Part 36

=ARUNDO= (origin of word doubtful; stated by some authorities to be from _arundo_, a reed; and others as from the Celtic _arn_, signifying water). Reed. ORD. _Gramineæ_. A very ornamental group of half or quite hardy plants, of very easy culture in ordinary garden soil, preferring damp situations. Panicle loose; calyx two-valved, unequal, many-flowered; corolla of two very unequal valves; all, except the lower and imperfect one, surrounded by a tuft of hairs. Fruit free, covered by the corolla. Arundos are very valuable either for conservatory decoration, sub*-tropical gardening, or cultivation in clumps on the turf of the flower-garden or pleasure ground, and the margins of lakes. Although well worth growing, all are inferior to their ally, the Pampas Grass. Propagated by seeds or divisions, the spring being the best time to adopt either method of increase.

=A. conspicua= (conspicuous).* _fl._ silky-white, on large drooping racemes, and lasting in beauty for several months. _h._ 3ft. to 8ft., but in a good deep and sandy loam it sometimes attains the height of 12ft. New Zealand, 1843. This fine species grows in dense tufts, from which arise numerous leathery, narrow, smooth (or slightly rough), long curving leaves, and erect, slender culms. The plant is not sufficiently hardy to withstand a severe winter, and should, therefore, be protected with mats, or be grown in tubs, so that it can be removed under shelter before the approach of winter. These precautions are unnecessary in the more southern counties of England.

=A. Donax= (Donax).* Great Reed. _fl._ reddish, ultimately whitish, in numerous spikelets, forming a large compact panicle 12in. to 16in. long. Autumn. _l._ alternate, lanceolate-acute, large, and ornamental, glaucous green, arching. _h._ about 12ft. South Europe, 1648. This also requires protection during winter in the colder counties. See Fig. 156.

=A. D. versicolor= (various-coloured).* _h._ 3ft. South Europe. Although much smaller, this variety is far superior to the type for gardening purposes, and has its leaves ribboned with white. It requires a deep, well drained, sandy loam to thrive well, and a thorough winter protection of cocoa-fibre refuse or coal ashes. For isolated tufts or groups, few plants can equal it. It is propagated by placing a stem in water, which induces little rooted plants to start from the joints; these should be separated, potted off, and kept in frames until thoroughly established.

=A. mauritanica= (Mediterranean Reed). This is a rare greenhouse species, closely allied to _A. Donax_, but inferior to it.

=ARYTERA.= A synonym of =Ratonia= (which _see_).

=ASAFœTIDA.= _See_ =Narthex Asafœtida=.

=ASARABACCA.= _See_ =Asarum europæum=.

=ASARUM= (from _a_, not, and _saron_, feminine; derivation doubtful). ORD. _Aristolochiaceæ_. Curious hardy herbaceous perennials, with bell-shaped, three-cleft perianths. They should be planted at the foot of the rockery, or in borders or woodlands, as they are not very showy, but are, nevertheless, worth growing, and easily propagated by divisions, in spring.

=A. canadense= (Canadian).* _fl._ brown, campanulate, on a short peduncle, sometimes nearly buried. May and June. _l._ in pairs, broadly reniform. _h._ 1ft. Canada, &c., 1713.

=A. caudatum= (tailed).* _fl._ brownish-red, with attenuated or caudate calyx lobes. July. _l_. cordate-reniform, hooded, sub-acute, or bluntish, slightly pubescent. California, 1880. A rare and pretty species. See Fig. 157.

=A. europæum= (European). A sarabacca. _fl._ dull brown, solitary, rather large, drooping; segments of perianth incurved. May. _l._ two on each stem, roundish-reniform, stalked, slightly waved. _h._ 1ft. England.

=ASCENDING.= Directed upwards; as the stem, which is the ascending axis.

=ASCLEPIADEÆ.= A large order of, for the most part, lactescent, climbing shrubs. Flowers sub-umbellate, fascicled or racemose, interpetiolar; pollen collected in the form of waxy masses, coalescing to the cells of the anthers; follicles two, one of which is abortive. Leaves entire, usually opposite.

