54 
Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 
ASPIDISTRA. 
freely, getting the water well to the under- 
sides of the leaves, where these little pests 
most congregate. 
ARUNDO. 
The finest kind, A. conspicua, is a native 
of New Zealand, and looked upon as hardy, 
or like the better-known Gyneriumargenteum 
(Pampas Grass), which in most parts of 
England will live out of doors through our 
winters without protection. For a large, 
roomy, cool conservatory the plant under 
notice is one of the most effective that can 
be used when well managed. It is very 
similar in appearance to the Gynerium, but 
forms longer flower stems, which are not 
so erect in their growth, the beautiful 
feathery plumes are more drooping in habit 
and have a more elegant appearance ; like 
the Pampas Grass they are white in colour. 
Arundos can be raised from seed sown 
in the spring in pans of sifted sandy 
loam. The seeds should be covered very 
lightly, and stood in a greenhouse or cold 
frame, protected from frost ; keep the soil 
moderately moist until the young plants 
appear, when give air in accordance with 
the weather so as to prevent the growth 
being weak—to further avoid which stand 
near the glass. As soon as large enough 
move singly into small pots. The after 
attention required is to pot on as often as 
the roots fairly fill the soil ; ultimately 
they will need good-sized tubs or large pots, 
as 1f cramped for room they will flower 
weakly, or not at all. Most likely three 
seasons’ growth will be required to cause 
them to flower sufficiently to be effective. 
In the summer the plants will be better 
(except when in bloom) out-of-doors in a 
light, airy position, the pots plunged in 
ashes to prevent the soil drying so quickly. 
During winter, or, better still, until the 
plants get large, theyshould have the shelter 
of a house or pit from which frost can be 
excluded, where they can be kept at a cool 
greenhouse temperature, by which means 
they will sooner grow to a handsome size. 
The large, feathery, arched inflorescence of 
A. conspicua remains in good condition for 
several weeks, during which time few 
things are more effective in a large plant- 
house. They increase freely by division of 
the crowns, which should be effected in the 
spring just before growth begins ; pot the 
pieces singly and treat afterwards as ad- 
vised for those raised from seed. 
A. donax and its variegated form are 
both handsome plants that can be similarly 
used. From Southern Europe. 
Insects.—These plants do not seem to 
be much troubled with insects; greenfly 
will sometimes establish itself on the young 
grassy leaves, and the best remedy is fumi- 
gation. 
ASPARAGUS. 
The scandent-habited kinds of Asparagus 
are extremely elegant plants, although the 
flowers are insignificant. A. decumbens 
has been long grown as a greenhouse 
climber, and we have little doubt that the 
beautiful A. plumosus and others of a like 
description, of more recent introduction, 
will bear greenhouse treatment. 
They can be increased by division of the 
roots, or by shoot cuttings in spring, in- 
serted in sand, stood in a temperature of 
70°, kept close, moist, and shaded. When 
rooted, move singly into 3-inch pots, using 
good peat and a little sand ; give cool stove 
treatment through the summer and until 
the plants attain some size, during which 
time larger pots will be required. Through 
the ensuing winter it will be well to keep 
them in a growing temperature of 50° in 
the night, by which means they will get on 
much faster, and in spring they should 
again be moved to larger pots, and have 
their shoots trained to the rafters or pillars 
they are required to furnish. After this, 
nothing will be necessary but to give more 
root-room as wanted, and to keep the shoots 
regulated. The following are very beautiful 
kinds, their feathery green leaves being 
extremely handsome :— 
A. consanguineus. 
A. decumbens. A well-proved sort. 
A, faleatus. 
A. plumosus. South Africa. 
A, plumosus nanus. South Africa. 
InsEcts.—Aphides will sometimes attack 
the young shoots, and should be met by 
fumigation. If they are affected with 
scale or mealy bug, sponge carefully and 
syringe freely with clean water. 
ASPIDISTRA. 
The only species of these pretty and most 
useful decorative evergreen greenhouse 
plants that find much favour with culti- 
vators are A. Lurida and its variegated form, 
which latter, since variegated plants have 
come into fashion, is generally grown by 
most people fond of handsome-leaved 
plants. Independent of the effective 
character of the handsome lanceolate leaves, 
which are supported on stout erect stalks, 
and are of a most enduring character, 
Aspidistras have the merit of thriving 
under conditions of deficient light and a 
dry atmosphere, such as few plants can 
endure at all. Hence they are amongst 
the best room plants for growing in towns, 
