GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY PLANTS 65 



A. asparagoides is raised from seed sown in February. They 

 are potted in 2-inch pots when 2 or 3 inches high, and in May the 

 plants are shifted to 3-inch pots. 



ASPIDISTRA. The Aspidistra will stand more neglect than 

 any other house plant and always lives in hot and draughty hotels 

 and public buildings. A . lurida and A . lurida variegata are the ones 

 most commonly grown.. It is said that A. lurida is hardy as far 

 north as Philadelphia. 



Culture. Because the plants will stand almost any sort of 

 conditions their culture is very simple. If the foliage is wanted for 

 cutting, they may be planted under the benches in waste spaces. 

 A poor soil is needed for the variegated variety or the variegation 

 will disappear. 



Propagation. The usual way to increase the stock of these 

 very valuable decorative plants is to divide up large specimens into 

 small pieces, potting and keeping close until they make fresh roots. 

 A method requiring a little more work, certainly, but giving salable 

 plants in a shorter period, and more of them, as every small piece 

 will ^row, is to shake the old plants out, disentangle the rhizomes 

 as carefully as possible, and wash clean, saving every little piece 

 that is likely to grow. Cut the rhizomes into small pieces, with 

 roots attached, and put in the sand bed to make fresh roots; sub- 

 sequently put in small pots and keep close for a few days. 



ASTILBE, Forcing, or Florists' Spiraea. Although the 

 florist grows principally the forms of Astilbe japonica, the white, 

 and A. Davidii, the pink, there are a great number of Spiraeas 

 which are very beautiful, namely: A. Lemoinei, which has 

 white petals and pink stamens; A. Thunbergii, the flowers of 

 which are white but change to pink and are borne on red stems; 

 A. japonica Gladstone, the common white flowering sort; A. rosea 

 var. Queen Alexandra, a superb deep pink variety, excellent for 

 Spring forcing, but seldom early enough for Easter; and A. rosea 

 var. Peach Blossom, bearing lighter pink flowers than Queen 

 Alexandra. The Astilbes furnish an excellent large plant for small 

 money and are usually sold as pot plants, but the sprays may also 

 be cut. Astilbes are hardy and are useful as border plants, but in 

 order to be grown successfully they must have an abundance of 

 water. 



Culture. Stock is usually received in Midwinter and may be 

 left in the case for a week out of doors in order to be sure it has 

 frozen. Before potting soak the clumps in a tub of water in order 