=ASCLEPIAS= (the Greek name of Æsculapius of the Latins). Swallow-wort. ORD. _Asclepiadeæ_. Erect, hardy, herbaceous or sub-shrubby perennials, except where otherwise specified. Corolla five-parted, reflexed; umbels interpetiolar; corona seated on the upper part of the tube of the filaments, five-leaved. Leaves opposite, verticillate, sometimes alternate. Most of the hardy species are very handsome border plants, thriving in peaty, or light rich soil, and are increased by dividing the roots in spring, and sometimes also by seeds. The doubtfully hardy or rarer species should always be grown in a peat soil, and have a little protection during severe frost, by mulching the roots. The most important of the greenhouse and stove species is _A. curassavica_. In order to obtain good bushy specimens of this, it will be necessary to cut the plants back annually, after keeping them slightly dry, and resting for a month or two in midwinter. When growth has sufficiently advanced, they should be shaken out and repotted. At this stage, a close, moist atmosphere will be needful to produce the usually very free growth. The points of the shoots must be nipped out, in order to promote a bushy habit. When the pots have become filled with roots, liquid manure may be applied; but it must be quite clear and not over strong. All the indoor species grow best in good fibry loam and leaf mould, and require to be potted firmly. Cuttings should be secured in spring, struck in gentle heat, under a bell glass, and as soon as they are well rooted, potted into 60-size pots. A shift must be given as often as the pots become filled with roots, up to the time when the plant commences flowering. Seeds may be sown in pots in spring, pricked out singly when large enough, and then treated similarly to cuttings.

=A. acuminata= (taper-pointed).* _fl._ red and white; umbels lateral, solitary, erect. July. _l._ ovate, sub-cordate, acuminated, on short petioles; superior ones sessile, glabrous, but rough on the edges. Stems erect, glabrous, simple. _h._ 2ft. New Jersey, 1826. Hardy, herbaceous.

=A. amœna= (pleasing).* _fl._ beautiful purple; umbels terminal, erect; appendages of corona exserted, red. July. _l._ opposite, almost sessile, oblong-oval, downy beneath, with a large purple middle nerve. Stem simple, with two rows of down. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. New England, 1732. Hardy, herbaceous.

=A. Cornuti= (Cornuti's).* Synonymous with _A. syriaca_.

=A. curassavica= (Curassavian). Redhead. _fl._ reddish orange-scarlet; umbels erect, solitary, lateral. July to September. _l._ opposite, oblong-lanceolate, tapering at both ends. Stem rather downy, simple, seldom a little branched. _h._ 1ft. to 3ft. Tropical America, 1692. The white-flowered variety is a very pretty contrast. Stove herbaceous.

=A. Douglasii= (Douglas's).* _fl._ large, waxy, purplish-lilac, sweet-scented, in many-flowered umbels. Summer. _l._ opposite, ovate-cordate, acuminated, 6-1/2in. long by 5in. or more wide, glabrous above, downy beneath. Stem thick, woolly, simple. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. West America, 1846.

=A. hybrida= (hybrid). A synonym of _A. purpurascens_.

=A. incarnata= (flesh-coloured).* _fl._ red or purplish; umbels numerous, usually twin. July. _l._ opposite, lanceolate, rather woolly on both surfaces. Stem erect, branched and tomentose at the top. _h._ 2ft. Canada (on the banks of rivers), 1710. Hardy, herbaceous.

=A. mexicana= (Mexican). _fl._ white; umbels many-flowered. July. _l._ verticillate, linear-lanceolate, with revolute edges; lower ones four to six in a whorl; upper ones three in a whorl, or opposite. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Mexico, 1821. Greenhouse evergreen.

=A. phytolaccoides= (Phytolacca-like). _fl._ purple; corona white, with truncate leaflets; umbels lateral and terminal, solitary, on long peduncles, drooping. July. _l._ broad, ovate-oblong, acute, glabrous, paler beneath. Stem erect, simple, spotted with purple. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. Virginia and Carolina (on the mountains), 1812.

