No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 771 



Other greens have come since that time which are more popular 

 than the older Smilax, as Asparagus plumosus nanns^ and A. Spren- 

 gerii the former of which twines itself on strings as does the Smilax, 

 and houses very high are built especially for its cultivation; whereas, 

 Spre7igerii grows in plumes or sprays and are cut in lengths from nine 

 to eighteen inches, and are sold in bundles of about twelve plumes 

 each, averaging about fifty cents per bunch. 



Asparagus tefiuissitnus, known to some extent as "Mermaid's 

 Hair," w'as the first to dispute the position occupied for so long by 

 Smilax, but for some reason it seems to have entirely gone out of 

 cultivation, especially about the larger cities. According to Bailey, 

 tenuissimus is a variety of plumosus nus ; which would never be 

 suspected by the casual observer. Mermaid's Hair, describes it very 

 well, being very finely cut indeed, resembling greenish mist. 



Another green grown is the Adiantmn J^arleyense, the Queen of 

 Maidenhair Ferns, and it richly deserves that name. No fern, how- 

 ever, at present in commerce, is so well suited to go with flowers as 

 are the difl'erent varieties of Aspargus on account of the tendency to 

 wilt so soon. There is, however, a new Adiantum (Maidenhair Fern) 

 to be sent out soon which is similar to Adiantum cuneatum^ and is 

 far superior to any other in its lasting qualities' after being cut, and 

 for that reason when it becomes better known must bocoTno popular. 



