IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



chattering and whistling like a parrot), never seems to 

 migrate, as many of his kind are forced to do ; he is a first- 

 rate under-gardener, and is to be encouraged in every way, 

 for his long, strong beak is his implement to pierce the 

 sward of the tennis lawn for the fat white grubs of the 

 daddy-long-legs, and he also enjoys a breakfast of " leather- 

 jackets," the terrible larvae of the cockchafers ; so more 

 power to his bill, for it does work which we cannot under- 

 take. He is a merry fellow, too, and full of his pranks, 

 whilst he practises all kinds of imitative sounds on his 

 perch, always the highest point he can select, so that he 

 can keep an eye on what is going on around him, and give 

 due notice to his mate should danger arise. 



In every conservatory there should be, I think, a climbing 

 asparagus (plumosus), for no plant is more useful for cutting, 

 to say nothing of its rare grace and delicate lace-like 

 appearance. This asparagus belongs to the order Liliaceas, 

 and absolutely differs from the ferns in every particular, yet 

 is more commonly called the asparagus fern than by its 

 proper name, and there is much confusion in the mind of 

 the ordinary gardener as to its real nature and cultivation. 

 But it is as much an asparagus as the delicious vegetable 

 (A. officinalis) we all know well, and may be cultivated 

 on somewhat similar lines. It is a plant which enjoys a 

 free root run and a light yet rich soil, with a mulch of old 

 hot-bed material each year in April, when it starts its new 

 growth. 



Trained up a slight pillar in the conservatory, it is 

 always ornamental, throwing its long sprays far and wide, 

 and adding greatly to the effect of the roses, the jasmines, 

 and other climbers with which it mingles. If kept in a 

 pot it never attains this delightful size and luxuriance, 

 and where there is not a suitable position for it in a warm 

 greenhouse, it is better to select the smaller variety (A. 

 plumosus nanus), a very similar plant in appearance, but 

 without the length of stem and strong growth of the type. 

 This asparagus makes a very elegant furnishing plant in 

 winter, when its growths are hardened ; but while young 



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