A BUT1L0NS— ACACIA. 143 



While resting during the winter abutilons ought to be kept cool and dry, giving only 

 enough water to prevent the wood shrivelling. In the spring prune freely, cutting back 

 all side growths to within two or three joints of the main branches or central stem, as 

 the case may be, also shortening the leader — treating those planted out similarly. 

 Enough water must be applied to start the plants into active growth, and directly 

 they commence moving shake the roots nearly clear of soil, shorten them somewhat, 

 and return to pots a size smaller than they were in previously, a shift to be given before 

 the soil is crowded with roots. Feed liberally when in flower. It must, however, be 

 repeated that quite young plants are the best for flowering in pots. Any planted out 

 should also be annually pruned, and they pay for lifting and re-planting in fresh soil, 

 especially if the border is narrow. 



Selectlon of 



Admiration. — Light pink, shaded salmon. 

 Anna Ckozy. — Dwarf ; deep pink, shaded lilac. 

 Bottle de Neige. — Vigorous and free ; white. 

 Canary Bird. — Robust, free flowering ; primrose 

 yellow. 



Emperor. — Vigorous ; claret crimson. 



Golden Gem. — Dwarf ; noriferous, canary yellow. 



Ornamental 



Darwini tesselattjm. — Stiff giowing, fine leaves, j 



mottled with yellow. 

 ntevium marmoratdm. — Marbled green and yellow. 

 Sellowianum marmoratum. — Large maple-like 



leaves, much mottled with yellow. 



Abutilons. 



Grandiflortjm. — Sturdy ; deep orange. 

 Lustrous. — Very free ; bright red. 

 Purity. — Good habit ; pure white. 

 RoszEFLORUM. — Salmon rose, veined crimson. 

 Sanglant. — Robust ; reddish scarlet. 

 Scarlet Gem. — Dwarf; brilliant red. 



FoLlAGED. 



Souvenir de Bonn. — Leaves margined white ; dis- 

 tinct and effective. 



Thompsoni. — Vigorous; leaves blotched with yellow. 



vexillarium variegatum. — Dwarf; leaves prettily 

 blotched with yellow. 



ACACIA. 



The Acacia family is an exceptionally large one, comprising about 400 species, but 

 of this number only a comparatively few are cultivated in greenhouses in this country. 

 They are admired for their closely-set small globular flowers, which have a charming 

 effect when seen in bountiful profusion. They are imported in enormous quantities from 

 Southern Europe in the spring and sold in the flower markets under the name of 

 " Mimosas," which belong to the same family, but another tribe of Leguminosm. A few 

 species of Acacias, which are the most extensively grown in Britain, will be appended, 

 and when represented in the best condition, with deep green leaves and myriads of 

 sparkling flowers, they are worthy of a place in all greenhouses and conservatories. 



