ASPARAGUS 



ASPARAGUS 



107 



Sprengeri : evergreen : Ivs. flat and falcate, in clusters of 3-6. 

 Afr. A. Africdnus, Lain. Climber: Ivs. rigid, dark green, clus- 

 tered, evergreen. S. Afr. A. Asidticus, Linn. Tall climber : 

 Ivs li;iir-like, soft, %\n.A. Cobperi, Baker. Similar to A. plu- 

 mosus. S. Afr. A. declindtus. Linn. "Allied 

 to A. plumosus, from which it differs in having 

 deltoid prickles, pale green stems, and smaller 

 berries." S. Afr. A. falcdtus, Linn. Very tall 

 (25-30 ft.), climbing: Ivs. in whorls, flat and 

 falcate. S. Afr., Trop. Asia. G.C. III. 23: 123, 

 178. A. lariclnus, Burch. Shoots annual, 10-12 

 ft.: Ivs. hair-like, persistent, in clusters. Simi- 

 lar to A. retrofractus. S. Afr. G.C. III. 23:122. 

 A.prociiinbens, a trade name. A. racembsus, 

 Willd. Climber : Ivs. grayish, 4-angled : fls. 

 whitish, fragrant ; racemes 2 in. long. Trop. 

 Mr and Asia. G. C. III. 23;147. A. sarmentb- 

 svs, Linn. Not climbing, but loose, 4 ft. : Ivs. 

 green and flat : berries bright red. Trop. Asia 

 (and Afr.?). G.C. III. 16:747; 23:179. A. 

 scdndens, Thunb. Climbing, slender: Ivs. 

 in 3's, curved, flat, dark green. S. Afr. 

 A . Schoberioides, Kunth. One ft.: Ivs. de- 

 ciduous, in 3's or 4's, linear, curved : fls. 

 sessile: berries red. Hardy. Jap. A. ten- 

 it ifolius. Lam. Shrubby, hardy, 3 ft.: Ivs. 

 grayish, linear.curved : berries very large, 

 red. S. Eu. Not to be confounded with 

 A. tenuissimus, which is a form of A. plu- 

 mosus. A. trichophyllus, Bunge. Sts. an- 

 nual, weak, 3-6 ft.: Ivs. clustered, stiff and 

 nwl-like : fls. long-pedicelled. Hardy. Si- 

 beria, China. A. umbelldtus, Link. Some- 

 what shrubby, the sts. wiry: 

 Ivs. 3-angled, stiff, in clusters: 

 fls. white, fragrant, in umbels. 

 L. H. B. 



CULTURE OP SMILAX 

 (Asparagus medeololdes). 

 Commercially, Smilax is 

 grown in solid beds under 

 glass, and the tall growth 

 is tied to strings. These 

 strings are cut for sale. 

 Some growers do not renew 

 their beds of Smilax for 3 or 4 years. It is, doubtless, the 

 most profitable to replant with young stock every year. 

 Smilax, like all its family, is a heavy feeder. A heavy 

 loam with one-fifth half -rotted cow-manure is the best 

 compost for the bed. A light house is not essential. The 

 middle of an equal-span house running north and south 

 is an ideal place for it, if there is height sufficient to run 

 up the strings 7 or 8 feet. Plant as'early as possible in 

 July. Many florists who grow a few hundred strings of 

 Smilax make the mistake of putting them in a coolhouse. 

 It will grow in a temperature of 50, but not profitably : 

 60 at night, and even 65, is the right temperature. 

 The plants should be 8 in. apart in the rows and 10 in. 

 between rows. If not syringed frequently, red spider 

 attacks the Smilax ; but there is no excuse for that, as a 

 daily syringing is a sure preventive. When cutting the 

 strings, avoid picking out one here and there. Begin to 



154. Strong 



new shoot of 

 Asparagus Sprengeri 



should also be taken in cutting, for many times there will 

 be several young growths a foot or so high that can be 

 saved for a future string, and they may be worse than use- 

 less if cut. Smilax for planting in July should be raised 

 from seed sown in February. When 2 or 3 in. high, and 

 showing its character-leaves, it should be potted in 2-in. 

 pots. In May, they should go into 3-in. pots. It is very 

 important that the first growth, which is always weak, 

 should be made in these 3-in. pots ; then, when planted 

 out, the first growth in the beds is strong enough to make 

 saleable strings. Never neglect tying up Smilax as soon 

 as the preceding crop is cut. Contrary to what is the 

 case with many plants, the hotter Smilax is grown the 

 hardier and more durable the leaves, providing it is not 

 cut prematurely. WILLIAM SCOTT. 



CULTURE OF ASPARAGUS PLUMOSUS. The first and 

 all-important factor in the cultivation of Asparagus 

 is the construction of the bed. To meet with any degree 

 of success, the bed must have perfect drainage. The 

 house should be 25 or 30 feet high, and wired at the top 

 and bottom. The wires beneath are made fast to each 



Asparagus plumosus, var. nanus (X %). 



cut at one end of the bed and, as much as possible, clear 

 off all the strings, because when denuded of so much 

 growth the fleshy roots are liable to rot if over-watered; 

 little water is needed till young growth starts. Care 



156. Asparagus plumosus. var. tenuissimus (X 



side of an iron trellis about 8 inches apart and at the 

 top an equal distance apart, in order that the strings 

 may be as nearly straight as possible. 



The early growth of Asparagus plumosus, var. nanus, 

 is very slow ; but as soon as it is transplanted and well 

 rooted in a rich soil, the growth is more rapid, the tender 

 shoots developing into a vine which will be ready to cut 

 for the market in about a year. There is great difficulty 

 in obtaining the seed of the nanus. In a whole house, 

 there may be only a few seed-bearing strings. After 

 being picked, the berries are allowed to dry for a month, 

 and are then ready for planting. A good, rich soil, cov- 

 ered with a thin film of sand, serves very well to start 

 them. The temperature should be about 65, and as 

 nearly constant as possible. When the plant is well 

 rooted, it is removed to a deeper soil or potted in 3- 

 or 4-inch pots and placed on a bench. Here it remains 

 a year, and is then placed in the bed. 



Up to this time a small amount of labor suffices to keep 

 the plant growing in a healthy condition ; but from now 

 on great care must be taken and much labor expended 

 to produce the best crop. The bed into which 

 the young plant is set should be carefully laid 

 with rocks at the bottom, so the water can 

 escape freely. Over this place two or three 

 feet of soil, manure, and 

 dead leaves. It is but a short 

 time now that the roots have 

 room to expand before the 

 shoots appear above the trel- 

 lis, and the stringingbegins. 

 Strong linen thread is used 

 for strings. 



The first crop will not be 

 ready to cut before the end 

 of the second year ; that is, 

 from the time the seed is 

 planted. As soon as this crop is exhausted, new strings 

 are put in place of the old, and another crop is started. 

 This goes on year after year. Now that the plant has 

 gotten its growth, it is more hardy, and is constantly 



