May.] HOT-HOUSE OF REPOTTING, ETC. lol 



of heat naturally to quicken them to an active state when 

 they are encouraged; and, thirdly, being thus in new soil 

 while dormant, they have a yellow and sickly aspect until 

 they begin to grow; and the foliage, thus deprived of its 

 natural vigour, will not appear so healthful again : whereas, 

 if they are shifted or repotted in this or next mouth, at 

 which season they are between two stages of growth, they 

 immediately, on receiving fresh assistance, and by the increas- 

 ing heat of the summer, make new growths, are perfectly 

 ripened before the approach of winter, and never lose that 

 vernal appearance they have attained. These are our reasons, 

 acquired from a close practice and observation, and are not 

 influenced by the doings of others which are so much aside. 

 No practical operator especially, nor, in fact, any individual, 

 ought to be governed by custom in regard to the treatment 

 of plants, without having any idea as to why and wherefore, 

 founded on the principles of nature, and governed by her un- 

 erring results. 



As many are desirous of having a knowledge of plants 

 before they order them, and likewise which are the finest 

 flowerers and th^lr general character, especially those who 

 are at a great distance, and seldom have the privilege of 

 seeing what iv most desirable, our descriptions will be limit- 

 ed, but still ^iH convey some accurate idea of the article 

 described. 



Acacia* Several of these are desirable in the hot-house 

 /or the grandeur of their foliage, beauty of flower, and a few 

 of them as specimens of valuable medicinal plants. A. 

 Houtftfni, now Annesleia Houstoni, is one of the most 

 magnificent of the Mimosa tribe, blooming from August to 

 November in large terminal spikes of a crimson colour, 

 stamens very long and beautiful, leaves bipinnated in pairs. 

 A. grandifltfra, likewise given to Annesleia, and similar to 

 the former in colour, has very large compound bipinnate 

 leaves, with from twenty to forty pairs. A. Catechu, flowers 

 yellow, wood spiny, leaves bipinnated, about ten pairs. The 

 inner wood of this tree is of a brown colour, from which the 

 Catechu used in medicine is prepared. It is disputed 

 whether A. vera or A. ardbica produces the gum Arabic. 

 We are inclined to think it is the latter, which grows prin- 

 cipally on the Atlas mountains. The gum exudes spon- 

 taneously from the b&vk of the tree in a soft half fluid state, 



