CHAPTER XIII 

 Foliage Plants Other Than Palms 



Some bold-growing kinds that are the most tolerant 

 of uncongenial conditions — Plants for dark corners, 

 and some charming coloured effects for the window — 

 Fruiting oranges and lemons. 



In addition to the palms there are 

 many foHage plants that may be successfully 

 grown in the house. The hardiest of all these 

 is the aspidistra (^A. lurida). Its tenacity of 

 life is something wonderful. It does not 

 seem to mind the dust and dry air, or the 

 spasmodic watering and insufficient light 

 which seem to be the common lot of most 

 house plants. It has been wintered out- 

 doors at Philadelphia by giving it a heavy 

 mulch of forest leaves. If given a fairly 

 rich soil and plenty of moisture, the aspi- 

 distra will make a fairly rapid growth, 

 but it never gets very tall; it broadens out. 

 The simplest way to get new plants is by 

 dividing the old one in the early spring 

 (February), before any growth takes place so 

 185 



