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Fghruary  8.  jfloo.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENEH 
NOTES  ON  ACACIAS. 
These  are  among  the  most  easily  cultivated  of  greenhouse  plants. 
Some  have  a  tendency  to  make  long  straight  shoots  which  are  very 
Biiitable  for  training  up  pillars  or  upon  rafters  in  conservatories,  where 
they  form  grand  ornaments  in  the  late  winter  or  early  spring  months. 
The  most  handsome  in  this  respect  of  all  the  species  is,  perhaps, 
A.  Hiceana.  Its  graceful  slender  growths,  depending  like  a  Weeping 
Willow,  render  it  singularly  effective  for  training  to  a  pillar  or  arch  in 
a  conservatory. 
Acacias  are  vei’y  floriferous,  but  they  need  full  exposure  to  light  to 
insure  the  thorough  solidification  of  the  growth.  Plants  kept  under 
glass  through  the  summer,  where  they  necessarily  have  to  make  their 
growth  under  the  shade  of  climbers  or  a  shaded  roof,  are  not  nearly  so 
satisfactory  as  those  placed  outdoors  from  early  or  mid-June  up  to  mid 
or  late  September.  Without  this  accommodating  nature  they  are 
hardly  suitable  for  small  houses,  for  whatever  may  be  their  heights 
described  in  lists,  the  plants  generally  much  exceed  the  proportions 
accorded  them.  There  is  one  thiny,  however,  about  Acacias  that 
renders  them  more  accommodatine  than  other  plants,  and  that  is  their 
bearing  cutting  well,  and  this  means  their  being  kept  fresh  looking  in 
moderate  sized  specimens. 
Pruning. 
The  best  time  to  prune  Acacias  is  immediately  after  flowering. 
The  principle,  however,  to  be  adopted  is  laying  a  good  foundation  by 
pinching  and  attention  to  pruning  in  the  early  stages,  which,  as  most 
of  the  piauis  are  raised  from  seeds,  requires  an  etfort,  as  the  ambition 
of  most  growers  is  to  get  a  large  and  early  flowering  plant  as  soon  as 
possible.  The  plant  must  be  headed  early  if  it  is  to  have  a  well- 
furnished  base.  The  strong  growth  will  monopolise  all  the  sap,  and  so 
much  so  as  to  impoverish  the  weaker  growths,  whilst  usually  the  more 
floriferous  succt  mb.  This  must  be  prevented  by  cutting  back  the 
strong  growths,  and  so  equalise  or  distribute  the  sap,  causing,  as  far  as 
practicable,  an  equality  of  growth.  The  pruning  may  be  to  the  old 
wood,  but  the  growth  will  neither  be  so  free  nor  desirable  as  from 
shoots  of  the  previous  year.  In  fact,  when  an  Acacia  becomes  old, 
bare  and  tall,  it  is  best  to  discard  it  altogether,  and  others  should  be 
grown  to  supplant  it. 
The  pruning  in  most  instances  will  be  confined  to  shortening  strong 
growths  and  irregularities,  and  cutting  out  weakly  and  dead  wood, 
so  as  to  have  a  compact  specimen.  This,  if  done  as  the  plants 
cfase  flowering,  will  keep  them  in  useful  form  for  a  number 
of  years.  They  should  be  kept  rather  drier  after  pruning,  and 
when  fresh  growth  is  being  pushed  they  may  be  potted,  merely 
loosening  the  sides  of  the  ball,  and  transferring  to  pots  a  couple 
of  inches  larger,  draining  well,  and  in  potting  making  the  soil 
as  firm  as  the  ball.  Three  parts  turfy  loam  of  a  friable  nature,  with  a 
third  of  leaf  soil  or  fibrous  peat  and  a  free  admixture  of  saud,  will 
grow  them  well.  Water  carefully,  and  sprinkle  morning  and  afternoon 
until  the  roots  have  taken  to  the  fresh  soil,  when  as  the  growth 
advances  they  will  require  more  copious  supplies  of  water. 
In  June,  as  before  stated,  the  plants  may  be  placed  outdoors,  in  a 
position  fully  exposed  to  the  sun,  but  sheltered  from  winds.  The  pots 
should  be  stood  on  a  concreted  bottom  or  a  good  thickness  of  ashes,  and 
be  plunged  to  a  little  of  the  rim  in  that  or  similar  material,  allowing 
space  between  the  plants  for  the  free  access  of  light  and  air.  Copious 
supplies  of  water  will  be  necessary,  never  allowing  them  to  lack,  or 
giving  any  until  it  is  required,  and  always  affording  it  so  that  the  soil 
is  moistened  to  the  drainage.  In  these  quarters  the  plants  wilt  make 
clean  healthy  growth,  ripening  the  wood  perfectly,  and  when  that  is 
eifected  a  full  amount  of  bloom  may  be  expected.  In  hot  weather  a 
good  syringing  in  the  evening  will  be  useful  in  cleansing  the  foliage  and 
preventing  attacks  of  red  spider. 
