30 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



resembles that of the type, but is rather weaker. It is better to 

 remove the flowers of this kind, as then the rather slow habit of 

 growth is much improved, as also is the colour of the foliage. The 

 leaves being more serviceable and effective than the bloom, the 

 uses should be made of it accordingly. They are broadly edged 

 with yellow, the green being lighter than that of the type, but 

 equally bright ; the ends of the leaves are curled backwards, but, 

 with the exception of being a little smaller, they are similar in 

 shape to the parent form. This is a gem for rockwork, and, if 

 it did not belong to a rather ordinary race of plants, it would, 

 perhaps, be more often seen in choice collections. This, how- 

 ever, does not alter its worth. Seen in crevices of dark stone 

 on rockwork, or in bold tufts near the walks, or planted with 

 judgment near other dwarf foliaged subjects, it ever proves 

 attractive. It is much less rampant, and, perhaps, less hardy 

 than the type. It has only been during the recent very severe 

 winters, however, that it has been killed. The Arabis is easily 

 propagated by slips or rootlets, which should be taken after 

 flowering. The variegated form is better for being so propa- 

 gated every year. If bold patches are desired, they should be 

 formed by planting a number together, Sin. or 4in. apart. 

 Flowering period, February to June. 



Aralia Sieboldi. 



SIEBOLD'S ARALIA ; Nat. Ord. ARALIACE^E. 



THE present subject (see Fig. 15) beautiful, hardy, and ever- 

 green is a species of recent introduction; still, it has already 

 become well known and distributed, so much so that it scarcely 

 needs description ; but there are * facts in reference to it which 

 would seem to be less known. It is seldom seen in the open 

 garden, and many amateurs, who otherwise are well acquainted 

 with it, when they see it fresh and glossy in the open garden 

 in the earliest months of the year, ask, "Is it really hardy ?" 

 Not only is such the case, but the foliage, and especially the 

 deep green colour, are rarely so fine when the specimens have 

 indoor treatment, and, on this account, the shrub is eminently 

 suitable for notice here. 



The order Araliacece is nearly related to Umlelliferce, from 

 which fact an idea may be had of the kind and arrangement of 

 the flowers. Many of the genera of the order Araliacece are 

 little known ; perhaps the genus Hedera (ivy) is the only one 

 that is popular, and it so happens to immediately follow the 

 genus Aralia. To remember this will further assist in 

 gleaning an idea of the form of blossom, as that of ivy is 

 well known. Aralia Sieboldi, however, seldom flowers in this 

 climate, either in or out of doors. When it does, the white 

 flowers are not of much value ; they are small, like ivy blossom 

 I 



