46 HOUSE PLANTS 



twining vine may be cut, and the roots will 

 immediately start a new growth of stem. 

 Make a new sowing of seed each year, as it 

 does not pay to hold the plants over from 

 one year to another. They need a night 

 temperature of 50 degrees to 65 degrees. 



ASPARAGUS THIRTY FEET HIGH 



The most popular of the so-called aspara- 

 gus ferns, A. plumosus, var. nanus, may 

 be trained in vine form, too. I have seen this 

 "dwarf" growing to the height of thirty or forty 

 feet, with great stems like tangled creepers 

 in a jungle. This is the best variety, because 

 it can be used for short sprays, as a decora- 

 tive pot plant, or as a vine. There is no 

 foliage more beautiful than the delicate, 

 light green, feathery sprays of this asparagus, 

 and yet, in spite of its fairy-lace appearance, 

 when cut it keeps both its colour and fresh- 

 ness for a very long time. 



This plant is a slow grower, and it is 

 important to have fresh seed. Sow in a good, 

 light seed soil — /. e., one having plenty of 

 leafmould and sand in it. When the young 

 plants begin to make good root growth, 

 transplant to three or four inch pots. This 



