Part 37

_Forcing._ Asparagus can, if properly treated, be obtained from December onwards; and at Christmas time the produce is very valuable; but, in order to obtain it at this season, it will be necessary to resort to forcing. Prepare some beds to secure a lasting heat, and on these place about 3in. of ordinary garden soil, not very stiff. Then take the roots, and place them crown upwards, and moderately close together, shaking the soil well amongst the roots, and covering about a couple of inches deep. Water well, to settle the whole, and put on the lights, allowing a little ventilation, to let out any steam which may arise. Unless the weather be very cold indeed, give a little air at all times, and only cover the lights in actual frost. From time to time, apply fresh linings of hot manure, and in cold rains, or wind, cover the outsides of the frames with old sacks, or other things which will keep in the heat. A regular and steady temperature of 60deg. will force this plant with better results than a higher one. Houses that are fitted with hot-water pipes to give bottom heat can be used equally as well as manure beds, and so long as the soil is kept moist, the heat thus obtained is as good as any for the purpose, and much less trouble than fermenting materials. To keep up a regular supply, a succession of beds will be necessary. Asparagus can be forced, or rather forwarded, in pots or boxes, in a warm greenhouse or vinery, and, of course, when the plants are done with, they can be cast away. We give an illustration (Fig. 160) of a bearing crown fit for gentle forcing; but, of course, it must not be left so bare of earth as appears here, which is done for the purpose of clearness.

_Varieties._ Connover's Colossal, and Giant, are the most esteemed. Strains are frequently largely advertised as improvements on the sorts above-mentioned, and the charges are higher accordingly. The difference may be generally attributed to the culture the plants receive more than to an improved variety. When saving seed for home sowing, they should be taken from the strongest growths, or deterioration will ensue.

=A. æthiopicus ternifolius= (ternate). _fl._ white, in shortly-stalked racemes, very profuse. August. _l._, false ones in threes, flattened, narrow, linear; prickles solitary, reversed; branches angular. _h._ 30ft. South Africa, 1872. A greenhouse evergreen.

=A. Broussoneti= (Broussonet's).* _fl._ very small, succeeded by small red berries. May. _l._, lower ones solitary, the others ternate, 1in. long, needle-shaped, persistent, distant, glaucescent; stipules with reflected spines at the base. Summer. Stem tapering, streaked, shrubby. _h._ 10ft. Canary Islands, 1822. A very pretty hardy climber.

=A. Cooperi= (Cooper's). _fl._ axillary, one to three, from the same nodes as the false leaves; perianth cream-coloured, one line long. April and May. _l._ minute, deltoid, scariose, reddish-brown; false leaves six to fifteen to a node, subulate, moderately firm, 1/4in. to 3/8in. long, spreading or ascending. _h._ 10ft. to 12ft. Africa, 1862. A greenhouse climber, with a shrubby terete main stem, 1-1/2in. to 2in. thick at the base, sending out crowds of spreading branches, which bear abundant slender, firm, alternate branchlets; nodes of branches and branchlets, furnished with distinct red-brown, subulate prickles, those of the main stems 1/4in. long, deflexed, but not curved.

=A. decumbens= (decumbent).* Stem unarmed, decumbent, much branched; branches wavy; leaves setaceous, in threes. Cape of Good Hope, 1792. A greenhouse evergreen herbaceous perennial.

=A. falcatus= (hooked-leaved). _l._ fascicled, linear, falcate; branches round; prickles solitary, recurved; peduncles one-flowered, clustered. _h._ 3ft. India, 1792. A greenhouse evergreen perennial.

=A. officinalis= (officinal). Common Asparagus. _fl._ greenish-white, drooping. August. _l._ setaceous, fasciculate, flexible, unarmed. Stem herbaceous, mostly erect, rounded, very much branched. _h._ 1ft. Said to grow on "Asparagus Island," Kynance Cove, Lizard, but we have never found it there, and it has probably long since been exterminated.

