IMANTOPHTLLUM. 



INARCHING. 



gated by budding or grafting on the 

 species, and sometimes by cuttings. 

 As, however, tbe operation of pro- 

 pagation, whether by seeds or other- 

 wise, is slow, and, in the case of 

 budding and grafting, somewhat 

 difficult, amateurs ^'^ill always find 

 it preferable to purchase plants from 

 the nurserymen. Hollies will grow 

 in any soil in an airy situation, but 

 they do not thrive in smoke. They 

 prefer a loamy soil, but they will 

 grow in sand, and also in strong 

 clay; and, though not so well, on 

 chalk or limestone. They make i 

 beautiful and permanent hedges, | 

 elegant single trees, and picturesque 

 groups ; and from the closeness of 

 their foliage, they are very useful in 

 shutting out any unpleasant objects. 

 A Holly hedge is also well adapted 

 for a street or roadside garden ; as, 

 while it serves as a screen, it has a 

 cheerful look, both in summer and 

 winter. Among the rarer kinds of 

 Ilex may be mentioned /. lati folia, 

 a hardy evergreen tree from Japan, 

 remarkable for the large size and deep 

 green of its leaves, and its numerous 

 clusters of red berries. Another very 

 handsome species is I. 'pldtyphylla, a 

 native of the Canaries, with large 

 white flowers and scarlet berries more 

 than twice the ordinary size. 



Illi'cium. — Winter a cece. — Half- 

 hardy shrubs, with very dark strongly 

 scented flowers, which smell like ani- 

 seed ; and hence the popular name 

 applied to the genus of Aniseed Tree. 

 Most of the kinds come from China, 

 and are tender in British gardens ; 

 but /. Jioriddnum, an American 

 species, is very nearly hardy, only 

 requiring protection in severe win- 

 ters. They should all be grown in 

 peat ; and they are generally in- 

 creased by layers, though cuttings; 

 will strike in heat under a bell- 

 glass. 



Imantophtllum. — Amarylla-\ 



dacece. — A very si)lendid plant with 

 a large head of bright scarlet and 

 yellow flowers. It has somewhat 

 the habit of the Agapanthus, and 

 is a native of Natal. 



Impa'tiens. — Balsamiiiece. — 

 Noli me tangere. There are several 

 annual hardy species of this genus, 

 most of which are natives of Europe 

 and North America, and have yelloAv- 

 ish flowers; but some have lately 

 been introduced with beautiful pink 

 flowers from India. They are all 

 distinguished by the seed-vessel 

 springing open when it is touched, 

 and discharging the seeds. All the 

 kinds require a light soil, and 

 abundance of water ; and they are 

 generally large, erect, strong-grow- 

 ing plants. Several very beautiful 

 species have been introduced within 

 the last few years from the Hima- 

 layan ]\Iountains, most of which 

 have pinkish or rose-coloured flowers; 

 and lately a creeping plant (/. 

 repens) has been introduced, the 

 first creeping plant of the genus seen 

 in Europe. It has yellow flowers, 

 and it is a native of Ceylon. 

 Another very curious kind of balsam 

 is /. Jerdonice with very showy 

 green, red, and yellow flowers, and 

 tuberous stems, which send out 

 roots at intervals. It was found 

 growing on trees among the Indian 

 mountains. j 



Inarching. — A species of graft- j 

 ing, in which the scion is only j 

 partially separated from the parent 

 plant ; in such a manner, that while 

 it is uniting with the stock, it 

 derives a portion of its nourishment 

 from the plant to be propagated. 

 For this purpose the stock is either 

 planted near the parent, or if in a 

 pot it is placed near it, in such a 

 manner that a branch from the 

 scion can be readily joined to the 

 stock. The stock is sometimes cut 

 over immediately above its point of 



