the aucuba japonica. 59 



The Aucuba Japonica. 



The Spotted Laurel, as some call it. This belongs 

 to the Monoecious section of plants, and not to the 

 Dioecious class, as seems to be the idea of some persons. 

 If it belongs to the former class, then there is a mistake 

 about the Aucuba possessing male and female sections 

 — in other words, one plant bearing berries only and 

 another flowers only, or male and female plants sepa- 

 rately, as in the cases of the Yew and Willow. These 

 are Dioecious plants, but the Aucuba is a Monoecious 

 plant — which means the same plant bearing both male 

 and female flowers, as in the case of the Nut, Pinus, 

 Cucumber, &c. 



The Aucuba is one of the most useful and beautiful 

 classes of evergreen dwarf shrubs we possess. The 

 propagation of it is easy to accomplish. In the months 

 of September and October select the last season's 

 growth, i.e. the last growth which will be made the 

 same season. Let the cuttings be 9 or 10 inches long, 

 and firm. Cut them off with a heel of the old wood at 

 right angles, immediately below the union of the old 

 wood and the young. Trim off the leaves half-way up 

 the cutting, and lay them in up to the leaves in light 

 sandy soil : dig them in as for the common aud Portugal 

 Laurels, treading the earth firmly on the base part of 

 them. As you proceed trench after trench, tread the soil 

 (which must be made fine) on the cuttings, when on^ 

 spadeful of soil only is turned on them ; but do not 

 tread it after, except a little to form a solid trench to 

 be cut down on or against which to lay the cuttings. 

 They may remain here for two years, when they may 

 be taken up and replanted in beds 1 foot 6 inches 

 apart, or 1 foot 6 inches by 1 foot. 



The Aucuba may also be propagated by layers and 

 by seed. The la}*ering is done in the same way as for 

 the Azalea or Laurel — (see page 35). 



