ARUM. 



20 



ARUM. 



Aristotelea. — Homalinece. — A. 

 Macqni is a handsome shrub, a na- 

 tive of North America, which is rather 

 tender in the open ground. 



Armeria. — Plumbaginece. — 

 Thrift. Hardy perennials, most of 

 •which are ornamental from their 

 flowers ; and one species, A. vulga- 

 ris, the common thrift, is the best 

 flowering plant for edgings to beds and 

 borders. (See Edgings. ) It thrives 

 in any soil not saturated with mois- 

 ture, and is rapidly increased by 

 division. A. alpina, which pro- 

 duces its pink flowers from May to 

 August, is a most desirable plant for 

 pots, or rock work. 



Artemisa. — Composites This 



genus contains, among other plants, 

 two well-known shrubs ; the southern- 

 wood or old man, Artemisa Arbro- 

 tanum, and the wormwood, A. Ab- 

 sinthium. They are both very hardy, 

 and will grow in any common soil ; 

 and the southernwood is valuable for 

 bearing want of air, and smoke, without 

 injury. Few persons are, perhaps, 

 aware, that the leaves of this plant, 

 when held up against a strong light, 

 appear full of transparent dots ; 

 these are the vesicles containing the 

 fragrant oil that gives out the scent ; 

 and it is by breaking them, that rub- 

 bing the leaves between the fingers, 

 makes them smell stronger. 



Arum. — Aroidece A genus of 



perennials, chiefly natives of warm 

 climates, and of which a few species 

 are hardy in British gardens. Of 

 these, A. dracunculus, the dragon- 

 arum, deserves a place in the flower- 

 garden, for its large very remarkable 

 flowers. The large and splendid plant, 

 with arrow-shaped leaves and white 

 flowers, commonly called the arum, 

 belongs to a different genus, and was 

 first called by botanists Calla, and 

 afterwards Richardia cethibpica. It 

 is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 and St. Helena, where it grows in 



rich soil by the side of rivers. In 

 England, it will not bear the winter 

 in the open air, unless well protected 

 and kept dry ; and it is generally 

 grown in pots. It is increased by 

 offsets, which form on its thick fleshy 

 roots in August or September. These 

 should be potted in small pots, in soil 

 composed of three parts of sandy loam, 

 and one of leaf mould, or thoroughly 

 rotten manure. The pots should be 

 well drained, and the plants fre- 

 quently watered, while they are in a 

 growing state. About May or June, 

 the leaves will begin to wither at their 

 points ; and when this is perceived, 

 the supply of water should be lessened, 

 till at last only enough is given just 

 to keep the plant alive. During the 

 time the leaves are dying off, the 

 plant should have abundance of light ; 

 but when they are all withered, the 

 plant should be removed to any shed 

 or other place where it may enjoy 

 complete repose for about a month. 

 In October or November it should be 

 repotted, and supplied with abundance 

 of water, particularly if kept in a sit- 

 ting-room, where there is a daily fire. 

 It should indeed always stand in a 

 saucer full of water (changing the 

 water every day), as the plant will 

 not flow r er if once suffered to become 

 too dry while in a growing state ; and 

 as it has the extraordinary power of 

 discharging the superabundant water 

 from the points of its leaves, in drops. 

 This quality renders it also suitable 

 for culture as an aquatic plant; and 

 thus treated, it will live in the open 

 air all winter, and when the leaves 

 die down, the water will keep the 

 root from frost. The roots must be 

 planted in the mud at the bottom of 

 the pond, and a part should be chosen 

 where the water is not more than 

 three feet deep. This must be at- 

 tended to ; because, as the plant will 

 not expand its flowers till its leaves 

 rise above the surface, the stem would 



