54 



Greenhouse and Stove Plants. 



ASPIDISTRA. 



freely, getting the water veil to the under- 

 sides of the leaves, where these little pests 

 most congregate. 



ARUNDO. 



The finest kind, A. conspima, is a native 

 of New Zealand, and looked upon as hardy, 

 or like thebetter-known Gyneriumargenteum 

 (Pampas Grass), which in most parts of 

 England ^vill live out of doors through our 

 Avinters without j^rotection. 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 ajspearance ; like 

 the Pampas Grass they are white in colour. 



Arundos can be raised fi'om 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 -svith 

 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 al'ter 

 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 if 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 efl'ective. 

 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, they should 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 efl^ective 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. Wlien 

 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 tlie rafters or pillars 

 they are required to fu^rnish. 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 . decumheiis. A well-proved sort 



A. falcatus. 



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 afl'ected 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, 



