- 

 doors in a warm aspect, on a layer of ashes, to keep out those 

 plagues of the gardener, the worms ; but in dry weather it 

 must be carefully watered, as the foliage of this and similar 

 species is more delicate than that of the phyllode-bearing 

 Acacias, in which the cuticle is much thicker, and contains 

 fewer stomata or exhaling pores. In this and other cases 

 it wiU be found an excellent plan to place the pot containing 

 the plant in one considerably larger, the space between the 

 two being filled up with moss, which may bo kept damp. This 

 wiU prevent the roots from being injured by long exposure to 

 the scorching rays of the sun. 



As it is essential to the production of flowers the following 

 spring that the young wood should be thoroughly ripened, it 

 will be better to remove the plant from the influence of heavy 

 rains about the middle of September ; after which period it 

 should receive but moderate supplies of water. In winter it 

 will require all the air and liglit that can be given it, and 

 should be kept in a cool apartment up to the month of 

 February, after which a warmer room will hasten the develop- 

 ment of its beautiful flower heads. In case of very severe 

 weather, measures must be taken to secure it from frost. 



Though accorded specific rank when first introduced. Acacia 

 grandis is now universally regarded by botanists as but 



