OARDEMREENHOUtf PLANTS 



Ak wvakia Excels a. 



ARDISIA CRENIKATA. 



A very ornamental greenhouse plant, with dark evergreen fol 



lage, producing clusters of brilliant red berries; a first-class house 

 plant in winter. 25 cts., 50 cts. and $1.00 each. 



ASP AR A GITS. 



The following article lias been written expressly for this book 

 by the well-known amateur and writer Eb'en. 1". Rexford : 



•■ If there i- a better plant for table decoration thwaA. plumosus 

 nanus. I o\o not know what it is. The foliage of this plant is 

 more delicate than that of the finest Fern, being lace-like in its 

 lilininess. If allowed to grow without limitation, the young 

 shoots develop into miniature vines, but if these are pinched off 

 when a loot or eight-inches tall side branches will be developed 

 which are like the fronds of some varieties oi Fern in general 

 outline; hence, the popular name of ••Asparagus Fern" by 

 which this plant is generally known. A plant with half a dozen 

 such stalks is a mass of dainty, mist) green, among which the 

 Stems of a few flow ers can be thrust in such a manner as to make 

 the combination far superior, artistically, to most expensive del 



orations prepared for the table by the professional florist. Half 



a dozen Carnations used in connection with such a plant will 

 make a superb ornament for the table. Use Lilies of the Valley 

 oi Roman Hyacinths, and the effect will be exquisite. There is 

 no limit to the variety which can he evolved with a few (lowers 

 of almost any kind with one oi these plants to serve as the basis 

 ot operations. Its value to the woman who takes pleasure in 

 making her table attractive will, therefore, he readily understood. 



A. Sprengeri is excellent for hanging-baskets, for bracket 



use, and for cutting. It is one oi the !<est oi all plants for the 

 window box, when planted on the outside, where it can droop 

 over the edge of the box. 



Give plumosus nanus a soil oi sandy loam. Water with 

 moderation. Keep out of the sunshine. Give Spn 



a similar soil, hut expose it to full sunshine. Keep watch of it. 



and if it shows a tendency to develop a great many tubers about 



the main crown, remove them at once. It will surely o'o this if 

 you do not interfere with it. and soon there will he 50 many that 

 the pot will he crowded. Frequently they l>ur>t the pot Hal- 

 lowed to grow. The more tubers there are the less foliage you will 

 get. Fertilize well during each growing period. This variety 

 ot Asparagus i- hard) enough to stand almost am kind of treat- 

 ment; therefore, it i- well adapted to amateur culture." 



Plumosus Nanus (Asparagus r i tScts. and 25 cts. 



each; $1.50 and (2.50 pet do/. 

 Sprengeri i Emerald Feather). 1"> cts., -J"- ct-. and 50 cts 



• ach; rl .50, >'-' 50 and >■"« 00 pet do,-. 



AR AVCARI A Norfolk Island Pine). 



The following article has been written by Mr. Fbcn. F. Rexford. the well- 

 know n expert on growing plants in the house, expressly for this book : 

 "The Aiauearia is a plant deserving much more attention than has 

 given it. It is beautiful in all stages of it- growth. Small specimen- areas 

 perfect and symmetrical in shape as large plant-, and are admirable for the 

 ordinary window-garden, and the housewife who takes pride in making the 

 home table attractive will find no plant more useful or satisfactory. 



The Aiauearia i> of remarkable symmetry in its habit of growth, its 

 branches bring produced in whorls, generally of live branches each, but 

 Sometimes ol a larger number, but always regularly arranged about tie 

 main stalk. As the plant increases in height, the effect of its SUCCessivi 

 layers, or tiers oi branches, is very striking, and will always please thosi 

 who admire plants with fine foliage. Plants five or six years old ought to 



have attained a height of as mam feet. Those who have depended upon the 

 Palm and other plants oi that class for hall or porch decoration will be dt - 

 lighted with this plant when they give it a trial. Contrary to the general 

 impression, it is a plant of the easiest culture. It succeeds best with the 

 amateur who give- it a -oil of sand) loam, made moderately rich by th< 

 dition o( a reliable fertilizer, like bonemeal. Good drainage should be 

 provided, water should be -applied in -ufticient quantity — and often enough — 

 to keep the -oil always moist, but never Wet. This is an item of great import- 

 ance in the culture' of this plant in the living-room. True, good draii [ 

 will gem-rally prevent injury from ovcrwatcring. but care should be I 

 to keep the soil evenly moist at all times. If this is done, and the plant 

 is showered frequently, all over, and especially on the under side 

 branches, to keep down the red spicier, which i- the most destructive of all 

 plant-enemies in the living-room, any amateur can grow it, and grow it well. 

 It has more or less regular periods of growth. It will de- 

 velop a whorl of branphes and then seem inclined to rest. 

 1 luring this dormant period do not apply any fertilizer. Winn 

 the bud at the centre of the plant, ju-t above the la-; til 

 branches, begins to swell and divide into several bud-. e;u ' 

 of which i- to become a branch, you are to understand that an- 

 other growing period has begun, and then it is that whatever 

 fertilizer you make use of should be applied. Give only enough 

 to encourage a strong, healthy growth. loo much fertilizer will 

 make the plant long-jointed. Repot once a year, using a pot 

 one size larger than the old one each time. While the plant lik< - 

 a good deal of light it does not seem to care for sunshine. Being 

 tender, it inu-t be kept from frost. 



Excelsa {Norfolk /slam/ Pi in-). 



In. hi- High. Each. Inches High. Each. 



4 in. pot-, tin, S 50 Cts. b in. pots, 14 to 16 $1.50 



5 •• in to 12 75 •• 6 " 18 to 20 2.00 

 ti •' 12 to 11 $1.00 

 Excelsa Qlauca {Glaucous-leaved Norfolk Island Pit 



is. UBS HIC INCHES HIGH. 



5 in. pots, 8 to 10 $1.00 each 6 in. pots, 1"_' to 1"> $1.50 each 

 Robusta Compacta [Compact Norfolk Island Pine). 



Inches High. I v h Inches High Each. 



6 in. pots, HI to 12 $1.50 | (i in. pots, 1-1 to 16 $2.00 



l i h\ Dish Filled with Vspakagus with v Few Flowers Stock is pob 

 Tabli Decoration is suggested in Mb Rbxpord's Aettclb, 



The Cultural Notes on Araucaria and Asparagus by Mr Eben E. Rexford which appear on this page are well worth reading 



