FOLIAGE PLANTS 383 



626. Smilax and asparagus, botanical classification. - 

 Order, Liliaceae; genus, Asparagus; species: plumosus; 

 Sprengeri ; medeoloides. 



627. Asparagus and smilax, botanical characters. 

 Asparagus and smilax belong to the same family as 

 the field asparagus. Both are extensively grown as potted 

 plants, and also in beds for cutting for house decora- 

 tion and bouquets. The smilax is climbing, as is 

 also Asparagus plumosus, but the other species are 

 drooping or trailing. A. Sprengeri is an excellent basket 

 plant, especially for piazza baskets and window boxes. 

 The flowers are insignificant, but the fruit is often 

 abundant enough to be attractive, being colored red 

 or blue. The so-called foliage is really leaf-like branches, 

 and the flowers and fruits are borne on the ends of these. 



Habitat. South America. 



628. Culture. All species of asparagus are better 

 grown from seed, although old plants may be divided. 

 They rarely make symmetrical, attractive plants. Smilax 

 is almost always grown in solid beds and trained to climb 

 over green silkaline which is tied to. the sash-bars of the 

 houses or to wire supports. The seed is sown in Febru- 

 ary, in flats of light soil, and covered about one-half inch 

 with a mixture of leaf-mold and sand. It should be kept 

 well watered and in a temperature of 65. The seed 

 should germinate in four or five weeks. As soon as well 

 developed, the seedlings should be transplanted to pots. 

 By May first, they should be in three-inch pots. The bed 

 should be at least two feet deep ; stones should be put in 

 the bottom to insure excellent drainage, and over them is 

 placed a rich soil of equal parts loam, well-rotted manure 

 and leaf-mold. The plants should be set deeply. When 

 set in July, a crop should be large enough to cut in 



