AKEBIA 75 



and A. Rtceana. These will flourish in a temperature little 

 above freezing point in winter. They should be pruned 

 after flowering, and when grown in pots they are all the 

 better for spending the summer in the open air. Propaga- 

 tion is effected by seeds, or cuttings of half-ripened wood 

 with a heel. A few of the species are successful as out- 

 door plants in exceptionally mild districts. 



ACONITUM 



One of the Monk's Hoods, Aconitum uncinatum, a North 

 American hardy perennial, attains as much as 8 feet in 

 height, with branched stems and large lilac-coloured flowers 

 in loose racemes. It succeeds well in partial shade, and is 

 easily propagated by root division, or from seeds sown as 

 soon as ripe in a cold frame. 



ACTINIDIA 



Hardy and ornamental deciduous summer-flowering 

 shrubs, related to Camellia, and mostly natives of China 

 and Japan. They have axillary corymbs of waxy white or 

 yellow flowers. They should be planted in rich soil. 

 A. Kolomikta, which should have the shelter of a wall, has 

 its leaves beautifully tinted in autumn. A. chinensis, of 

 strong climbing habit, has edible fruits with the flavour of 

 ripe gooseberries. A. polygama has fragrant flowers, and 

 A. volubilis (twining) is very free in growth. Increased by 

 seeds, layers, or cuttings taken in autumn. 



AKEBIA 



A. lobata and A. quinata are pretty, strong-growing 

 shrubs from China and Japan, which are hardy in most 



