62 Subtropical Gardening. 



the next winter, and, although killed to the ground, the 

 thick fleshy roots next season produced numerous strong 

 shoots or suckers. These were produced irregularly, and 

 so numerously that they had to be thinned out in many 

 places ; a few spaces only requiring to be filled up. It 

 is easily increased by cuttings of the root, and is usually 

 planted in masses, edged with a dwarfer plant; but as 

 a small group in the centre of a bed of flowers, or 

 even as an isolated specimen in a like position, it is most 

 excellent. 



*Aralia racemosa (American Spikenard). An her- 

 baceous species, with smooth, widely-branching, diverging 

 stems, about 4 ft. in height, and pinnate, slightly downy 

 leaves with ovate heart-shaped leaflets. Flowers nume- 

 rous, white, in racemose umbels. Thrives best in good 

 soil in shady or half-shady positions. Similar positions, 

 etc., to those for A. nudicaulis and edulis. N. America. 



*Aralia spinosa (Angelica tree of North America) is 

 highly useful, in consequence of its beauty of foliage, 

 among subtropical plants. Like many of the hardy 

 things, it should not be placed in positions where it would 

 be necessary to remove it, nor closely associated with 

 tender plants requiring frequent disturbance of the soil. 

 Flowers in autumn, small, white, in numerous umbels 

 arranged on a much-branched panicle beset with velvety 

 stellate down. The leaves are twice and thrice pinnate, 

 with ovate, deeply serrated, smooth leaflets. In most 

 cases it grows with a single erect stem the very type 

 we require and it should not be allowed to depart from 

 this habit. The stem is fiercely arrayed with spines. 

 On account of its umbrella-like head this fine thing has 



