74 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



the protection of walls. Only two species are much 

 grown. A. chinensis (rupestris\ Rock Abelia, the hardiest, 

 is of close habit, and its white, pink-tinted, fragrant flowers 

 appear in late summer. A. floribunda, Mexican Abelia, 

 bears drooping clusters of long-lasting, rosy-purple flowers, 

 and is worthy of cultivation under glass. Both are ever- 

 green. Abelias prefer light soil, and are propagated by 

 cuttings in summer, or by layers in spring. Among the 

 rarer species, A. triflora and A. spathulata deserve mention. 



ABUTILON 



The taller-growing species and garden varieties of 

 Abutilon, of which there are a large number, some remark- 

 able for floral beauty and others for ornamental foliage, are 

 well adapted for growing as greenhouse roof or pillar 

 plants. A. Darwinii, bright orange flowers with darker 

 veinings, A. megapotamicumj red and yellow flowers, and 

 A. venosunij very large orange flowers with red veins, with 

 their forms and hybrids, rank high among greenhouse 

 climbers, besides being useful for outdoor summer effect. 

 They succeed best planted out in loam and peat. Cuttings 

 of the young wood strike freely in early spring or in Sep- 

 tember. When growing they should be fed liberally, but 

 require to be kept almost dry from late autumn until the 

 end of winter. 



ACACIA 



Some of the cultivated species of this large genus of 

 Leguminosae make long, straight shoots, and are well 

 adapted for training on greenhouse rafters or pillars, where 

 they are very effective when in flower from Christmas 

 onwards. They are A. Bailey ana^ A. leprosa, A. retinodes, 



