308 LILIACE.^. 



with little or no tendency to make suckers, are propagated by- 

 cuttings — a slow process, on account of their unwillingness to 

 branch, even when cut over for that purpose. Cuttings root 

 very freely, but can never be had in gi'eat abundance. Seed, 

 when they can be got, will be the readiest way of getting up a 

 stock of any of the sorts; but British-ripened seed of Yuccas 

 \vi\\ ever be rare out of doors at least, owing in part to the late- 

 ness of the season at which they flower, and in part also to the 

 unfrequency with which they do flower. Besides being useful for 

 associating with mixed herbaceous plants. Yuccas are very 

 characteristic subjects for introducing singly or in groups, for 

 associating with other striking plants about lawns, or for planting 

 on or in the neighbourhood of rockwork ; and they may also be 

 introduced into groves where the soil and other circumstances 

 are favourable. With the exception of Y.flaccida and Y. glofiosa, 

 I cannot speak with any confidence of the hardiness of the 

 others in the following selection in the north. K aloifolia, Y. 

 angustifolia, and Y. filanwitosa, are occasionally used for filling 

 vases, &c., in flower-gardens in Scotland ; but they are gener- 

 ally afforded some kind of winter protection either in the green- 

 house or vinery or shed ; and they are so useful for such pur- 

 poses that they are well worth protection, such as they require. 

 But in most parts of England, especially in situations near the 

 sea, all that are selected are hardy when planted out in the 

 ground ; but any of them, if used for filling vases, will require 

 protection in winter, as their roots being more exposed in that 

 way are liable to injury from frost. Y. aloifolia may be consi- 

 dered the least hardy of the selection. 



Y. acuminata. — This species does not produce much stem 

 quickly, nor are the leaves numerous, though they are densely 

 packed together. They are about 2 feet long, and nearly 2 

 inches broad at the middle, decreasing in width gradually 

 towards the point, but more quickly towards the base. They 

 are dark green, and slightly glaucous and concave on the upper 

 face. 



Y. aloifolia. — A very handsome species, producing numerous 

 leaves less crowded than in the last. They are about the same 

 length as those of the last, but are narrower, thicker, flat, or 

 nearly so, and the margins are beset with minute teeth. There 

 is a beautiful variegated form named K a. vai'iegata. Native 

 of the Southern States of North America and some parts of South 

 America 



Y. filamentosa. — This is a well-known species which makes 

 little or no stem. The leaves are crowded, i )^ or 2 feet long, 

 and about 2 inches broad, deep green, and when young slightly 



