Gardening for Amateurs 



765 



Foliage Plants for the Greenhouse 



WHEN the greenhouse has to bo its native country forms quite a large 

 kept attractive at all seasons, tree, is, in a small state, much appreciated 

 plants grown for the sake of their for decorative purposes. It is of formal out- 

 foliage are scarcely less important than line, the frond-like branches being disposed 

 those having brilliant flowers, A list of in regular tiers. If carefully attended to 

 such plants for the greenhouse is herewith in the matter of water, given an occasional 

 appended. stimulant, and a larger pot when necessary, 

 Aralia SieboldiL This, which is some- this Araucaria will, when six feet or even 



times, though altogether 

 erroneously, described 

 as the Castor Oil Plant, 

 has large-lobed, bright 

 green, leathery leaves. 

 Being nearly hardy it 

 will thrive in a cool 

 greenhouse, while it is 

 also very useful for the 

 dwelling-house. It is 

 apt in time to become 

 oare at the base, in 

 which case the top may 

 be rooted by cutting the 

 stem about half through 

 with a sloping cut, as 

 illustrated on page 705. 

 A piece of crock should 

 be placed in the slit to 

 keep it open, and the 

 whole surrounded with 

 sphagnum moss, which 

 must be tied securely 

 in position. If this 

 moss is kept moist 

 roots will soon push 

 into it. Ordinary pot- 

 ting compost of loam 

 with a little peat and 

 sand is suitable. Seeds 

 are sometimes obtain- 

 able, and young plants 

 can be readily raised 

 in this way. The leaves 

 of Aralia Sieboldii are 

 green ; those of the 

 variety variegata are 

 marked with white. 



Araucaria excelsa. 

 This, the Norfolk 

 Island Pine, which in 



The Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) 

 few-months-old plant from seed. 



more in height, retain 

 its leaves quite to the 

 base. It is increased 

 by imported seeds, and 

 also by cuttings, but 

 the latter are difficult 

 to root. Turfy loam 

 and peat with some 

 sand added form a suit- 

 able compost. March 

 is the time to repot 

 if that should become 

 necessary. 



Asparagus. Several 

 forms of Asparagus 

 have small needle-like 

 leaves, which are dis- 

 posed on flattened 

 frond - like branches. 

 For this reason they 

 are often looked upon 

 as ferns one of them, 

 indeed, namely Aspa- 

 ragus plumosus, being 

 often referred to as the 

 Asparagus Fern, though 

 there is really no affinity 

 between the two. They 

 are increased by seed, 

 or in some cases by 

 division carried out in 

 spring. A mixture of 

 loam, peat, and sand 

 suits the Asparagus well. 

 The best kinds are 

 myriocladus, with long, 

 erect feathery fronds ; 

 plumosus, of climbing 

 habit of growth ; plum- 

 osus nanus, a dwarf 

 form of the preceding ; 



