286 



THE GAEDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



them may be grown in a loamy soil, if free 

 from chalk and of sufficient depth and body 

 to retain moisture during long spells of dry 

 weather. Ehododendrons, for instance, will 

 sometimes grow in stiff loam. 



Where the soil is of a clayey nature it 

 should be trenched to a depth of at least two 

 feet, and good leaf- soil — and, if practicable, 

 peat — mixed with it so as to render it lighter 

 and more open. Poor, sandy soils should be 

 strengthened and made more retentive of 

 moisture by adding stiff loam, leaf-soil, and 

 peat, and the greater depth to which this is 

 done the better, for the greatest drawback in 

 cultivating "American plants" on such a soil is 

 its hot, dry state during long spells of heat, 

 which artificial waterings, however copious, can 

 only partially remedy. On the other hand, 

 stagnation at the root is as injurious as the 

 other extreme. In chalky localities, where 

 specially prepared soil has been provided, care 

 should be taken that it is not so placed that 

 water impregnated with lime from the sur- 

 rounding land will drain into it. Rhododen- 

 drons and Azaleas are much benefited by an 

 annual top-dressing of decayed cow-manure and 

 leaf-soil in equal parts. 



The best position for American plants is 

 a sheltered hollow or ravine opening to the 

 south or west. Such a position affords abun- 

 dant scope for varied and informal arrange- 

 ments, especially if a few other trees and 

 shrubs are introduced, such as Magnolias, Acers, 

 and the hardiest Bamboos. 



Abelia. — Dwarf branching shrubs with small opposite 

 leavt-s, and tubular pink and white flowers. Allied to 

 Dkrrilla, but less showy. Except in especially favoured 

 localities they are not hardy. A. floribunda with rosy 

 flowers, A. rupcstris, and A. trifiora with pink ones are 

 sometimes grown on walls. 



Acer. — Round-headed trees of moderate or large di- 

 mensions, with palmately-lobed leaves and inconspicuous 

 flowers. The Common Maple and Sycamore are familiar 

 examples. Many of the species have brilliantly-coloured 

 foliage in autumn. 



A. campestre, Common Maple. — A small tree with 

 corky bark and five-lobed leaves. Will grow under the 

 shade of other trees. Europe. 



A. circinatum. — A medium-sized tree with roundish 

 leaves, downy beneath, cut into about seven shallow lobes 

 which acquire a bright-red tint in autumn. North- West 

 America; introduced in 1826. 



A. dasycarpum (A. eriocarpum), Silver Maple. — A very 

 fine ornamental tree, 30 to 40 feet high. Leaves blue- 

 white beneath. North America, 1725. 



A. Ginnala. — A dwarf tree of graceful habit. Its 

 prettily-lobed leaves turn a rich red in autumn. Amur- 

 land. 



A. japonicum (fig. 345). — A shrub or small tree in the 

 way of A. circinatum. Often confused with A . palmatum, 



from w T hich it is easily distinguished by its leaves having 

 usually ten lobes, whereas in A . palmatum there are rarely 

 more than seven. Japan. 



A. macrophyllum. — A lofty-growing tree, 50 to 70 feet, 

 with leaves nearly a foot in diameter. It is of very rapid 

 growth, elegant in aspect, and quite hardy. North-West 

 America, 1826. 



A. monspessulanum, Montpelier Maple. — A low tree 

 with small three-lobed leaves. In our climate it rarely 

 grows beyond the size of a shrub. South Europe, 1739. 



A. Negundo (Negundo fraxinifolium), Box Elder. — A 

 small, very hardy tree, differing from the true Maples in 

 having pinnate leaves. There is an extremely beautiful 



Fig. 345.— Acer japonicum 



variegated variety of it, the foliage of which is almost 

 white. It is one of the best variegated trees we have, 

 and is often grown as a shrub. There is also a golden- 

 variegated form, and a strong-growing variety from North- 

 West America known as californicum. North America, 

 1688. 



A. opulifolium var. obtusatum. — A handsome round- 

 headed tree, 20 to 30 feet high, valuable for the profusion 

 of tassel-like corymbs of greenish-yellow flowers it pro- 

 duces in March and April. Europe. 



A. palmatum, (A. polymorphum). — A small tree, some- 

 times 15 feet high. The many forms of it show great 

 variety in shape, size, and variegation of the leaves. They 

 are popularly known as Japanese Acers. In recent 

 years they have been largely imported from Japan and 

 planted in the milder parts of Britain. It is only in such 

 places that they will succeed. Some of the varieties have 

 foliage of a beautiful red colour, others are golden, and 

 many are beautifully lobed and cut. The following may 

 be recommended : pinnatiiidum, aureum, crispum, septem- 

 lobum, roseomarginatum, dissectum, sanguineum, pur- 

 pureum. Japan. 



A. pictum {A. latum). — A handsome variable tree 

 having a wide range in temperate Asia; it is usually seen 



