ABAUCARIA 



ARAUCARIA 



89 



Sf ries, of which there are over 700 in that one city. The 

 trade of the world has been supplied for many years 

 from Ghent. Some of the large English growers have 



130, Good specimen of Araucaria excelsa. 



begun to grow them in considerable quantities in the 

 past five years, but it is likely that Ghent will be the 

 main source of supply for many years to come. A few 

 are now propagated in this country, and as they grow 

 easily here, it is liliely that the number will be largely 

 increased in the near future, the high price of labor 

 being the greatest drawback. The Araucaria is the 

 most elegant and symmetrical evergreen in cultivation, 

 and for this reason is very popular as an ornamental 

 plant for home decoration. It is particularly popular at 

 Christmas time, and is then sold in great quantities. 

 Araucarias are propagated from seed and from cuttings ; 

 the latter make the most compact and handsome speci- 

 mens. To make symmetrical specimens, take cut- 

 tings from the leading shoots (see Pig. 129). If used 

 as house plants, they thrive best in a cool room, where 

 the temperature is not over 60° at night, and they 

 should be placed near the light. In summer they 

 grow best if protected by a shading of light laths, 

 placed about an inch apart, which will admit air and 

 at the same time break the force of the sun's rays. 

 They do well in any good potting compost, and should 

 be shifted about once a year (in the spring) into larger 

 pots. The cuttings should be planted in light 

 compost or sand in the fall or during the winter 

 in a cool greenhouse, with moderate bottom 

 heat, and will root in about 8 or 10 weeks, after 

 which they may be potted into small pots. In 

 addition to A. excelsa and its variations, the 

 following attractive species are grown in small quanti- 

 ties : A. BidwUlii, which, being of a tough and hardy 

 nature, does remarkably well as a room plant, and it is 

 hardy in Florida and many of the most southern states ; 

 A, Goldieana, a very distinct and handsome form, and 

 rather scarce at present ; A. elegans (a form of A. 

 Brasiliana) , an elegant form of dwarf and exceedingly 

 graceful habit, and a most beautiful table plant. 



Cult, by Robert Ckaig. 



A. Zrvs. {or most of them) awl-like. 

 excelsa, R. Br. Norfolk Island Pine. Figs. 130, 

 131, 132. Plant light green : branches f rondose, the Ivs. 

 curved and sharp-pointed, rather soft, and densely 

 placed on the horizontal or drooping branchlets. Nor- 

 folk Isl. F.B. 2:411.— The commonest species in this 

 country, being much grown as small pot specimens. A 

 blue-green form is cult, as A. g!auca. There is also a 

 strong-growing, large variety, with very deep green fo- 



liage (A.robiista). In its native wilds the tree reaches 

 a height of over 200 ft. and a diameter of even 9 or 10 

 ft. The solid, globular cones are 4 or 5 in. in diam. 

 P. S. 22: 2304-5.— An excellent house plant, and keeps 

 well in a cool room near a window. In summer it may 

 be used on the veranda, but must be shaded. 



Cunninghami, Sweet. Plants less formal and sym- 

 metrical than A. excelsa, the upper branches ascending 

 and the lower horizontal : Ivs. stiff and very sharp- 

 pointed, straight or nearly so. There is also a glaucous 

 form [A. glaiica); also a weeping form. Austral., 

 where it reaches a height of 200 ft., yielding valuable 

 timber and resin. Locally known as Hoop Pine, More- 

 ton Bay Pine, Colonial Pine, Coorong, Cumburtu, 

 Coonam. 



Cofikii, R. Br. {A. columndris. Hook.). Branches dis- 

 posed as in u4 . excelsa, but tree tending to shed the lower 

 ones ; young Ivs. alternate and rather distant, broad 

 and slightly decurrent at base, slightly curved, mu- 

 cronate ; adult Ivs. densely imbricated, short and 

 ovate, obtuse ; cones 3-4 in. in diam. and somewhat 

 longer. New Caledonia, where it reaches a height of 200 

 ft., making very straight and imposing shafts. B.M. 

 4635. A.P. 12: 559.-Named for Captain Cook. 



AA. Xivs. broader, usually plane and imbricated. 



Eillei, Muell. Leafy branchlets very long : Ivs. oval- 

 elliptic, imbricated, plane or lightly concave, arched to- 

 wards the branch, nearly or quite obtuse, with a promi- 

 nent dorsal nerve. Variable at different ages. When 

 young, the branches are often drooping and the Ivs. 

 compressed and obscurely 4-angled and nearly or quite 

 subulate (var. polymdrpha, R.H. 1866, p. 350. There is 

 a, va.T. compacta). New Caledonia. Reaching 50 ft. in 

 height. R.H. 1866, p. 392, and plate. I.H. 22:204. The 

 figure in G.C. 1861: 868, is^. Muelleri, Brongn. &Gris., 

 a broader-leaved species. 



Ooldie&na, Hort. Like .4. JJ«ZeJ, and perhaps a form 

 of it : Ivs. in whorls, dark green, variable : branches 

 drooping. 



Bidwillii, Hook. Fig. 133. Rather narrow in growth, 

 especially with age, the branches simple : Ivs. in two 

 rows, lance-ovate and very sharp-pointed, thick, firm 

 and shining. Austral., where it attains a height of 



131. Araucaria excelsa. 

 A ragged plant, grown with insufl&cient room and attention. 



