ARALIAS— GRAFTING. 



finely divided leaves which attain a length of 1 foot, deep glossy green, with a heavy 

 crimson mid-rib. A. elegantissima, South Sea Islands, is particularly graceful in 

 appearance, having pendulous digitate leaves, with dark green, white mottled 

 footstalks, borne on light, erect stems. A. filicifolia, Polynesia, has somewhat heavier, 

 fern-like leaves, bright green in colour with a purplish mid-rib; stem and leaf- stalk 

 purplish, with white spots. A. Guilfoylei, South Sea Islands, is free growing, with 

 variegated leaves, and principally valuable as being a good stock for the more elegant, 

 less easily propagated species to be grafted upon. A. Kcrchoveana, South Sea Islands, 

 forms digitate leaves circular in outline and freely divided, deep glossy green in colour, 

 with a pale mid-rib. A. leptophylla, 

 comparatively large compound leaves, 

 somewhat pendant in character, and dark 

 green, can be grown successfully in a 

 warm greenhouse. A. reticulata is strap- 

 leaved when young, becoming larger with 

 age, dark green, reticulated with a lighter 

 shade of green. May be grown in a 

 greenhouse or conservatory during the 

 warmest part of the year. A. Veitchi, 

 New Caledonia, in a young state is very 

 elegant, but becomes coarse with age ; 

 it forms digitate, filiform undulated leaves, 

 green above, and dark red beneath \ 

 petioles long and slender, and a straight, 

 slender stem. A.V. gracillima, South 

 Sea Islands, is by many persons considered the most elegant of all the Aralias. The 

 leaves are alternate, spreading with very narrow leaflets having a prominent ivory white 

 central rib. 



The coarser-leaved varieties can be propagated by means of cuttings, formed of 

 either fleshy roots or short lengths of stems. After washing the roots free of soil, 

 select the stronger of these, detach from the stem, and cut them cleanly across at the 

 thickest part, which is to be the uppermost end when they are inserted in light, sandy 

 peat. Plunge the pots in brisk bottom heat, and cover with squares of glass till 

 shoots appear. When about 1 inch in length, place the plants singly in small pots and 



o o 2 



Fify. 130. Grafting Aralias. 

 References : a, stock cut down and split for the recep- 

 tion of the wedge-cut scion b ; side grafting, c. (See 

 text next page.) 



