March 17, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
453 
A NOBLE FURCRAEA. 
The accompanying illustration represents a hand¬ 
some specimen of Furcraea longaeva, which flowered 
recently in the nursery of Mr. J. Lewis, of Timaru, 
New Zealand. It had been planted ten years 
previously, and when the photograph was taken it 
stood 30 ft. high. As readers will notice, the stem is 
simply a flower stalk, and Mr. Lewis states that it 
took two months to develop. The species of 
Furcraea are as closely allied as possible to the 
American Aloes or Agaves, and similar in habit. 
The true stem of the plant under notice is hidden by 
the old and deflexed leaves. In this country it 
attains a height of 3 ft. or 4 ft., but in its native 
habitats it is stated to reach a height of 40 ft. to 50 ft. 
The species is the noblest and most handsome of the 
genus, and is hardy in the Scilly Islands, where it 
has several times flowered. It is evidently hardy 
early in the season it gives ample time to grow the 
plants into a useful size for use during the next 
winter. Sow the seeds in pots or pans made up 
with well prepared peat soil, with a fair portion of 
silver sand, pressed down firm and even ; sow the 
seed and cover it with similarly fine soil. Cover over 
with a pane of glass to retain the moisture in the 
soil, and so render less watering necessary. 
When large enough to handle, prick oft the 
seedlings into pots or pans about i in. apart in 
similar but somewhat coarser soil; keep them in a 
warm moist atmosphere, and when ready pot them 
off singly into thumbs. Keep them moderately close 
and warm till they are well established, then harden 
oft till they can withstand a greenhouse temperature. 
Shift them on during the summer till they are all in 
4-in. pots, this being the most convenient size. Any 
plant partially spoiled by being kept too long in 
rooms will serve a turn if space can be afforded 
There are none, be they ever so proficient, who may 
not be able to glean some information from others, 
even though they may not at a glance be able to com¬ 
prehend the why or the wherefore all things w ere made. 
Let us for a moment or two refer to the Vine, and see 
how the experience of others coincides with that of 
your correspondent. It happened to be my lot to have 
to lift a house of Vines one autumn, as they were in 
a very unsatisfactory state. They were planted in 
an outside border, the rods being taken through 
underneath the sill into the house. The work was 
commenced just as the leaves were falling, all the 
old soil was removed, the roots being carefully 
extricated as the work proceeded. We had just 
finished getting out the old border when there came 
a heavy rain which made everything very sticky, so 
that it was decided to leave the work for a day or 
two till it dried up a little. The roots were covered 
with litter and mats, and so we left it. Instead, 
Furcraea longaeva in a New Zealand Nursery. 
likewise in New Zealand, and must be an interesting 
feature of the nursery while in bloom, by contrast 
with the native and introduced vegetation. The 
slender and drooping branches of the huge panicle 
give it a graceful character scarcely possessed by 
any other species. The specific name means long- 
lived, and refers to the durability of the plant com¬ 
pared with the others. There are several spellings 
of the generic name, including Fourcroya, which is 
most often used, but is not so old as that above 
given. Accompanying the photograph sent by Mr. 
Lewis was another of the interior of one of the houses, 
showing a very varied and luxuriant vegetation. 
-■♦i- 
GREVILLEA ROBUSTA. 
This is one of the most easily managed of ornamen¬ 
tal foliaged plants we have, and in other respects 
one of the very best. Every one having to furnish 
table plants, and elegant plants in quantity for room 
decoration, should keep up a good stock of this old 
favourite. It is easily raised from seed, which can 
now be had at a cheap rate, and I give the preference 
to plants raised thus to those procured from cuttings. 
Now is a good time to sow the seed, as if done thus 
them in supplying cut foliage to mix with flowe's. 
In a cut state this lasts fresh much longer than any 
Fern, and very many would not notice that it was 
not Fern.— IV. B. G. 
-- 
ROOT ACTION IN 
WINTER. 
That there is much to learn by all patient observers 
of the laws that govern plant life none will deny, so 
that the most experienced amongst us are as yet only 
able to look into these things with an imperfect 
understanding. He who knows most about them, 
and who is able to put into practice that which by 
experience he has gained will undoubtedly be able to 
show the best results. Your corrrespondent, Mr. 
\V. H. Lees, however, seems to be confident that 
he is perfectly conversant with the subject of the 
structural formation of plants, but I would venture 
to remind him that it is not well to be over confident 
on this or any other subject; and I would add that 
I for one shall be pleased and thankful to anyone 
who can and will assist me in obtaining a greater 
knowledge of those things in which all gardeners in 
common should take an interest. 
however, of the weather getting better, snow fell, 
which was followed by frost, and this brought the 
work to a standstill. Mark our surprise then when 
the roots were uncovered some time afterwards, and 
they Avere found to be matted together by the growth 
of young ones. What has your correspondent to say 
to this ? Does he still think there is no root 
action in winter ? 
Let us have a look at the Vine in another aspect. 
How is it that it will bleed sometimes after being 
pruned ? I have seen them exude sap to a consider¬ 
able extent far more than the rod itself was capable 
of holding, yet your correspondent would have us 
believe that the Vine had almost completed its 
growth before it required any support from the roots, 
for he says there is no root action till the flower¬ 
ing period, by which time growth is nearly com¬ 
pleted. Well, the Vine is certainly a wonderful 
plant. As regards the case of the Butternut tree, I 
would ask, where would the sap have gone to had 
not the roots been severed ? Would it have remained 
in the trunk, in the branches, in the roots, or been 
into the soil? We shall see. Your correspondent 
says the ends of the roots are the principal feeders; 
just so. Yet he tells us that Vines make their 