=A. purpurascens= (purplish). _fl._ purple; umbels erect. July. _l._ opposite, large, ovate, with a purplish middle nerve, villous beneath. Stem simple, rather hairy at top, brownish green at bottom. _h._ 2ft. to 3ft. Virginia (in shady swamps), 1732. Hardy. SYN. _A. hybrida_.

=A. quadrifolia= (four-leaved).* _fl._ white, small, sweet-scented, with red nectaries; umbels twin, terminal, loose-flowered; pedicels filiform. July. _l._ ovate, acuminated, petiolate; those in the middle of the stem larger, and four in a whorl; the rest opposite. Stems erect, simple, glabrous. _h._ 1ft. New York, 1820. Hardy species.

=A. rubra= (red), _fl._ red; umbels compound, July, August. _l._ alternate, ovate, acuminated. Stem erect, simple. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Virginia, 1825.

=A. Sullivanti= (Sullivant's). Similar to _A. syriaca_, but having larger and deeper coloured flowers.

=A. syriaca= (Syrian).* _fl._ pale purple, sweet scented, in large, loose, drooping umbels. July. _l._ opposite, lanceolate-oblong, or oval, gradually acute, tomentose beneath. Stems simple. _h._ 3ft. to 5ft. North America, 1629. SYN. _A. Cornuti_.

=A. tuberosa= (tuberous).* _fl._ bright orange, very showy; umbels disposed in a terminal sub-corymb. July to September. _l._ scattered, oblong-lanceolate, hairy. Stems erectish, divaricately branched at top, very hairy. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. North America (in stony, sandy fields and woods), 1690. A desirable hardy herbaceous border plant. See Fig. 158.

=A. variegata= (variegated). _fl._, petals and foliola of corona white, fructification red, in dense umbels, very handsome; umbels almost sessile; pedicels hairy. July. _l._ opposite, ovate, petiolate, wrinkled, naked. Stems simple. erect, variegated with purple. _h._ 3ft. to 4ft. New York to Carolina (on dry, sandy hills), 1597.

=A. verticillata= (whorled). _fl._, corolla with yellowish green petals and white nectaries; umbels many-flowered. July and August. _l._ very narrow, linear, thick, quite glabrous, usually verticillate, but sometimes scattered. Stems erect, often branched, having a downy line on one side. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. New Jersey, 1759.

=ASCYRON.= _See_ =Hypericum Ascyron=.

=ASCYRUM= (from _a_, without, and _skyros_, hard; that is to say, a plant which is soft to the touch). ORD. _Hypericinæ_. A genus of elegant little herbs and sub-shrubs, with sessile, entire leaves, destitute of pellucid dots, but usually furnished with black dots beneath. Flowers resembling _Hypericum_. They require to be protected during winter by a frame; for this purpose they should be grown in pots, as they never exist long in the open border. A compost of peat, pure leaf soil, and sand, in equal portions, suits them well; young cuttings of the shrubby kinds will root in sand under a hand bell glass. Propagated by careful divisions of the roots in spring. All may be raised from seeds.

=A. amplexicaule= (stem-clasping). _fl._ yellow, few, axillary, and terminal; corymbs naked. July. _l._ stem-clasping, ovate, cordate, sinuately-curled. Stem dichotomously panicled. _h._ 2ft. North America, 1823. The flowers and leaves are longer in this than in any other of the species.

=A. Crux Andreæ.=* St. Andrew's Cross. _fl._, petals narrow-pale, yellow, nearly sessile, in terminal corymbs. July. _l._ ovate-linear, obtuse, usually in bundles in the axils. Stem shrubby, round. _h._ 1ft. North America (in sandy fields), 1759. This proves to be quite hardy in many situations.

=A. hypericoides= (Hypericum-like). _fl._ yellow. August. _l._ linear-oblong, obtuse. _h._ 2ft. North America, 1759.

=A. stans= (standing). St. Peter's Wort. _fl._ yellow. August. _l._ oval or oblong, somewhat clasping. _h._ 2ft. North America, 1816.

=ASHES.= The earthy or mineral particles of combustible substances, remaining after combustion. Ashes are amongst the most economical manures.

