February 13. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
375 
advertise plants of tlie same thing, the one for 5s., 
and the other for 2s. 6d.; that I could see little of honesty 
involved in the question; nor could I say which was 
the most desirable to attain of the two without seeing 
them, as it is just possible, that what was cheap at 5s. 
in the one case, might be dear at is. in the other. 
R. Fish. 
ACACIAS. 
A very large assemblage of stove and greenhouse 
plants, remarkable for their numerously-produced gene- 
rally yellow flowers, appearing often as early as February, 
and different species continuing to produce bloom till 
June. Yet, though beautiful in both foliage aud flower, 
they are not so generally cultivated as might have been 
expected. The reason is, I judge, because the great 
metropolitan exhibitors do not think many of them fit 
objects for exhibition. This is a mistaken notion, in 
my opinion, and I trust more of them will be shown in 
future. We want, in our great exhibitions, something 
new, something with a more elegant outline. The public 
begin to be tired of seeing the same species of plants, 
year after year, grown in round-headed bushes, in the 
primmest of forms. Many of the Acacias would, if 
properly grown, serve admirably to give a varied outline 
to the mass in the exhibition tents, and thus render 
the sight not only novel, but more in accordance with 
the best and purest taste. I think I shall do some 
service by selecting out a few of the most manageable 
and fittest for the purpose, such ns will grow and flower 
freely in pots, and yet be so new, or rarely seen, as to be 
attractive on the score of novelty. The stove species 
are too rampant growers, and, therefore, I discard them 
altogether, confining myself to the best greenhouse 
species only. 
ACACIA DEUMMONDII. 
This most beautiful species was introduced by Mr. 
Veitch, and is a remarkably distinct species. It is quite 
new, and as yet very little known. It forms a neat, 
handsome plant, branching freely when stopped. The 
young shoots are augular and channelled, becoming 
round when aged. The leaves are bipinnate, and the 
leaves on the leaflets are opposite, bluntly ovate, and 
of a pleasing dark green. The flowers are produced 
in -spikes springing from the stem in the axils of 
the compound leaves. It has no thorns. I have not 
seen it actually in bloom, but was informed, at Mr. 
Yeitch’s, that the colour is a deep golden-yellow. I 
have a plant now standing before me, not quite six 
inches high, with four branches, and each branch shows 
several spikes of flowers. Thus this species possesses 
three good qualities. It has a good habit, pleasiDg 
foliage, and produces abundantly handsome spikes of 
golden blossoms; and if I am not mistaken, those 
flowers have a delicious perfume like new made hay. 
The only objection to it as an exhibition plant is, I fear, 
the flowers will come too early; but that may be over¬ 
come by keeping the plant in a cold pit (for it is half- 
hardy), giving plenty of air at all seasons just above the 
freezing point, and shading it from the early warm sun 
in spring. 
Soil. —The soil I grow this choice new plant in, is a 
compost of three parts heath-mould, and one part light 
loam. I do not think it will thrive so well in a richer 
soil; at all events, it would, in it, grow too rapidly, and 
then make a long, branched, straggling bush. For the 
same reason, it is advisable to keep it rather under-potted. 
In winter, I give it but little water, but plenty during 
spring and summer. By this treatment, it will make 
nice, short, stubby branches, and be covered with spikes 
of flowers. It is too rare, as yet, to recommend it as a 
plant for the conservatory border, but as a pot-plant for 
the stage of the greenhouse, I know noue to surpass it. 
Propagation. —It is not difficult to propagate by young 
cuttings planted in sand under a bell-glass in heat. I 
prophesy for this plant a great popularity when it be¬ 
comes more plentiful, and its merits better known. 
ACACIA GRANDIS. 
A species somewhat resembling the old A. pulchella. 
I have my doubts whether it is a species, for seedlings 
from it sport very much, and many cannot be distin¬ 
guished from the one last mentioned (A. pulchella) ; but 
it is a decidedly improved variety. The foliage is pin¬ 
nated, and larger than the species,"and the habit is much 
j better, it being stouter, and the branches not so pendant. 
I The flowers are globular and large, and of a glowing 
I golden colour. The plant, when of a full size, is 
j completely covered with them. 
j This is a plant, when genuine, that cannot be too 
j highly commended, whether for exhibition in May, its 
season of blossoming, or for the greenhouse. I have 
seen noble specimens of it in conservatories, and a finer 
ornament for such a place I never saw. 
Culture. —To form a handsome plant, take a young 
| one, six inches high, stop the leading shoot, and several 
: branches will start, train out the lower shoots as soon as 
they are long enough horizontally. Tie up straight to a 
stick the leading or top shoot, and as soon as it is six 
inches high, stop it also, aud get a number of shoots to 
form a second lot of branches; when these are long 
enough, train them out, like those below, in an horizontal 
position. Tie up the top shoot again, and so proceed 
till you have got a perfect handsome pyramid of branches. 
No plant is better adapted to form that shape, and as it 
advances, keep turning it round (uuless you possess a 
span-roofed house), to make all the sides equal. Without 
this training, the plant will become leggy, and form a 
loose, unsightly head. 
Soil. — f grow this plant in half loam and half peat, it 
being more woody than A. Drummondii. It also will 
bear a larger pot and more water, especially when 
growing freely. It is a very hardy greenhouse plant. 
Propagation. — Half-ripened shoots, cut into‘short 
lengths, and inserted in silver sand under a bell-glass, in 
moderate beat, strike freely. 
T. Appleby. 
WOODS AND FORESTS. 
THE LARCH. 
(Continued from page 335.) 
In my last paper on this subject, I confined myself to 
the many uses to which this valuable tree may be, and 
is, applied, proving sufficiently its great value to the 
British planter. I now resume tbe subject, and shall 
write upon,—first, its propagation, including nursery 
treatment; second, the soil aud situation in which it 
will grow; third, planting; and fourthly, thinning. 
First, propagation. This may be conveniently divided 
again into,—1, Gathering and preparing the seed; 2, 
Preparing the ground; 3, Sowing the seed; and 4, 
Transplanting in the Nursery. 
1. Gathering and Preparing the Seed. —It is well 
known that the Larch seed is produced and contained 
in cones—hence, the term Conifer®, or cone-bearing 
trees. To procure the cones of the Larch we must go 
into the plantations of that tree. It bears them plenti¬ 
fully at fifteen or twenty years old. In gathering them, 
care should be taken to gather such only as are on 
healthy trees. A tree in a sickly state often produces 
the greatest number of cones, and the gatherers, unless 
closely watched, are too apt to fill their baskets from 
such trees, thus perpetuating a sickly progeny. This 
evil must be avoided by strictly insisting upon the cones 
to be taken from straight, handsome, healthy trees. 
