VINES, HARDY AND TENDER. 69 



ground level of the house there is little danger of over-watering. After 

 planting, for a week or so allow the atmosphere to get humid, but not 

 enough to force the plants into undue activity. This Asparagus, which 

 is probably entitled to specific rank, instead of being a variety of A. 

 plumosus, sends out some of its stems from the horizontal root-stock 

 traversing a considerable distance under the surface before making their 

 appearance above ground. If the terminal part of an underground stem 

 is injured before making its appearance above ground, the dormant 

 buds develop eventually into small crowns, sending out both shoots 

 and long succulent roots. The same conditions happen sometimes after 

 the developed shoot is severed, but in this case infrequently, as the break 

 is more apt to be above ground. The kind known as A. plumosus does 

 not have this pecuharity, the shoots growing straight from the crowns. 

 A. Plumosus Nanus as a Pot Plant— In this capacity the plauts must be 

 in a starved state, that is, without strong shoots; but with numerous 

 small ones 6 inches to a foot high. When once they get into a starved 

 state it takes quite a while to get them out of it, and this is quickest 

 accomplished by sphttiug the plant up into very small pieces. This 

 should only be done when it is desirable to make plants for strings. The 

 root stocks are very close together, crowding each other and sending 

 out tiny growths. When grown in pots they seldom make tall cUmbing 

 shoots, and when they do show such a tendency, all that is necessary 

 to keep plants within bounds is to nip off the ends of the shoots a few 

 inches above the pot. In getting up a stock for pot plants plant them 

 out on benches, using only 3 or 4 inches of soil, planting out quite 

 closely together; keep pinching, splitting up and replanting or potting 

 as required. 



A Plumosus Nanus for Short Sprays— The cutting of short growths 

 of this plant to supply green for Summer flowers, beyond the safe 

 limit, is an evil to be guarded against. The idea should be kept in 

 mind all the time that this Asparagus, especially after the strings are 

 cut and the short bushy sprays remain, needs so much live material to 

 keep it healthy. If the quantity of branches is out of proportion to the 

 roots and kept for any length of time in that condition, the roots must 

 suffer; the branches subsequently thrown up put on that undesirable 

 yellow color which is worse than no Asparagus at all. Keep old plants 

 pinched down until the time when it is desired to start strings, so that 

 the bottom part will break and supply short material, which in Sum- 

 mer pays best with those growing for local trade. The plants should, 

 if anything, be kept on the dry side, but not dry enough to suffer, and 

 be given an abundance of ventilation. 



Raising from Seed-Seed of Asparagus plumosus nanus, or that which 

 is offered under the name of A. p. nanus, is not always to be depended 

 upon, unless the seed is procured from a reliable source or home grown, 

 and known to be true to name. The reason for this is that A. plumo- 

 sus is the kind which fruits most freely, and some not knowing the dif- 

 ference between the two sorts and others knowing, but also appreciat- 

 ing the fact that A. p. nanus is the better of the two, and that seed 

 going under the name of the latter is sure to command the best prices. 



