ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: A. Donax, reddish white, Aug., 12 ft., 8. Europe; 
Donax versicolor or variegata, leaves striped with white, 3ft.; Phragmites com- 
munis (Syn. Phragmites communis), purplish, Aug., 6 to 10 ft., Britain. Tho 
ae formerly known as A. conspicua is now placed in the genus Cortadeira, 
which see. 
Asclepias (Swallow-wort)—Ord. Asclepiadiacex. Hardy her- 
baceous perenniais. First introduced 1690. 
CULTURE: Soil, rich, light peat. Position, sunny & moist borders. 
Plant, Oct. or April. Propagate by division of roots in Oct. or April; 
also by seeds sown in cold frames in spring. All require protection 
in severe weather, 
SreOIES CULTIVATED: A. acuminata, red and white, July, 2ft., New Jersey; 
amena, purple, July, 2 to 3ft., New England; incarnata, red, 2ft., N. America; 
phytolaccoides, purple and white, July, 3 to 4 ft., Virginia; obtusa (Syn. A. purpur- 
ascens), purple, July, 2 to 3 ft., Virginia; quadrifolia, lilac-white, July, fragrant, 
1 ft., America; speciosa (Syn. A. Douglasii),purple-lilac, fragrant, July, 2 to 3 ft., N.W. 
America; rubra, purple-red, July, 1 to 2ft., Virginia; syriaca, purple, fragrant, July, 
3 to 5 ft., N. America; tuberosa, orange, July to Sept., 1 to 2 ft., N. America; 
variegata, white and purple, July, 3 to 4 ft., Carolina; verticillata, yellow and 
white, July, 1 to 2 ft., New Jersey. : 
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior).—See Fraxinus. 
Ash-leaf Fern.—See Marattia & Anemia. 
- Asparagus.—oOrd. Liliacee. Greenhouse & hardy climbers, 
including the popular edible Asparagus, Foliage of the greenhouse 
species, fern-like, green, and extensively used as a substitute for fern 
fronds in floral decorations. 
CULTURE OF GREENHOUSE SPECIES: Compost, two parts 
loam, one part of equal proportions of leaf-mould, peat & silver sand. 
Position, pots, tubs, or beds, for climbers, shoots trained up roof or 
back walls of greenhouse; dwarf kinds in pots suspended from roof. 
Pot or plant in March. Water and syringe freely during the summer, 
moderately at other seasons. Apply weak liquid manure occasionally 
to established plants. Increased by seeds sown in above compost in 
temp. 70° in spring; cuttings of shoots in propagating frame in March ; 
division of roots in March. Temp., Sept to March 50° to 55°; March to 
Sept. 55° to 60°. 
CULTURE OF HARDY SPECIES: Soil, sandy loam. Position, 
sunny walls or arbours. Plant Oct, or March. Propagate by seeds 
sown in cold frame in spring; division of roots in Oct. or March. 
CULTURE OF EDIBLE ASPARAGUS: Soil, deep rich sandy loam. 
Position, open & sunny preferably; will succeed, however, in partial 
shade. Size of beds, 3ft. wide, 12in. high; alleys 2ft. wide. Pre- 
paration of soil: In Oct. or Nov., trench two spits deep & break up 
third spit with fork. Put a thick layer of manure over third spit & 
work in a liberal quantity of old mortar, decayed vegetable matter, 
& rotten manure among upper spots. In March, double dig the soil. 
again and add layer of decayed manure between first and second spits. 
In case of heavy wet soils put a thick layer of brick rubble under second 
spit in Oct. Plant in April. Mark out two rows on each bed, each 
row being 9in, from alley. Open a trench 12 in. deep on each side of 
row thus A, and spread out roots on each side; plants to be 15 in. 
apart. Fill up trenches with soil & make level. “Crowns” or points 
of each plant to be 5in. below surface. Mulch with decayed manure. 
Three-year-old plants best for planting. -Cutting: No shoots to be 
removed first year, moderate quantity second year, freely afterwards. 
Shoots should not be less than Gin. long when cut. Cease cutting 
end of June. General treatment: Apply manures as advised below. 
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