MARKET PLANTS— ASPARAGUS, ASPIDISTRA. 



205 



permanently. In either case, use a fair amount of drainage, and a coarse, rich compost. 

 Teat may be employed or not, as the cultivator pleases. Some growers allow the plants 

 to develop into great masses, merely roughly supporting the stems with stakes and 

 raffia ; others train them loosely up the roofs a few inches from the glass. During the 

 summer a rest may well be given, keeping the plants quite cool, and in any case heavily 

 shaded. When less air is given in September, and fire-heat turned on, strong shoots 

 will push up, some of which will quickly attain a length of G feet to 8 feet. From 

 these, long, handsome sprays may be cut two or three times during the winter, the 

 smaller growths from the base of 

 the plant being cut entire in the 

 form of long trails. All through 

 the growing season the plants re- 

 quire abundance of water, liquid 

 manure being also beneficial. A 

 temperature of 55° to 60° is quite 

 sufficient during the winter. A. 

 Sprengeri is better adapted for pot 

 culture, and is particularly happy 

 when suspended from the roof, 

 plants in 8 -inch pots producing 

 numerous elegant growths suit- 

 able for shower bouquets. Long 



Fig. 169. Aspidistra lurida variegata. 



trails (a) of any of the species 



ought to fetch 2s. per bunch of one dozen, while the shorter sprays realise 7d. to Is. 

 per bunch (b) wholesale according to quality. (Fig. 108.) 



ASPIDISTRA. 



No plant stands the gas, dust, and rough treatment to which many house plants are 

 subjected so well as Aspidistra lurida, commonly called the Parlour Palm. The 

 variegated form (Fig. 1G9) is more beautiful, nearly as serviceable, but more delicate, 

 and buyers have to pay about Gd. per leaf on the plants. Wholesale vendors may 

 reckon on obtaining 18s. to 20s. per dozen for the green-leaved plants in G-inch pots, 

 and 30s. to 36s. for the variegated form. They increase slowly, propagation being 

 effected by division in the spring. Pot in a mixture of loam, leaf soil, and sand ; place 



