364 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



AcANTHOPANAX RiciNiFOLiUM {Arulia MaximoiviczH) has large 

 deeply-lobed rich green leaves, set on long petioleSo It is of 

 distinct growth, with an erect stem, and in its native habitat is 

 said to reach a height of Soft. A. spinosum {Ara/ia pentaphj/la, 

 Panax spinosu77i) is a dwarf shrub with deeply-cut bright green 

 leaves ; it needs a sheltered corner and rich soil to do it justice. 

 A. s. variegata is a handsome form having pale green leaves 

 edged and splashed with cream-white, but it is rather tender. 



AcERS (Maples) are ornamental trees of good growth, and 

 well adapted for hiding unsightly views. They require plenty 

 of air, and do not make satisfactory specimens when cramped 

 for room. The flowers are mostly of a greenish-yellow shade, 

 are borne in racemes, and are succeeded by attractive winged 

 fruits ; while the foliage changes in autumn to shades of yellow, 

 orange, and red; and in this respect Acers stand in the front 

 rank of trees conspicuous for their autumnal beauty. A. mac?'o- 

 phyUiim is a fast-growing kind, and succeeds well on dry soils. 

 Its leaves are large and handsome. A. diaboUcum (A. pulchrum), 

 a native of Japan, bears in early spring numerous short racemes 

 of large greenish-yellow flowers ; it is a free-growing tree, with 

 stout branches and large. Plane-like leaves. A. craiagifolmm^ 

 also indigenous to Japan, forms a slender tree, conspicuous for 

 its small deep green Hawthorn-like foliage. A. c. Veitchi is an 

 attractive sort, with variegated leaves ; very uncommon and 

 quite hardy. A. hyrcamim (A. caiicasicu7n\ from the Caucasus, 

 forms a compact specimen of rather slow growth ; its rich green 

 leaves set on bright red petioles are heavily shaded with yellow 

 in autumn, and covered with a brownish tomentum on the 

 under-sides ; they are very pleasing in autumn when turning to 

 a reddish-brown shade. A. pennsylvajiicum (A. stj-iaiuni)^ the 

 Snake-barked Maple, is very conspicuous by reason of its green 

 bark being striped with white ; it is a native of the United 

 States, very ornamental, and grows luxuriantly in dry soils. 

 A. sacchai-iniiin (Sugar Maple) is a handsome, free-growing, North 

 American species, bearing some resemblance to the well-known 

 Norway Maple ; its leaves, covered with whitish powder on the 

 under-surface, are very effective, especially in autumn, at which 

 time the colour changes to a warm rose tint. A. Heldreichi is of 

 erect growth, with finely-cut leaves. A. argutiim is a distinct 

 and elegant Japanese species, of medium height, quite 

 hardy, and very uncommon in this country ; its palmately-lobed 

 leaves are set on long footstalks. A. dasycarpum (Silver Maple) 

 is a beautiful park tree, with rich green palmate leaves glaucous 

 on the under-surface ; it is of fairly rapid growth, and one of 

 the best Acers for avenues. A. circinatum^ a North American 

 tree of short stature, is well adapted for planting where the 

 taller ones would be out of place ; its leaves change to bright 

 scarlet in autumn ; a capital sort for dry soils. A. monspessulaiiiijn 