The  plants  should  be  housed  at  the  end  of  September  or  early  in 
October,  assigning  them  a  light  airy  position  in  a  temperature  of  40°  as 
a  minimum,  and  45°  to  50°  as  a  maximum  from  artificial  heat,  in  which 
they  will  flower.  An  effective  display  will  be  assured  of  what  are  at  least 
showy  plants,  and  though  not  as  durable  as  many  the  sprays  are  useful 
in  a  cut  state,  the  yellow  halls  or  spikes,  as  the  case  may  be,  enlivening 
otherwise  formal  arrangements.  They  are  also  brilliant  for  decorative 
purposes  indoors,  and  are  in  no  way  injured,  even  where  there  is  gas, 
by  a  brief  sojourn  in  corridors  and  halls ;  of  course  they  cannot  well  be 
used  in  places  that  have  a  pale  white  or  yeilow  ground,  but  they  tell 
well  against  a  ground  of  green  or  blue.  Acacias,  though  of  the  freest 
and  easiest  culture,  cannot  bear  overwatering.  If  ever  the  soil  becomes 
sodden  and  sour  the  plant  will  lose  its  roots,  and  it  will  seldom  if 
ever  recover. 
Propagation. 
Propagation  is  readily  effected  by  seeds,  which  are  best  sown  as 
soon  as  ripe,  or  they  may  be  kept  until  the  spring,  using  fibrous  loam 
with  a  third  leaf  soil  or  peat,  or  the  seeds  may  be  sown  in  sandy  peat. 
Cover  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  deep,  more  or  less  according  to  the 
size  of  the  seeds,  their  diameter  being  a  proper  depth,  and  place  in  a 
house  with  a  temperature  of  55°  to  G0°  artificially,  and  when  up  keep 
close  to  the  glass  to  prevent  drawing.  Pot  them  when  they  are  showing 
the  second  leaves,  and  keep  in  the  same  temperature  well  up  to  the 
glass  until  established  ;  then  remove  to“a  cooler  house  or  pit,  where  the 
plants  can  be  grown  sturdily. 
Propagation  is  also  effected  by  cuttings  ofj  the  half-ripened  wood, 
which  taken  off  and  inserted  with  a  heel,  root  freely  during  the 
summer.  Drain  the  pots  well,  and  fill  to  within  three-quarters  of  an 
inch  of  the  rim  with  peat  and  sand  in  equal  parts,  surfacing  with  half 
an  inch  of  sand,  making  thoroughly  firm.  Insert  the  cuttings  at  once, 
water  well,  and  stand  aside  for  a  short  time  to  dry,  then  place  in  a  close 
frame  or  cover  with  a  bell-glass,  shading  and  watering  so  as  to  prevent 
flagging.  They  do  not  require  heat,  rooting  as  well  or  better  in  a  close 
pit  or  house  without  heat.  Pol  when  rooted,  and  keep  in  a  close  pit  or 
house  until  well  established. 
Varieties. 
The  number  of  species  and  varieties  of  Acacias^that  are  worthy  of 
cultivation  is  very  great,  and  a  few  are  named  as  being  particularly 
good  in  my  own  experience.  I  know  many  others  that  are  favourites 
Fig.  81. — Acacia  ovata. 
with  various  growers,  but  as  I  have  not  grown  them  they  are  nob 
included  here.  I\Iy  selection  includes  cordata,  pulchella,  Drummondi,. 
armata,  diffusa,  ovata  (fig.  31),  longifolia  magnifica,  grandis,^verticil- 
lata,  cultriformis,  dealbata,  and  ola?ifolia  elegans. — A.‘G. 
Fruit  for  Brain  Power. — According  to  a  recent  health  report 
blanched  Almonds  give  the  brain  the  muscle  food,  and  the  man  who 
wishes  to  keep  his  mental  power  up  would  do  well  to  include  them  in 
his  daily  bill  of  fare.  Juicy  frui  s  develop  more  or  less  the  higher 
nerve  or  brain,  and  are  eaten  by  all  men  whose  living  depends  on  their 
clear-headedness.  Apples  supply  the  brain  with  rest.  Prunes  afford 
proof  against  nervousness,  but  are  not  muscle-feeding.  At  the  same 
time,  it  has  been  proved,  says  a  contemporary,  that  fruits  do  not  have 
the  same  effect  on  everybody.  Some  people  have  never  been  able  to 
eat  Apples  without  suffering  the  agony  of  indigestion,  to  others  Straw¬ 
berries  are  like  poison. 