=A. plumosus= (plumed).* _fl._ white, small, produced from the tips of the branchlets. Spring. _l._, true ones in the form of minute deltoid scales, with an acute ultimately reflexed point; the false ones are grouped in tufts, each being 1/8in. to 1/4in. long, bristle-shaped, and finely pointed. South Africa, 1876. An elegant evergreen climber, with smooth stems and numerous spreading branches. It forms an excellent plant when trained in pots, and is invaluable for cutting.

=A. p. nanus= (dwarf).* A very elegant dwarf variety of above. Stems tufted, slender, and gracefully arching. South Africa, 1880. For bouquets, the cut sprays of both type and variety have the advantage of much greater persistency than any fern, retaining their freshness in water from three to four weeks. See Fig. 161, for which we are indebted to Messrs. Veitch and Sons.

=A. racemosus= (racemose). _fl._ greenish-white, in many-flowered axillary racemes. May. _l._ bundled, linear-subulate, falcate; branches striated; prickles solitary. _h._ 3ft. India, 1808. Greenhouse evergreen shrub.

=A. ramosissimus= (very branching). _fl._ solitary, at the tips of the branchlets; pedicels hardly perpendicular, one and a-half to two lines long; cream coloured. June. _l._ obscurely spurred at the base; false leaves three to eight-nate, flattened; linear-falcate acute, 1/4in. to 3/8in. long, spreading. South Africa, 1862. A wide climbing, copiously branched, slender greenhouse shrub, with very numerous spreading or ascending branches and branchlets.

=A. scandens= (climbing).* _fl._ whitish, axillary on the ultimate branchlets, succeeded by round orange-coloured berries. The annual, much-branched, unarmed stems bear, usually in threes, numerous small linear-pointed leaves, which on the ultimate branches spread nearly in one plane. Cape of Good Hope, 1795. An elegant climbing greenhouse perennial.

=A. virgatus= (twiggy).* A remarkably elegant feathery looking plant, of shrubby habit. The stems, which issue from the crown of the stout fleshy roots, are of a dark green colour, and bear at the upper end a corymbose head of erect branches, of which the lowest is the youngest or most recently developed. These branches are again twice branched, the ultimate branchlets being furnished with needle-shaped false leaves, 1/2in. long, which usually grow in threes. South Africa, 1862.

=ASPARAGUS BEETLE= (_Crioceris asparagi_), or "Cross-bearer." This beautiful little insect is blue-black or greenish; the thorax is red with two black spots, and the wing-cases are yellow, with a black cross on them; the legs and antennæ are black. The short grey larva is flat underneath, arched on the back, and covered with hairs. The sides are of an olive hue, and the little legs and head are black. It ejects a drop of blackish fluid from the mouth when touched. When full grown, which takes about a fortnight, the larva measures about two lines in length; the average length of the perfect Beetle is about three lines. Although this insect does not actually destroy the plants, it inflicts much damage on the foliage, and checks the growth of the stems after they have attained some size, in consequence of which the foliage becomes much less in the next season. The eggs are fixed to the shoots, and are small, dark, pointed bodies. The larvæ do the harm, as they feed on the bark and tender portions of the plants. The mature Beetles should be picked off by hand, and, by commencing early enough in the season, their numbers will be greatly reduced. Syringing the plants with water, heated to a temperature that will not injure the plants, is found a useful method for removing the grubs.

_White Hellebore._ Freshly-ground White Hellebore, sprinkled over the foliage while it is damp, and repeating the operation at intervals of about eight days for a season, will generally effect a riddance; but the following will usually be found better in such cases. Neither must be applied until after cutting ceases, as they are very poisonous.

_Paris Green._ This, mixed and used as for Cherry Fly (_see_ =Black Fly=), will generally got rid of the Beetle, if applied about thrice each season for two years. It should, however, only be used in severe cases.

_Soot_, applied in the same manner as White Hellebore, and in liberal quantities, will, in a season or two, clear the beds. If a bushel of salt be mixed with each twenty bushels of soot, it will enhance the effect.

