106 THE TREE PROPAGATOR AN]) PLANTER. 



The Acacia {Fabacecv). 



The tribe of Acacias is, in many instances, a noble 

 class of fine-foliaged as well as flowering plants. Many 

 of them assume somewhat of the character of Ferns, 

 and persons sometimes say to me, "What fine ferns ! " 

 referring to some specimens of Lophantka. This variety 

 has very fern-like foliage, and when well grown forms 

 a fine feature in a conservatory, or even a good large 

 window. A. longifolia is a very free-flowering species, 

 differing from Lophantka in foliage as well as in its 

 flowers. The old " Soldier's Bush," as it has been 

 called, or Armata, is a general favourite, and well 

 deserves its place. 



The propagation of the Acacias consists in raising 

 most of them from seed, although some are raised from 

 cuttings. Armata should be always multiplied by 

 cuttings of the short side-shoots, trimmed neatly, and 

 the base of them cut clean with a fine-edged knife, and 

 inserted in pots filled with one part fine peat, and one 

 part clean sand. First put a good drainage at the 

 bottom of the pot, then fill well up to the rim of it 

 with the soil, and make it firm ; then insert the cut- 

 tings, one inch apart, all over the pot, leaving room 

 enough between the inside of the pot and the cuttings 

 for a striking- o-Jass to 2:0 over them. 



After the cuttings are in, give them water with a 

 fine rose water-pot, so as to soak the soil through ; let 

 them dry, and place the glass over them, and plunge 

 the pot or pots up to the rim in a warm tank or 

 plunging trough over hot-water pipes, in clean sand, 

 sawdust, tan, or cocoa-nut fibre ; wipe the glasses once 

 or twice a week, as for the Heath, &c. 



By Seed. — Sow the seed in the spring in a brisk 

 heat. It is a good plan first to soak it in hot water for 

 twelve hours ; then sow it in peat and sand of equal 

 parts, and cover it one inch. Plunge the pots in a 

 brisk heat till the seed is up, when they may be lifted 

 and set above, and finally placed in the warm green- 

 house, and potted off soon afterwards. 



