SELECT LISTS OF PLANTS. 355 



Propagated by seeds and layers put down in autumn. Seedlings usu- 

 ally spring up in great abundance about the wild plants, but are some- 

 what difficult to make live unless transplanted while young and of 

 small size. 



Athrotaxis. — A small genus of Tasmanian evergreen trees and 

 shrubs, belonging to the Coniferce. Kather tender, but win no doubt 

 succeed in the Southern States. Propagated by seeds, when these can be 

 obtained, otherwise by cuttings under glass. 



Atragene. — See Clematis. 



Aucuba (Golddust Tree). — Evergreen deciduous shrubs from Japan 

 and the Himalayas. The pistillate plants bear very showy fruit or 

 berries, but these are not usually obtained in the absence of artificial 

 fertilization of the flowers. Where ornamental berries is the special 

 object in the cultivation of these plants, specimens of both sexes 

 should be grown in the same house, and the pistillate flowers carefully 

 fertilized with pollen from the staminate, applying it, as usual, with a 

 fine camel'sjiair pencil. All the varieties are readily propagated by cut- 

 tings of the green or half-ripened wood, planted in sand, or almost any 

 kind of light soil. 



Azalea. — ^A genus of evergreen and deciduous shrubs, all very orna- 

 mental and exceedingly popular for both greenhouse and garden culture. 

 The North American and European species have been hybridized, and 

 from these hybrids an immense number of varieties produced, many of 

 which are far superior to any of the parent species. These hybrids, and 

 the seedlings therefrom, are known under the popular name of " Ghent 

 Azaleas. " The Chinese Azaleas {A. sinensis), from both China and Japan, 

 are slowly deciduous, the foilage remaining on the plants until late in 

 the autumn, but all are nearly, or quite, hardy in our Northern States. 

 Of this species there are a large number of varieties cultivated in Japan, 

 and recently introduced into our gardens under the name of A. Mollis or 

 Boft-leaved. The Indian species (A. indica), are evergi-een and usually 

 tender, although an occasional vaiiety may survive in the open air if 

 given a little protection in winter ; they are generally cultivated un- 

 der glass, but do not require a very high temperatui-e. The evergreen 

 varieties are propagated by seeds and cuttings of the young shoots, taken 

 off with a heel or close to the old wood, and then placed in sand, and in 

 a close frame in the house. The deciduous varieties are propagated by 

 layers, divisions and by veneer graftings in summer under glass. (See 

 Selecting Stocks, Chapter XVIII.) 



Asara. — A genus of graceful haU-hardy shrubs from South America. 

 The flowers ai-e mostly yellow, with an aromatic fragrance. Propagated 

 by ripened cuttings placed in moderate heat, and under glass in cool 

 climates, and in simple frames without ailifical heat in warm climates. 



JBaccfeaWs (Groundsel Tree).— A genus containing shrubs, trees, and 

 herbaceous plants, but none of any special value or interest to culti- 

 vators of plants. There are two shrubby species found along our coast. 



