GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY PLANTS 63 



with two crops at one time along with the flowers, which in a short 

 period produce the third crop of berries. The old fruits have usually 

 a grimy appearance from hanging so long on the bush. When there 

 is any choice in the matter the oldest berries should be taken for 

 sowing, as they will be the first to fall from the plant. Wash the 

 pulp from around the seed and sow immediately, cover the seeds 

 with a quarter of an inch of soil, firming well and giving the pots 

 or boxes a position in a cool house. Keep the soil moderately 

 damp, with abundance of air during mild weather. Conditions such 

 as these will give the seed ample time to germinate and make plants 

 in 4-inch pots by the following Fall. Cuttings root freely in sand, 

 but do not make as symmetrical plants as seedlings. When the old 

 plants get leggy the tops are easily rooted by making an incision in 

 the stems and tying moss around them. These tops make very fine 

 dwarf specimens. 



ARTOCARPUS (The Bread Fruit). For large conservatories 

 .4. iwciia is very effective, because of the large leaves having a fine 

 decorative effect. 



Propagation. When the plants get to be too tall the top may 

 be rooted by mossing and afterward the stem may be cut up into 

 lengths and placed in sphagnum moss. Many of the buds make 

 small growths which can be removed with a firm heel when a few 

 inches long and rooted in sand. 



ASPARAGUS (Asparagus Fern. Smilax). As pot plants 

 there are three species of value; these are A. plumosus nanus, A. 

 plumosus tenuissimus and A. Sprengeri. 



A. plumosus is a very distinct plant from A. plumosus nanus 

 and probably is a distinct species. (See Vines). A. plumosus nanus 

 makes a profusion of short growths from the base, and may be kept 

 in this condition by pot culture and pinching shoots that show a 

 tendency to run up; for it will grow 30 feet high under proper con- 

 ditions. A . plumosus is used in large quantities for cutting and 

 when so desired must be given the proper culture. A. plumosus 

 temcissimus is a wiry-stemmed variety with less dense fronds 

 than nanus. 



A, Sprengeri differs considerably from A. plumosus, the cladodes 

 being longer, wider and fiat and less numerous. It makes a very 

 ornamental pot plant when covered with its bright red berries. It is 

 grown very much for cutting, 



A . asparagoides (Smilax) is a climber with cladodes about i inch long 

 and quite wide. It is widely grown by florists for use in decorations. 



