ASPARAGUS 



Sprengeri : evergrreen vs 

 Aix.—A.Afn dn is Lam 



tered. evergreen S Af 



ASPARAGUS 107 



1 a so be akeu iu cutting, for many times there will 



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



edforafu u e string, and they may be worse than use- 



!3 f u Sm ax for planting in July should be raised 



)m eed sown n February. When 2 or 3 in. high, and 



on ha a ter-leaves, it should be potted in 2-in. 



hey should go into 3-in. pots. It is very 



he first growth, which is always weak, 



e these 3-in. pots ; then, when planted 



g ow h in the beds is strong enough to make 



Never neglect tying up Smilax as soon 



he p ed n crop is cut. Contrary to what is the 



ants, the hotter Smilax is grown the 



durable the leaves, providing it is not 



William Scott. 



Asparagus plumosus. — The first and 



or in the cultivation of Asparagus 



of the bed. To meet with any degree 



d must have perfect drainage. The 



or 30 feet high, and wired at the top 



wires beneath are made fast to each 



154. Strong 

 Asparagus Sprengeri 



IP Sm lax 

 q s do d s 



nmerc a Sm lax s 



wn n o d be unde 

 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-flfth half-rotted cow-manure is the best 

 compost for the bed. A light house is not essentiiil. 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 C5°, 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 



156. Asparagus plumosus. 



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

 top an equal distance apart, iu order that the strings 

 may be as nearly straight as possible. 



The early growth of ^sparai/Hsp/fonosHs.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 difiiculty 

 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 witli a thin tilm of sand, serves very well to start 

 them. 'I'Ih- tiin|Mi-ature should be about 65°, and as 

 nearly ...ii-taiit as possible. When the plant is well 

 rootcil it is ri-iiioved to a deeper soil or potted in 3- 

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

 a \ ear, 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 gieat care must be taken and much labor expended 

 ; 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 appearabove the trel- 

 lis, and the stringing begins. 

 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 



cut at one end of the bed and, as much as possible, clear planted. As soon as this crop is exhausted, new strings 

 off all the strings, because when denuded of so much are put in place of the old, and another crop is started, 

 growth the fleshy roots are liable to rot if over-watered; This goes on year after year. Now that the plant has 

 little water is needed till young growth starts. Care gotten its growth, it is more hardy, and is constantly 