=ASPARAGUS KNIFE.= The Asparagus Knife consists of a strong blade fixed in a handle. There are, or were, three kinds employed: In one form, the blade was blunt on both sides, straight, with a sharp tip, and not unlike a small chisel. Another had its blade slightly hooked, and serrated at one end. But the best is that now almost universally employed, and which is illustrated by Fig. 162.

=ASPASIA= (from _aspazomai_, I embrace; the column embraced by the labellum). ORD. _Orchidaceæ_. A genus of elegant stove Epidendrum-like epiphytal orchids, with the lip united to the column, and broad, thin pseudo-bulbs. The name Aspasia is now and then met with attached to a totally different genus. Salisbury gave it to a liliaceous plant which is now referred to _Ornithogalum_. For culture and propagation, _see_ =Stanhopea=.

=A. epidendroides= (Epidendrum-like).* _fl._ whitish yellow; sepals linear oblong, acute; petals obtuse, concave, lateral lobes of lip roundish, entire, middle lobe crenated emarginate. February. Pseudo-bulbs oblong, two-edged. _h._ 1ft. Panama, 1833.

=A. lunata= (crescent-marked).* _fl._ green, white, and brown, solitary; sepals and petals linear obtuse, spreading; lip three-lobed, lateral lobes short, middle one flat, nearly square, wavy. February. Pseudo-bulbs oblong, two-edged. _h._ 1ft. Rio Janeiro, 1843.

=A. papilionacea= (butterfly-like).* _fl._, sepals and petals yellowish, mottled with brown lines on their internal inferior halves; lip fiddle-shape, its back very great, elliptic, apiculate; an orange-coloured area stands at its base, a wide violet disc before and around it. _h._ 9in. Costa Rica, 1876. Distinguished from _A. lunata_ in having thirteen keels at the base of the lip, which is higher inserted, and in the echinulate anther. It is a beautiful but rare novelty.

=A. psittacina= (parrot-like).* _fl._, sepals and petals light green, with brown transverse bars, which sometimes consist of separate stripes, at other times of confluent ones; the fiddle-shaped lip shows two keels and a few purplish dots over its top; the column is brown at its top, then violet, and white at the base. Ecuador, 1878. It has a raceme of several flowers, usually one-sided, bent over.

=A. variegata= (variegated).* _fl._ green, spotted with yellowish red; sepals linear oblong; petals somewhat rhomboid, acute; lateral lobes of lip recurved, middle one fleshy, serrated. February. _h._ 9in. Panama, 1836. Deliciously sweet-scented in the morning.

=ASPEN.= _See_ =Populus tremula=.

=ASPERA.= Rough, with hairs or points.

=ASPERULA= (from _asper_, rough; in allusion to the leaves). Woodruff. ORD. _Rubiaceæ_. Hardy herbs, rarely small shrubs. Flowers terminal and axillary, in fascicles. Leaves opposite, with one, two, or three stipulas on each side; they are therefore called four to eight in a whorl, but between the uppermost leaves there are no stipulas. Stems and branches usually tetragonal. Most of the species are very pretty when in flower, and are, therefore, well adapted for borders, rockwork, and shady places, in almost any garden soil. Propagated by divisions of the roots during spring and early summer. Herbaceous perennials, except where otherwise stated.

=A. azurea-setosa= (blue-bristly). A synonym of _A. orientalis_.

=A. calabrica= (Calabrian). A synonym of _Putoria calabrica_.

=A. cynanchica= (Cynanche-like). _fl._ on erect branches, forming a fastigiate corymb, white or bluish-coloured, elegantly marked with red lines, or sometimes pure white. Summer. _l._ four in a whorl; floral ones lanceolate-linear, acuminately awned; lower ones small, oblong, upper ones opposite. Plant glabrous, erectish. _h._ 9in. to 12in. England.

