58 Milady's House Plants 



and well drained. Other kinds of plants can occupy 

 the intervening space in the box, but the Asparagus 

 roots will have the entire bulk of loam to roam 

 through at pleasure and will certainly take advantage 

 of it. Started in this way in early September and 

 given a nice southern window with no obstructing 

 curtains, these • beautiful vines will cover the entire 

 window frame by the following Spring. A box of 

 this kind must have ample drainage carefully ar- 

 ranged, otherwise the soil will soon become stagnant 

 and untenable. 



Asparagus Sprengeri 



Like all other members of the species, is a very 

 hungry plant and requires plenty of rich soil in which 

 to develop to its full size and beauty. It would love 

 to be in the window box with its sister, Asparagus 

 plumosus, just described, if it were not for one ob- 

 jection. Being essentially a drooping plant, it hangs 

 over the side of the box and as the only available side 

 is that toward the room and away from the window, 

 the plant soon begins to suffer from lack of light. A 

 perfect position for it is on a bracket by the side of 

 the window and half way up, or even higher; here, 

 in a seven- or eight-inch .pot, a good-sized plant may 

 be developed during the season. In a sun parlor, 

 these beautiful plants arranged along the entire sideis 

 of the room, two to each window, with luxuriant fern- 

 like fronds hanging down almost to the ground, are 

 quite effective. Artistic, inexpensive brackets (see page 

 35) of bent iron are nice enough for any room and they 

 may be procured of any seedsman or hardware dealer 

 for about 50c., the largest size being preferable. 