_Vegetable Ashes_ are generally the best application for manuring boggy, cold, and, consequently, sour and unprofitable land, in quantities of about forty bushels per acre, thinly and evenly distributed. The annual exhaustion of salts from large crops of grain, roots, and grass, is from 180lb. to more than 250lb. per acre; and the aggregate of a few years will so far impoverish the soil in one or more of the principles necessary to sustain a luxuriant vegetation, that it will cease to yield remunerating returns. The ashes of vegetables consist of such elements as are always required for their perfect maturity, and it is evident they must furnish one of the best saline manures which can be supplied for their growth; they contain, in fact, every element, and generally in the right proportions, for insuring a full and rapid growth. Both gardener and farmer will therefore perceive the great value of Ashes to their crops.

_Coal Ashes._ The bituminous and anthracite coals afford Ashes, and, although inferior in quality to those made from wood and vegetables, are, like them, a valuable manure, and they should be applied to the land in a similar manner. If they contain many cinders, from not having been thoroughly burned, they are more suited to heavy than to light soils. Coal Ashes, if very fine, may be sprinkled half an inch deep on the surface, over peas and beans, &c., to preserve them from mice; they may also be used for garden and greenhouse walks, where bricks or tiles are absent, being tidy in appearance, and an excellent substitute for other and more expensive material.

_Peat Ashes._ Peat approaching to purity, when thrown out of its bed and thoroughly dried, may be burned to an imperfect Ash, and when it does not reach this point, it will become thoroughly charred, and reduced to cinders. The process of burning should be as slow as possible. In either form, it is a valuable dressing for the soil.

=ASH-TREE.= _See_ =Fraxinus=.

=ASIATIC POISON BULB.= _See_ =Crinum asiaticum=.

=ASIMINA= (meaning unknown). ORD. _Anonaceæ_. Hardy shrubs, with oblong, cuneated, usually deciduous leaves. Flowers sometimes rising before the leaves, usually solitary and axillary. They thrive freely in a mixture of sand and peat. Propagated by layers put down in the autumn, or by seed, procured from their native country. Seedlings should be raised in pots, and sheltered in winter, until they have acquired a considerable size.

=A. triloba= (three-lobed).* _fl._ campanulate, the three outer petals pale purplish, and the three inner ones smaller, purplish on the outside as well as the inside at the base and apex, with the middle yellow, about 2in. diameter, produced between the upper leaves. May. _l._ oblong-cuneated, often acuminated, and, as well as the branches, smoothish. _h._ 10ft. Pennsylvania, 1736. A small tree or shrub. See Fig. 159.

=ASKALLON= (the Eschallot). _See_ =Allium ascalonicum=.

=ASPALATHUS= (from _a_, not, and _spao_, to extract; in reference to the difficulty of extracting its thorns from a wound). Including _Sarcophyllus_. ORD. _Leguminosæ_. Shrubs or sub-shrubs, natives, with one exception, of the Cape of Good Hope. Flowers usually yellow, furnished with three bracteoles, or a leaf comprised of three leaflets. Leaves of three to five leaflets, disposed palmately, rarely pinnately, having scarcely any or very short petioles. All the species are pretty when in flower, and thrive in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand. Young cuttings of half-ripened wood will strike in April, in sand, under bell glasses, which must be wiped dry occasionally. But little water is needed. Over a hundred species are known; those introduced are very rarely seen in cultivation.

=ASPARAGUS= (from _a_, intensive, and _sparasso_, to tear; in reference to the strong prickles of some species). ORD. _Liliaceæ_. Erect or climbing herbs or shrubs, with very small scale-like leaves, and a profusion of numerous slender fascicled-needle, rather spiny branchlets. Flowers axillary, inconspicuous. Fruit baccate. The indoor species will all thrive well in a warm greenhouse temperature, provided they have partial shade, a good supply of moisture at the roots, and are not kept too close, in a moderately rich sandy compost. The hardy species are propagated chiefly by seeds and divisions of the roots. Rich sandy loam is necessary, and otherwise they may be treated as ordinary perennials. Some of the species belonging to this genus are among the most elegant of foliage plants for cutting purposes. _A. decumbens_ and _A. scandens_ make excellent plants for Wardian cases, and may be cut in freely if they exceed their limits.

