DECORATIVE PLANTS 



ly, and it will ask no more of you. The variety 

 described will be found catalogued as A. lurida 

 variegata. There is a plain-leaved kind quite 

 as easy to grow, but not as attractive in col- 

 oring. Give this plant a trial, and I venture 

 the prediction that you will prefer it to any 

 Palm you have ever grown — and that is saying 

 a great deal for it. It never gets sick, no insect 

 ever attacks it, and it needs no coaxing. 



The Araucaria is another plant that a great 

 many persons will prefer to the Palm, after 

 they have given it a trial. This plant is some- 

 times called the Norfolk Island Pine. It has 

 heavy needle-like foliage, somewhat similar 

 to that of our native Hemlock, only not quite 

 so flat in arrangement. Its branches are pro- 

 duced in whorls, generally of five, but some- 

 times six or seven. These whorls rise one 

 above the other in great regularity, and the 

 general effect is that of a tree trained in pyra- 

 midal form. It is of quite rapid growth, and 

 any time your specimen becomes too large for 

 your window you can readily trade it to your 

 local florist for a smaller specimen, or for 

 other plants, for he can make excellent use of 

 it in working out his decorative schemes. For 

 church decoration it is admirable. This is a 



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