42 HOUSE PLANTS 



asparagus (^A. plumosus), somewhat resem- 

 bling light, glossy-green pine-needles, stuck 

 endwise upon viney stems. But its branches 

 hang down gracefully on all sides, and make 

 a handsome, symmetrical plant. If kept 

 growing freely all summer the plant will 

 produce an abundance of red berries about 

 Christmas time, making a welcome addition 

 at that season. 



VINES THAT FLOWER ALL WINTER 



I think no plants are more artistic, more 

 beautiful for room decoration than the 

 climbing vines. The fact that they are so 

 seldom used for this purpose gives them an 

 added distinction. For myself, I prefer the 

 ivies, on account of their simple strength and 

 grace; and they are best got at the florist's. 

 But several good house vines are best 

 raised from seed. The cup-and-saucer-flower 

 {Cohcea scandens), and Thunhergia alata, 

 with its varieties, are the best two flowering 

 vines for the house. The former has purple, 

 bell-shaped flowers, two inches across, the 

 latter having, according to the variety, 

 blooms of golden yellow, rich orange, white 

 and blue, or pure white, with white or dark 



