CONSER VA TORY PLANTS. — ARALIA — ARA UCARIA . 



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ought not to be preserved. For cultural details see Sub-Tropical Garden, page 224, 

 Vol. I. 



Agaves and Aloes. — Allusion has already been made to these succulents, and they 

 are referred to hero merely to draw attention to the fact that the larger kinds, of which 

 Agave americana variegata may be cited as an instance, are good for conservatory and 

 house-front decoration. 



Antheeicum. — For the fronts of stages and rock beds A. variegatum, synonym 

 Phalangium argenteo-lineare, can be recommended. It is of a dwarf habit of growth, 

 with elegant striped leaves, somewhat after the style of Pandanus Veitchi, and nearly 

 as effective in the form of small plants. Plantlets form freely on the long flower stems, 

 and the stock is readily increased by taking them off when strong enough and showing 

 roots, placing them singly in small pots in a mixture of loam, leaf soil, peat and sand. 



Aealia. — A. Sieboldi is the popular name for Fatsia japonica. This Japanese species, 

 together with the variegated form, is admirably adapted for conservatory culture. It 

 forms an upright stem with an imposing head of bold digitate leaves ; height 3 feet 

 to 5 feet ; the plants are most ornamental before they lose their lower leaves. Cultural 

 details will be found in a later chapter on Commercial Floriculture. Fatsia papyrifera 

 is a good companion for the preceding. 



Araucaria. — This family comprises several highly-ornamental species which, unfor- 

 tunately, are not hardy enough for open-air culture, but are well worthy of space in 

 most conservatories, till they lose their lower branches. A. Bidwilli, from Moreton 

 Bay, is of symmetrical habit of growth, and in its native country attains a great height. 

 The leaves arc of a deep, shining green. A. Cooki, a tall-growing New Caledonian 

 species, is distinct and effective, standing rough treatment well. So also does the 

 ornamental and nearly hardy A. Cunninghami, and its glaucous form, A. C. glauca. 

 A. excelsa, Norfolk Island Pine, is the most popular of all the Araucarias, and is 

 effective either in 6 -inch pots or when 6 feet high. It forms a series of horizontal 

 branches, pendulous at the tips, densely furnished with bright green leaves. Araucarias 

 are best propagated by seeds, those rooted from cuttings seldom being so perfect in form 

 as seedlings. Sow the seeds early in the spring in pans of sandy loam, and place in a 

 temperature of about 65°. Germination is somewhat slow. Cuttings formed of good 

 tops of the branches inserted in nearly all sand, should be placed first in a cold frame 

 till callused, and afterwards in gentle heat. Young plants, whether raised from seeds 

 or cuttings, should be first placed singly in small pots and gradually shifted into larger 



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