Gardening for Amateurs 



931 



Division is practised with a few kinds of 

 shrubs, notably in those cases where a suc- 

 cession of shoots is formed from the root- 

 stock. Cases in point are Bamboos and the 

 various kinds of Ruscus. The best time to 

 divide Bamboos is in May or just when the 

 new growths are pushing. Each section, 

 however small, with a bit of root, may be 

 expected to form a new plant. But it is not 

 wise to divide the clumps into very small 

 pieces unless a large number of plants is 

 desired. Large pieces may be planted in the 

 open ground with a little leaf -mould about 

 the roots, but small bits must be placed in 

 pots in a close, moist, and warm glasshouse 

 until the roots are active. The Butcher's 

 Broom, Ruscus aculeatus, may be divided 

 into quite tiny pieces and planted out of 

 doors at once. Another plant increased by 

 division is the common edging Box, whilst 

 the Periwinkles (Vincas) may be also propa- 

 gated by this method, which is quite easily 

 carried out by amateurs having little expert 

 knowledge. 



Layering is practised for a very large 

 number of trees and shrubs, and it is an easy 

 and convenient method of increasing plants. 

 Branches pegged down into sandy soil, either 

 slit as in Carnation layering or not, take 

 root and may then be removed as separate 

 plants. Layering is usually carried out in 

 March or April, although other times may 

 be selected if more convenient. As a rule 

 the layered branches must not be disturbed 

 for at least a year, whilst layers of shrubs like 

 Magnolia and Rhododendron should remain 

 undisturbed for two years. Lime trees, 

 Japanese Maples, various kinds of Rubus, 

 Prunus japonica flore pleno, P. nana, Spiraea 

 arguta and Rhododendrons are, amongst 

 other things, propagated by layering. Rho- 

 dodendrons are very much better increased 

 by layering than by grafting, for if suckers 

 appear from layered plants they are bound 

 to be the true plant, whereas if they arise 

 from a grafted plant they are almost certain 

 to belong to the stock, and if not removed 

 at once soon weaken the good kind. 



Rose of Jericho (Anastatica Hiero- 

 chuntica) is a curious annual plant from 

 the desert regions of Arabia and Egypt. It 

 belongs to the Wallflower family, and is only 

 seen in this country as a curiosity. In the 

 deserts, after maturity, it is shrivelled up 

 and blown about as a ball, but when in 

 contact with moisture it opens out and 

 liberates its seeds. This peculiarity has led 

 to its being collected by the natives and 

 sold to travellers under the name of Rose 

 of Jericho, and specimens are preserved by 

 some people to be brought out on special 

 occasions, placed in water and allowed to 

 open. The same plant may open and close 

 many times. It has no horticultural value, 

 but may be grown in the rock garden in 

 summer. 



Aloysia citriodora (Lemon - scented 

 Verbena) is more frequently called Lippia 

 citriodora. A shrubby plant, native of South 

 America, it is popular on account of its 

 lemon-scented leaves. Many people cul- 

 tivate it in greenhouses and windows, where 

 it does quite well if given a compost of 3 

 parts fibrous loam, 1 part leaf -mould, and 



1 part sand. But it may also be grown 

 out of doors in many parts of the country, 

 especially if given the shelter of a wall. 

 Out of doors well-drained loamy soil must 

 be provided. The flowers are small and 

 pinkish, but they are not showy. Cuttings 

 root quite well in summer, and when any of 

 the branches are too long they should be 

 pruned in March. 



Acaena. Dwarf, compact-growing plants, 

 suitable for the margin of the rock garden. 

 They belong to the Rose family (Rosaceae) 

 and are found wild in Chile, New Zealand, 

 the Argentine, and Australia. The most 

 important is Acaena microphylla, the New 

 Zealand Burr, so called by reason of its 

 spiny burr-like fruits, which are bright red 

 in colour. The tiny leaves are rose-like in 

 shape, and the whole plant rises but an inch 

 or two above the ground. It requires light 

 soil and a sunny position ; there its showy 

 fruits remain attractive for several months. 

 Propagation may be effected by division 

 of the clumps in spring. A. argentea has 

 greyish leaves, whilst A. myriophylla, growing 

 6 inches or more high, has finely cut foliage. 



