ARALIA. 
and all the strongest shoots ought to have 
their points pinched out to ensure a bushy 
habit. All the Aphelexis are easily 
managed in this respect, being naturally 
compact growers. They are most im- 
patient of an excess of moisture at the 
roots. This must be carefully guarded 
against in all stages of their growth, and 
the soil always allowed, before applying 
water, to become considerably drier than 
would be necessary in the case of such 
plants as Acrophyllum. 
They should be kept through the autumn 
_ and winter in a light, airy situation, avoid- 
ing cold draughts, and keeping them in a 
night temperature of as near 45° as con- 
venient. The shoots that were stopped in 
the previous summer will most likely not 
show bloom; but any flowers that do 
appear it will be better to pinch out. By 
the middle of April give them a shift into 
pots 3 or 4 inches larger, according to the 
strength of the plants and the condition of 
their roots, after which let their general 
treatment be such as recommended for the 
previous summer. 
We have not said anything about tying. 
Naturally they are of a procumbent habit, 
and consequently they require more sup- 
port than plants of erect growth ; but use 
no more sticks than are necessary to keep 
them in shape. In all probability they 
will not require any more stopping, as if 
they are strong they will break sufticiently 
to furnish themselves. They ought to set 
bloom all over ; but if the object is to get 
them on into large specimens as soon as 
possible it will be better to pinch the 
flowers out, as recommended in the pre- 
vious year. If required to bloom, it will 
be necessary to keep them, when in flower, 
in a house where the atmosphere is quite 
dry, or the flowers will turn mouldy and 
lose their colour. The best plan is to 
allow a little top air all night over where 
the plants stand. If attention is paid to 
these matters, they will retain their beauty 
for a month; after which the flowers 
should be removed, and the plants treated 
as recommended in the previous seasons. 
After they have got big enough to produce 
a good display of flowers, they should be 
stood out in the open air through the 
month of August each summer ; this will 
benefit them by hardening up their growth. 
Keep them after this through the winter 
at about 35° or 40°. Each season, until 
they attain full specimen size, they should 
have larger pots after flowering. There 
are three kinds that are sufficiently distinct 
to merit a place in every collection of 
plants. 
A. macrantha purpurea. This is the 
| 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
47 
deepest coloured, as well as the best con- 
stitutioned, variety. It is a good grower, 
making a full-sized plant in less time than 
any of the others. 
A. macrantha rosea. There are several 
inferior plants sold for the true sort, which 
is one of the scarcest as well as most desir- 
able hard-wooded plants in cultivation. 
When it isin good condition, its flowers 
are nearly 2} inches in diameter, of a 
beautiful bright pink, forming a nice con- 
trast to the last-named variety. It is a 
strong, but not quite so quick a grower as 
A. macrantha purpurea. 
A. rupestris grandiflora. Is distinct 
enough from the two preceding to render 
it well worth growing. 
The species of Aphelexis are longer lived 
than most other hard-wooded plants. If 
well treated they will often last for a dozen 
years or more, and at the end of that time 
be as vigorous as ever. 
InsEcts.—Greenfly frequently attacks 
the young growths ; to destroy it fumigate 
repeatedly. If affected with scale, dip, or 
syringe in the dormant season, with in- 
secticide sufficiently strong to eradicate 
the pest. 
ARALIA. 
(Stove. ) 
Amongst the stove kinds of Aralia much 
difference exists, both as regards size and 
form; they are hard-wooded evergreen 
plants of comparatively free growth, and 
mostly erect in habit. They have little 
disposition to branch out, a property which 
befits them for associating with plants of 
bushy growth. They are increased both 
by cuttings and grafts, using for stocks 
such of the commoner species as are plenti- 
ful. The stocks should be prepared in the 
usual manner, that is, struck from eyes 
or cuttings, and grown on in small pots 
until they have attained the thickness of 
an ordinary pencil, when they should be 
headed down to a little above the base. 
The scions should be then inserted in any 
of the several ways by which plants of a 
similar nature succeed. We have found 
none better than the cleft and wedge 
method, keeping them warm enough and 
a little close until the grafts are united. 
But in the case of Aralias, as with most 
other things of a like character, propaga- 
tion by cuttings and eyes is the method 
by which ordinary cultivators usually in- 
crease them. Plants that get naked and 
bare of leaves should have their heads cut 
off in the spring, making cuttings from 
such part of the upper portion as is only 
half-ripened, and of the extreme top as 
