2 Encyclopaedia of Gardening 



produce large evergreen leaves, and bright, drooping, bell-shaped 

 flowers. With the exception of Thomsonii, which is often mixed 

 with flowering plants in the garden for the beauty of its mottled 

 leaves; and vexillarium, which also has handsome foliage and 

 scarlet and yellow flowers, the species have been discarded in favour 

 of the modern varieties. Propagated by cuttings and seeds. The 

 former (pieces of young, flowerless wood with the lower leaves 

 removed) may be inserted, and the latter sown, in sandy soil in 

 gentle bottom heat in spring. They thrive in sandy loam, but a 

 third of peat may be added. Pinch out the tips, first, soon after 

 the cuttings have rooted, and subsequently, when the resulting 

 shoots have extended a few inches. This will make them form side 

 shoots. If they are to be grown in pots they must have successive 

 shifts as the pots get filled with roots, say from 3 to 6 and from 6 to 

 lo-inch. Give a light position. They love water, both at the 

 roots and over the foliage, throughout the summer, but not much 

 will be required in autumn and winter. The winter temperature 

 may be 45. Sanderianum has beautiful foliage. 



Acacia (aca-cia, from akazo, to sharpen. Ord. Leguminosae) . 

 Most of these beautiful shrubs and trees have yellow, primrose, or 

 white flowers in the form of small globes or cones, with feathery 

 leaves; but a few have flat foliage. The well-known " mimosa " of 

 the florists' shops is Acacia dealbata, otherwise known as the Silver 

 Wattle. Armata, yellow; Drummondii, lemon, pretty foliage; 

 leprosa, primrose, charming against a pillar with the flowering 

 shoots drooping; pulchella, deep yellow, one of the smallest growers; 

 Riceana, yellow, graceful, dependent habit; and verticillata, 

 yellow, cone-shaped, all flower in spring, and thrive in the green- 

 house. For cuttings, the tips of the shoots should be taken a few 

 weeks after flowering, when they are fairly well matured, inserted 

 in sandy soil, and covered with a bell glass. Acacias will do in 

 fibrous loam, lightened with sand, but one-third of leaf mould is an 

 advantage. The soil should be made firm at each repotting, if they 

 are grown in pots, but they are often planted out. If straggly, 

 prune hard after flowering, and new growth will break from the old 

 wood, especially if they are well syringed. They must not be 

 allowed to suffer for water in summer. Winter temperature for all 

 the species named, 45. 



Acaena. See Flower Garden Rockery. 



Acalypha (a-cal-ypha, from akalepe, a nettle. Ord. Euphor- 

 biaceae). Stove shrubs, principally grown for their handsome leaves, 

 but hispida (sanderiana) has crimson spikes of bloom in summer. 

 Macafeeana and musaica have marbled foliage. They may be in- 

 creased by cuttings in a propagator in spring or summer, and thrive 

 in equal parts of loam and leaf-soil, with sand. 



Acanthus (acan-thus, from akantha, spine. Ord. Acanthaceae) . 

 Herbaceous plants, generally represented by the species mollis 

 (whose leaves suggested the Corinthian style of architecture), 

 although lusitanicus (latifolius) is finer. They grow about 4 ft. 

 high, and have white or pink flowers in summer, but are chiefly 



