CULTIVATION OF ACACIAS. 22,3 



be well drained, and flourish in equal parts of rich loam, sandy peat, 

 and well-rotted leaf- mould ; the latter to be withheld from such as it is 

 desired should not grow robust. The compost should not be sifted, but 

 broken by the hand. In the growing season they require a liberal 

 supply of water ; but when the new wood is become firm, then a less 

 quantity will only be necessary. The plants must be repotted as soon 

 as the bloom declines; then the new wood begins to push which is to 

 bear the next season's flowers ; so that repotting just when about to 

 push shoots, the new wood gets strengthened to bloom satisfactorily 

 the following year. 



Many of the kinds produce seed, and this provides a ready means of 

 increase. If ripe seed is obtained by the end of August, sow it imme- 

 diately in pots ; and previously to doing so soak it in warm water, say 

 120 5 , and let them be in the water several hours before sowing, and 

 the pot be placed in moist heat in preference. To increase them by 

 cuttings, let the new shoots become just firm, or what is termed half 

 ripe ; then cut the portions close under a bud, and insert them in sand. 



The following species are the most handsome, and merit a place in 

 every collection : — 



A. mneata. — Flower heads are rather small, a rich deep yellow, in 

 vast profusion ; the leaves are narrow, an inch long. This is particu- 

 larly handsome, and ought to be in every greenhouse. 



A. celustrifoma. — Flowers pretty sulphur, and in very dense 

 panicles ; leaves glaucous, two inches long. 



A. prominens. — Flowers a bright yellow, borne in profusion ; leaf 

 narrow, an inch and a-half long. 



A. graveolens. — Flowers nearly white ; the leaves two inches and 

 a-half long. 



A. sophorje. — The flowers are produced in large branching heads, 

 pale yellow, in profusion ; leaves broad, lance-shaped, three inches long. 

 A fine species. 



A. verticielata. — Flowers a light yellow, and in profusion ; leaves 

 an inch and a-half long. Very handsome. 



A. eongifolia. — Flowers a light yellow, the spikes being erect ; 

 the branches are literally full : leaves lance-shaped. It is a very 

 beautiful species. 



A. hybrida. — Flowers a light yellow, globular. Pretty. 



A. pr^emorsa. — Flowers a pale yellow ; a profuse bloomer. 



A. pulchella. — Flowers deep golden balls, very profuse ; Mimosa- 

 like foliage. A very beautiful species. 



A. trinervata. — Flowers a pale yellow, delicate and pretty ; the 

 leaves are narrow and an inch long. It is a handsome bushy plant. 



A. pecipiens. — Flowers sulphur colour ; the leaves are of a tri- 

 angular form, half an inch across. The plant forms a neat bush. 



A. rotundifolia. — The leaves are circular, a quarter of an inch 

 across. It is a very neat bushy plant, the flowers are a bright yellow 

 colour, and produced in profusion, and beautiful. 



A. vestita. — The leaves are half an inch long. It is a very neat 

 bushy plant. The flowers are borne in large branching spikes, and 

 along them the blossoms are produced in short racemes of ten or twelve 



