Encyclopaedia of Gardening 23 



Asparagus ornamental (aspar-agus, from spamsso, to tear, in 

 allusion to the prickles on some kinds. Ord. Liliaceae). The 

 ordinary Asparagus of the kitchen garden is sometimes pressed into 

 service for ornamental purposes in its season, and other species are 

 still more ornamental, apart from the fact that they are available at 

 different periods. Plumosus and its variety nanus are particularly 

 esteemed for cutting, as they are graceful and lasting. Popularly 

 known as " Asparagus fern," they rival the Maidenhair in favour for 

 associating with cut flowers. Sprengeri and its variety variegatus 

 are charming basket plants; retrofractus is also good for this pur- 

 pose. Verticillatus is a graceful, vigorous species suitable for grow- 

 ing up a pillar under glass, and bears abundance of red berries. 

 Medeoloides is the plant popularly called Smilax, which grows 

 freely when cut back annually, trained to perpendicular strings in 

 a warm house, and syringed. All of those named will succeed in a 

 warm^ greenhouse in a compost of loam and leaf soil (equal parts) 

 with s'and. They may be raised from seed and division of the roots. 



Aspen. This tree is a species of Populus (tremula, or trembling 

 Poplar). The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon aespe. Owing 

 to the petiole of the leaf being flattened at right angles to the plane 

 of the leaf near the blade, a very light wind suffices to move it; con- 

 sequently, the leaves are in motion when other foliage is still. It is 

 a good tree to plant in damp places. There are several varieties of 

 it, including a weeping form. 



Asperula (asper-ula, from asper, rough. Ord. Rubiaceae). The 

 most useful species is azurea setosa, which is commonly grown as 

 an annual (see Annuals) . It has blue flowers in summer, and grows 

 about a foot high. The white-flowered British plant called Sweet 

 Woodruff is Asperula odorata. Hirta forms a white carpet in July. 



Asphodelus, Asphodel (asphod-elus, as-phodel, from a, not, and 

 sphallo, to supplant, a suggestion of surpassing beauty. Ord. Lilia- 

 ceae). One or two of the Asphodels are worth including in the 

 herbaceous border, notably ramosus, a tall, white-flowered plant 

 which blooms in spring, and will grow in a shady place. Acaulis is 

 a much dwarfer plant with pink flowers. Treat like herbaceous 

 plants. See Flower Garden. 



Aspidistra (aspidis-tra, from aspidiseon, a shield, possibly refer- 

 ring to the form of the flower, which is pushed up direct from the 

 roots, and must be looked for just above the soil. Ord. Liliaceae). 

 The popular Parlour Palm is about the best of all plants for rooms 

 and corridors, as it will endure draughts better than almost any 

 other plant. Watering as needed, and an occasional sponging, 

 keep it in good health a long time. Lurida and its form variegata 

 may be grown. Sandy loam suits them. Propagated by division 

 in spring, at which season they should be repotted when they need 

 it, but that is not often. 



Aspidium (aspid-ium, from aspidion, a small buckler. Ord. 

 Filices). A genus of ferns to which botanists have now added 

 Cyrtomium and Polystichum, together with certain minor genera; 

 consequently, the ferns still commonly grown as Polystichum 