ASPARAGUS (_A. officinalis_) AS A VEGETABLE. The value and importance of this plant as a vegetable cannot be over-estimated; it is extensively grown, and, when properly managed, produces a fairly lucrative crop.

_Soil and Bed._ The first thing to be done in the preparation of an Asparagus bed to stand for any length of time, is to secure an efficient drainage; and on wet soils this is best effected by placing a layer of brick rubbish over the whole of the bottom, and connecting this with a drain. On gravelly or other soils which are drained naturally, of course, this is not needed; but if really good crops are a _desideratum_, water should not stand within 3ft. of the surface. In all cases, the ground must be dug to a depth of 18in., and, if stiff, a goodly amount of road sweepings, or other gritty materials, should be well mixed with the staple soil. Asparagus requires a good soil, neither too heavy nor too light.

_Manuring._ After the soil has been well trenched, and has lain long enough to settle down, a good dressing of manure--thoroughly rotted, and not too rank, at the rate of from twenty to thirty tons to the acre, dug into the surface of the beds-—will be found very beneficial. If possible, this should be introduced in January; and then, if the weather permits, the beds should be forked two or three times by the end of March, so as to render the soil as friable as possible. A very good manure, and one that is easily obtained, is common garden salt. This may be given annually to established beds. A moderate dressing should be applied just before growth commences in spring, but a little will do no harm at other times during the summer. It is best scattered on with the hand, and a showery day should be selected, as it will then soon disappear. Salt, besides acting as a manure, has also the properties of keeping the beds cool and moist in hot weather, and of preventing the growth of weeds.

_Planting._ Asparagus can be planted during March and April, the latter month being the best time for the work. The soil having been thoroughly prepared, the next point is to decide on the size of the beds; this depends on the size of garden, and the class of "grass" desired. When very large and fine stocks are the object in view, the best results will accrue if the plants are fully a yard apart each way; but this means a comparatively small crop. A good plan is to make the beds 3ft. wide, planting two rows, at a distance of 1ft. from each other, and allowing 18in. between each plant, placing them in alternate order. An 18in. alley should be allowed between the beds. The roots used for making the beds should be one year old, and fresh from the ground. In planting, pull out a wide drill with a hoe, or other tool, to the depth of about 3in. or 4in., and spread out the roots all round. Carefully shake the soil in amongst the roots, and, if dry, apply some water through a coarse-rosed watering pot, to settle the earth around them. At intervals, as necessary, give other waterings till September, when they should be discontinued. At all times, keep the beds free from weeds, removing them by the hand to prevent injury to the crowns of the plants. If the ground is good, no liquid manure will be needed the first year. As soon as the foliage turns yellow, cut it off, cleanly rake over the beds, and leave till about January, when a top-dressing of from 1in. to 3in. of thoroughly rotted manure may be applied with advantage. At the end of February, rake off the bed all loose straw or other _debris_, and throw on them a little of the soil from the alleys, raking down, and finishing off the edges squarely and neatly. During this and succeeding years, apply liquid manure and clear water, from time to time, as required; and, provided the manure is not of too great strength, there is scarcely any limit to its application; but, in many instances, beds which have only received an annual dressing have given a good return. Each year they must be cut over and dressed as before described, but care must be taken to keep them flat on the surface, otherwise the plants will die out for want of moisture. When the produce appears, the beds should be kept cut over until the 20th of June, after which, cutting should cease, or they will be rendered comparatively unproductive. Cutting can commence the second or third year, or as soon as there is any "grass" worth taking. Several methods of growing these plants could be cited, but that which we have recommended will be found most satisfactory.

_Seeds._ Plants are raised by sowing seeds in rows across the kitchen garden, or selected quarter, about the month of April. The seedlings make a growth, and form good plants during the first season. In March or April of the following year, or the year after, they may be removed, and planted out permanently, as already alluded to. Many cultivators prefer growing their own plants from seed; because during the transit of the roots from any distance to where they are to be grown, a frequent and injurious exhaustion takes place, and particularly so when they are carelessly packed.