ASCLEPIAS. 
cies are hardy in British gardens. | 
Of these, A. draciinculus, the Dra-| 
gon Arum, deserves a place in the 
flower-garden, for its large very re- 
markable flowers. The large and 
splendid plant, with arrow-shaped | 
leaves and white flowers, commonly 
called the Arum, belongs to a dif- 
ferent genus, and was first called 
by botanists Calla, and afterwards 
Richardia ethidpica. It is a native 
of the Cape of Good Hope, and St. 
Helena, where it grows in rich soil 
by the side of rivers. In England, 
it will not bear the winter in the 
open air, unless well protected and 
kept dry; and it is generally grown 
in pots. It is increased by offsets, 
which form on its thick fleshy roots 
in August or September. These 
should be potted in small pots, in 
soil composed of three parts of sandy 
loam, and one of leaf mould, or 
thoroughly rotten manure. The 
pots should be well drained, and the | 
plants frequently watered, while they | 
are in a growing state. About May 
or June, the leaves will begin to 
wither at their points ; and when 
this is perceived, the supply of water 
should be lessened, till at last only 
enough is given just to keep the 
plant alive. During the time the 
leaves are dying off, the plant should 
have abundance of light; but when 
they are all withered, the plant | 
should be removed to any shed or 
other place where it may enjoy 
complete repose for about a month. 
In October or November it should | 
be repotted, and supplied with abun- | 
dance of water, particularly if kept | 
in a sitting-room, where there is a_ 
aily fire. It should indeed always | 
stand in a saucer full of water | 
(changing the water every day), | 
as the plant will not flower if once | 
suffered to become too dry while in 
a growing state ; and as it has the 
extraordinary power of discharging 
the superabundant water from the 
points of its leaves, in drops. This 
quality renders it also suitable for 
culture as an aquatic plant ; and 
thus treated, it will live in the open 
air all winter, and when the leaves 
die down, the water will keep"the 
root from frost. ‘The roots must be 
planted in the mud at the bottom 
of the pond, and a part should be 
chosen where the water is not 
more than three feet deep. ‘This 
must be attended to; because, as 
the plant will not expand its flowers 
till its leaves rise above the surface, 
the stem would become weakened 
by being more elongated. The 
plant generally flowers in March or 
April; but by prolonging its season 
of repose, it may be made to flower 
in May or June. 
Anvu'npo.—Graminee.—A. Dod- 
naz, is a splendid bamboo-looking 
reed, rather tender in severe win- 
ters ; but which, if the season be 
favourable, will grow in rich soil 
kept moist, to the height of ten or 
twelve feet in one year; producing 
a fine oriental appearance when 
standing singly on a lawn, or near 
water. There is a variety with 
striped leaves, which is common in 
gardens; and which iscalled Ribbon 
grass in England, and in Scotland 
Gardener’s garters. This variety is 
quite hardy. 'The species is a native 
of Italy, and it is often used instead 
of bamboo for chairs, canes, &c. 
AscLe‘pias. — Asclepiddee. — 
Swallow-wort. North American 
herbaceous plants, for the greater 
part hardy in British gardens. 
The most ornamental species is 
A. tuberésa, which has fine otange- 
coloured flowers, and is somewhat 
difficult to cultivate. It thrives, 
however, in sandy peat, kept rather 
dry than otherwise, and seldom 
disturbed by removal ; and it is in- 
creased by division. A. am‘ena 
has purple flowers, and thrives in 
a mixture of peat and loam. The 
finest hothouse species is A. cur- 
rasavica, which has scarlet flowers, 
_» oe ag. 
