GREENHOUSE FLOWEEIXG TLAXTS. 27 



SECTION III. 

 GREENHOUSE FLOWERING PLANTS. 



ACACIA. 



A numerous genus of free-flowering and highly ornamental 

 plants, chiefly natives of the temperate regions of Australia, 

 and thriving well in a cool greenhouse. A. armata, A. Drum- 

 mondi, and A. Riceana are among the finest species for exhi- 

 bition. They grow well in equal parts of light turfy loam and 

 peat, with plenty of silver sand and a sprinkling of sandstone 

 and charcoal nodules. The plants should be cut back after 

 flowering, and with the aid of a few degrees more heat, and 

 a thorough syringing overhead twice daily, they will soon 

 break into growth, when they should be re-potted. Give as 

 small shifts as possible, and make the soil quite firm in the 

 pot, so as to induce sturdy and more floriferous growth. The 

 drainage must be ample, so as to allow copious supplies of 

 water to be given during growth, and when the roots have 

 fully occupied the soil a few doses of liquid manure are very 

 beneficial. They are apt to make rampant growth under 

 liberal treatment, and the strongest shoots should be regularly 

 pinched to form a good bushy specimen. Such straggling 

 kinds as A. Riceana may have the shoots run up the roof of 

 the greenhouse on strings till the flowers ajspear, when they 

 can be neatly trained over a suitable trellis for exhibition. 

 Acacias are very hardy greenhouse plants, and after they have 

 made their growth and set their flower-buds, they may be 

 placed out of doors, along with other greenhouse plants, to 

 ripen their wood, and they will flower the better for it nest 

 season. They must be taken back to the greenhouse befoi'e 

 any danger from frost arises. 



ACEOPHYLLr^ir. 



A large specimen of A. venosum, when full of its beauti- 

 ful flower-spikes, has a charming effect among other plants 



