8i8 



Gardening for Amateurs 



similar in foliage, but apart from this they 

 are quite distinct. Latin names also are a 

 little confusing, for the nurserymen call this 

 plant Aralia Sieboldii, and the botanist 

 Fatsia japonica. One important consider- 

 ation is that a fair amount of light is neces- 

 sary, otherwise the lower leaves fall off. A 

 position in or near a window must therefore 

 be chosen. Though occasionally propagated 

 from cuttings, the majority of Aralias are 

 grown from seeds. Plants seldom flower in 



Dividing the Aspidistra. 



a room, but when too large to retain indoors, 

 being hardy, they may be planted in the 

 shrubbery border, where, when established, 

 they will flower annually in autumn. The 

 panicles of white flowers are very showy and 

 interesting, contrasting well with the large 

 shining light green leaves. During favour- 

 able winters small Ivy-like fruits develop, 

 which ripen in spring ; this is the best time 

 to purchase seeds. Old seeds are of little 

 use ; if ordered in January or February, they 

 would probably be some nine months old. 

 New seeds germinate readily in a window, 

 frame, or greenhouse if sown in May. Aralias 



grow freely in ordinary potting soil. It is 

 worth while recording here that Araiia Sie- 

 boldii is one of the best hardy evergreen 

 shrubs for the small town garden. 



Araucaria excelsa (Norfolk Island 

 Pine). This is a graceful and attractive 

 conifer, with vivid green foliage. In Norfolk 

 Island the trees reach a height of 150 feet. As 

 small plants in pots they are symmetrical, 

 with tiers of small branches reaching down 

 to the pots. The plants become too large 

 for a room after about 

 eight or ten years. 

 The tops should be 

 cut off when the 

 plants have grown too 

 tall. They may be 

 inserted as cuttings 

 singly in small pots, 

 placing them in a 

 closed propagating 

 frame, preferably with 

 a little bottom heat. 

 Only the top of the 

 plant is suitable for a 

 cutting ; side branches 

 are no use, but when 

 once the centre has 

 been removed other 

 young growths will 

 develop, which make 

 good cuttings. Insert 

 the cuttings in spring 

 and early summer. 

 Suitable soil for the 

 Norfolk Island Pine 

 is fibrous loam, a 

 little leaf-mould and 

 sand. 



Aspidistra. Among plants grown in pots 

 for indoor decoration the Aspidistra is most 

 popular. It has no equal for dark corners, 

 passages, and draughty positions, which are 

 by no means favourable to the growth of 

 plants. The demand for Aspidistra plants 

 is enormous, judged by the numbers grown 

 in several plant nurseries near London, where 

 can be seen house after house containing 

 nothing else. Aspidistra lurida is a Chinese 

 plant, and was first introduced to Britain in 

 1822. Increase is by division of the root- 

 stock. This and repotting in the case of 

 plants growing in rooms may be done early 



