Acacia 



(4) 



Acacia 



not in cultivation, and included in this list are 

 several that were grown fifty years ago when the 

 rage for hard-wooded plants was at its height. 



The flowers are usually some shade of yellow or 

 white, very rarely red, and produced in globular 

 heads or cylindrical spikes, each containing many 

 flowers. 



The leaves are very variable, and while the feather- 

 cleft (pinnate) leaf mny be taken as the type there 

 is a section, known as the Pbyllodendrous Acacias, 

 in which the flattened leaf stalks (phyllodes) 

 perform the functions of true leaves. Examples 

 of this peculiarity are to be found in such species 

 as longifolia, platyptera, and saligna. 



From a horticultural point of view the most im- 

 portant species are thoee which hail from Australia, 

 New South Wales, and the temperate regions 

 generally. Economic properties, timber, and the 

 drug catechu from A. Catechu. 



Propagation. By cuttings of the tips of the half- 

 ripened wood taken in summer, and placed in 

 very sandy soil under a bell-glass in a cold frame 

 for the greenhouse species, with more heat for the 

 stove forms. By seeds, sown when ripe about 3" 

 deep, also in sandy soil. Temperature from 55 

 to (>0 U . 



Soil. A rich compost of equal parts of loam and 

 leaf soil, or peat, with sand, and a little charcoal. 



Other Cultural Points. Temperature for green- 

 house species 40 W to 5LT during winter ; in summer as 

 cool as possible. For the stove species GO" to 75. 

 Firm potting is essential to induce short-jointed, 

 well-ripened wood, but frequent repotting is not 

 necessary. What pruning is required should be 

 done after flowering, when straggling bushes may 

 be cut b:ick well into tlie old wood. The production 

 of young growth will be favoured by frequent 



syringing, and the plants may be stood out of 

 doors towards the end of the summer to ripen 

 their wood. Plenty of water is required at all 

 times, and occasional doses of clear soot water 

 are beneficial. The most troublesome insect 

 enemy is tlirips. 



Principal Species : 



afliuis (/ dealbata). 



armata, (>' to 10', grh., 

 yel. One of the most 

 popular of the Acacias. 



cordata, 1' to 1A', yel., a 

 charming pot plant. 



di';dliuta, The Silver 

 Wattle, 10' to '>r>', 

 spr., grh., yel. flowers 

 in long racemes. The 

 cut flowers of this 

 species are sold under 

 the name of ''Mimosa" 

 iu the London aud 

 other markets. Hdy. iu 

 Devon, the Channel 

 Islands, etc. 



Diuiiiuiondii, very hand- 

 some foliage plant , much 

 used for subtropical 

 bedding. 10', Ap., grh., 

 lemon yel. 



juniperina, G' to 8', Ap.. 

 grh., yel. This is au 

 elegant but rather rare 

 species, Dealing some 

 general resemblance iu 

 the foliage to verticil- 

 lata. 



leprosa, 6' to 25', Men., 

 Ap., grh., light yel. 

 This does well when 



trained to a pillar, with 

 the young, flowering 

 growths allowed to 

 hang down. Cut back 

 hard after blooming is. 

 over. 



longifolia, 10', Mch., grh., 

 yel. 



augustifolia, a very 

 pretty var., with 

 louger leaves than the- 

 type. 



Sophorre. 

 pubeseens, 6' to l.V, Ap. , 



grh., pale yel. This, 

 plant is charming at 

 all seasons, for the 

 feather-like leaves are 

 very elegant. 



pulchella, 3' to 5', Mch., 

 Ap., grh., rich yel. A 

 charming species for pot 

 work. It flowers freely 

 each year if the wood is 

 well ripened. 



riceaua, 20', My., grh., 

 yel. Graceful weeping 

 habit. 



urophylla, 10'. Ap., grh... 

 wh., scented. 



verticillata, (!' to 20',. 

 Mch., grh., yel. 



*. 



ACACIA VEUT1C1LLATA. 



ACACIA juNi 



ACACIA AUMATA ANlil'STI FOLIA. 



