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PROFIT IN PLUMOSUS 

 GROWN UNDER GLASS 



Northern florists, in general, have the impression that Aspara<j\is 

 plumosus cannot he grown profitably wider glass. Hence, the hulk of the 

 country's supply of the cut sprays is obtained from lath houses in Florida 

 and California. This writer recommends plumosus as a greenhouse crop. 



SPAEAGUS plumosus 

 nanus, the most popular 

 green now used by florists 

 in decorating and design- 

 ing, was originally found 

 in South Africa. It is easy 

 ^ to imagine this beautiful, 



<^Jptir^ fern-like plant twining its 

 ■^ '''^^ I fluffy vines among the 

 branches of the trees which 

 grow in that warm, humid climate. It 

 seems that originally there was a dwarf 

 form, which has since been lost track 

 of, besides our present vining variety, 

 which often sends its shoots to a height 

 of twenty feet. 



As a commercial green, it is undoubt- 

 edly more extensively used in the art of 

 decorating and designing and in the ar- 

 rangement of loose flowers than any 

 other. Its fluflSness, combined with its 

 deep, rich color, only enhances the 

 Ijeauty of the flowers with which it is 

 associated. 



Why the Crop Is Profitable. 



As grown in the lath houses of Florida 

 ••ind California, however, it lacks that 

 lineness and good color which are so 

 easily distinguishable in stock grown in 

 u greenhouse, where temperature and 

 moisture can be controlled at all times. 

 Although it is sometimes grown in 

 strings, the great demand is for cut 

 sprays from eight to thirty-six inches 

 long, for which a good market can be 

 found at all times. 



After about ten years of experimenta- 

 tion, during which our beds have grown 

 in extent from 100 square feet to over 

 ■one-third of an acre, wo have proved 

 that Asparagus plumosus can be both 

 successfully and profitably grown under 

 glass. Although the period between 

 seed sowing and the cutting of mature 

 sprays seems a long time, yet the pro- 

 ductiveness of the beds, which, with 

 proper care, will last in good produc- 

 tion for from five to ten years, pays the 

 i^rower for his patience. When roses, 

 mums or carnations are ready to cut, 

 tliey must be sold or lost. If the market 

 is dull when a crop of Asparagus plu- 

 mosus is ready, the grower may hold it 

 for one, two or even three months, or 

 •nitil the market is better. That point 

 .should receive serious consideration, as 

 ^ve know that thousands of fine flowers 

 are lost each year on account of over- 

 production during some seasons of the 

 year. 



The life of Asparagus plumosus is re- 

 markably long even after it is cut. 

 Flower shops often receive only one ship- 

 'ment each week, easily holding it in good 

 shape for that length of time. It is, 



By R. R. SPANABEL. 



therefore, a good shipper, often travel- 

 ing from three to five days in shipments 

 to the northern florists by Florida and 

 California growers. 



Asparagus plumosus does not bloom 

 until it is about 2 years old. The flowers, 

 which are extremely small, appear on the 

 oldest sprays in great numbers. They 

 soon drop off and the small, green seed 

 pods take their places. The pods grow 

 to about the size of a large pea, con- 

 taining either one or two seeds, which 

 are black and hard. When ripe the pods 

 are a bright red; they should tlien be 

 picked and cared for until sowed. Seed 

 should be picked from strong, healthy 

 plants only; in that way the stock is 

 strengthened and plants of the greatest 

 possible productiveness result. 



From Pots to Ground Beds. 



Seed may be sown at any time, in 

 boxes about three inches deep, and should 

 be covered with light loam. In a well 

 lighted house, with a temperature of 

 about 60 degrees, a good percentage of 

 the seed will germinate. After the seed- 

 lings are about three inches high and 

 show a sturdy top, they should be potted 

 in 21/^-inch pots, in good, not too heavy 

 loam. They should not be permitted to 

 become dry, or their growth will be 

 stunted. A light house and a tempera- 

 ture of 55 degrees will suit them. When 



well rooted they should be shifted into 

 4-inch pots, there to remain until bedded. 

 The beds should be on the ground, as 

 ground beds are more economical than 

 raised beds, are more easily cared for 

 and produce far better results. The soil 

 in the beds should be medium heavy 

 and should contain about one-fourth well 

 rotted manure. The depth of the soil 

 will largely determine the life of the 

 beds; the depth should not be less thaii 

 eight inches and preferably twelve or 

 fourteen inches. The great objection to 

 raised beds is that the proper deptjh can- 

 not be obtained without extra expense 

 for material. It is also diflBcult to keep 

 raised beds moist enough for the ^)est 

 growth of the sprays. Should there be 

 danger of the plants getting wet feet, 

 as would be probable if the greenhouse 

 floor is of a heavy, sticky clay, the walks 

 may be dug out to a depth of about six 

 inches and filled with ashes. 



Watering, Feeding and Wiring. 



During the winter months the water- 

 ing should be done on bright days, if 

 possible, and beneath the foliage. In 

 summer, should the foliage become in- 

 fested with red spider, syringing will be 

 necessary; this will also be of benefit 

 to the color and quality of the sprays. 



Beds five feet wide are used, accom- 

 modating six plants across the bed if 

 they are planted twelve inches apart 

 each way. That distance allows plenty 

 of room for cultivation and top-dressing. 

 Cultivation should take place several 

 times before the growth prevents it. 

 This not only keeps the soil loose on top, 

 but, as in the case of other crops, in- 

 creases the growth and conserves mois- 

 ture. Unless the soil is especially solid, 

 this cultivating should be done with 

 the fingers, as the new shoots are tender 

 and easily broken. A tool such as is 

 often used for that purpose will do great 

 damage unless used with care. 



Fertilizing by top-dressing should be- 

 gin during the second summer after the 

 beds have been planted, and the ap- 

 plications should be liberal. Shredded 

 cattle manure or pulverized sheep man- 

 ure is most satisfactory, although rather 

 expensive for this purpose. These ma- 

 nures contain no weed seeds and are 

 free from dangerous insects and diseases. 

 They are also easier to apply than barn- 

 yard manure, which is often half straw 

 or litter. Liquid manure may be used, 

 but top-dressing is preferred, as it feeds 

 the plants slowly. The top-dressing is 

 one of the most important items in the 

 growth of asparagus; it not only fer- 

 tilizes, but prevents weeds; the soil 

 does not bake and the manure holds 



