128 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



and thus frustrated the first attempts to introduce 

 the plant into the West Indian Islands. The true 

 Bread-fruit is the fruit of Artocarpua inoisa, which 

 attains the dimensions of a moderate forest tree, with 

 large deeply-sinuate leaves, but is. not sufficiently- 

 ornamental to find a place in these pages. The 

 genus does, however, furnish us with some species of 

 small growth and ornamental foliage. ■ These plants 

 should he potted in sandy loam, with the addition of 

 a little vegetable mould; they enjoy a very moist 

 atmosphere and 

 strong heat. 



A. Cannonii, or 

 Ficifs Cannoni. — 

 A showy plant 

 with leaves of a 

 variable form, 

 but mostly pin- 

 natifid in shape ; 

 the lobes deeply 

 divided and ser- 

 rate at the edges; 

 upper surface 

 deep crimson 

 with a bronzy 

 tinge, under side 

 port- wine colour. 

 Society Islands, 

 Pacific Ocean. 



A. eburnea. — 

 The leaves of 

 this species are 

 ohovate and acu- 

 minate, cordate 

 at the base, about 

 twelve inches 

 long and six 

 broad, of a deep 



rich green colour, the midrib, and primary veins 

 being white. A native of the South Sea Islands. 



Asparagus — A group of the order Liliaeea; the 

 name is familiar to every •one from the species 

 A. officinale, so largely grown as a culinary vegetable 

 in all European countries. The plants here enu- 

 merated, however, are of scandent habit, and the 

 very finely divided leaves, combined with their 

 brilliant shades of green, render them general 

 favourites. ITie plants bearing different names are 

 very similar in appearance, and may be only varia- 

 tions of the same species. Pot in rich sandy loam, 

 with a little vegetable mould added ; supply mode- 

 rately with water to the roots, but avoid syringing 

 overhead. 



A. conaanguineus. — "A very slender climbing 

 plant of exceedingly graceful habit, throwing up 



much:branched stems. The ultimate branohlets 

 bear brilliant green needle-like leaves, thickly set 

 and spread all round, presenting an elegant feathery 

 appearance." South Africa. 



A. plumoms. — "An elegant evergreen climber 

 with slender stems, smooth and numerous spreading 

 branches of a vivid rich green." It is extremely 

 useful for mixing with cut flowers, the embellish- 

 ment of a lady's hair, or, indeed, any other purpose 

 where elegant foliage is required. South Africa. 



A. plumosus, 

 var. nanus. — ^Al- 

 though this is 

 called nantis, it 

 appears to be 

 equally as tall- 

 growing as the 

 species ; it, how- 

 ever, is a very 

 handsome kind, 

 with dense fea- 

 thery, vivid green 

 branches. South 

 Africa. 



Astrapsea. — 



The name comes 

 from astrape, 

 "lightning," on 

 account of the 

 brilliancy of the 

 flowers ; they be- 

 long to the order 

 Byttneriaeea, and 

 form large, soft- 

 wooded, ever- 

 green shrubs of 

 great beauty. 

 Pot in a mixture of peat and loam in equal parts, 

 with the addition of a little sand, drain well, and 

 water freely during the summer months. 



A. TVallichii. — There are several species in the 

 genus, but this is by far the most beautiful ; it is a 

 large-growing plant with alternate cordate acuminate 

 leaves, from twelve to eighteen inches long and a 

 foot broad, furnished with large stipules at the base. 

 The flowers are borne in large pendulous umbels. 

 These are very large and brilliant red. Summer 

 months. 



Ataocia.— This is the Malay name for a very 

 peculiar family, which certainly are not possessed of 

 any gorgeous beauty, but their singular structure 

 will commend them to all lovers of plants. Pot in 

 peat and loam, and provide a liberal supply of heat 

 and moisture. / 