=A. hirta= (hairy). _fl._ white at first, changing to pink, with oblong divisions. July and August. _l._ usually six in a whorl, four towards the upper part, linear, hairy, deep green. _h._ 3in. Pyrenees, 1817. A charming but rare little alpine, thriving best in a rather damp position on the rockery.

=A. longiflora= (long-flowered).* _fl._ whitish, yellowish inside, and reddish outside; tube of corolla elongated; fascicles terminal, pedunculate; bracteas small, subulate. Summer. _l._ four in a whorl, linear; lower ones small, obovate; upper ones opposite. Stems weak, numerous, from the same neck, erectish, glabrous. _h._ 6in. Hungary, 1821.

=A. montana= (mountain).* _fl._, corollas pink, four-cleft, scabrous externally; in fascicles. June, July. _l._ linear; lower ones six in a whorl; middle ones four; upper ones opposite; floral leaves linear. Stem weak, glabrous. _h._ 6in. to 8in. Hungary, 1801.

=A. odorata= (sweet-scented).* Sweet Woodruff. _fl._ snowy white; corymbs terminal, pedunculate, usually trifid, each division bearing about four flowers. May, June. _l._ eight in a whorl, lanceolate, smooth, with serrulately scabrous edges. Stems tetragonal, simple, erect, or ascending. _h._ 6in. to 12in. Britain. This very pretty little plant is scentless when fresh, but, when dried, it diffuses an odour like that of spring grass; and when kept among clothes, it not only imparts an agreeable perfume to them, but preserves them from insects.

=A. orientalis= (Oriental).* _fl._ sky blue, in terminal heads; bracts of involucre shorter than the flowers. Summer. _l._ lanceolate, bristly, about eight in a whorl. _h._ 1ft. Caucasus, 1867. A charming little, profuse blooming, hardy annual, bearing clusters of fragrant flowers, admirably adapted for bouquet making. SYN. _A. azurea-setosa_. See Fig. 163.

=A. taurina= (bull). _fl._, corollas white, elongated; corymbs pedunculate, axillary, fasciculately umbellate, involucrated; bracteas ciliated. April to June. _l._ four in a whorl, ovate-lanceolate, three-nerved, with finely ciliated margins. Plant smoothish, erect. _h._ 1ft. South Europe, 1739.

=A. tinctoria= (Dyers'). _fl._ white, reddish on the outside; usually trifid. June. _l._ linear; lower ones six in a whorl; middle ones four; and the uppermost ones opposite; floral leaves ovate. Plant procumbent, unless supported. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. long, purplish. Europe, 1764.

=ASPHALT.= Artificial Asphalt is now generally used in England for footpaths, &c. The recipes are various, one of the best being the following: Lime rubbish two parts, coal ashes one part (both must be very dry), sifted very fine; mix them, and leave a hole in the middle of the heap, wherein pour boiling hot coal tar; mix well together. When as stiff as mortar, lay it down, 3in. thick, on a dry and previously well-levelled surface. A boy should follow with dry, finely-sifted sand, distributing just enough to prevent his boots sticking to the tar. Two men should be employed for the tarring, whilst another should attend to the boiling operation. Only just enough tar to last ten minutes must be taken from the furnace at one time, as, if it be not boiling, the walks will become soft under the action of very hot sun. This may be repeated every three years. It is imperative that the surface, lime, coal ashes and sand be perfectly dry, and that the days selected for the operation be very fine, the hotter the better. Another excellent plan is that of using gas lime and coal ashes. There must be a firm foundation and smooth surface. Spread the gas lime to about 1-1/2in. deep, and level with the back of a spade. Over this place a thin layer of coal dust, and well roll. The work is then complete.

=ASPHODEL.= _See_ =Asphodelus=.

=ASPHODELINE.= ORD. _Liliaceæ_. A genus of plants allied to _Asphodelus_, but distinguished from it by having erect leafy stems. They thrive in any ordinary garden soil. Propagated by division.

=A. brevicaulis= (short-stemmed). _fl._ in lax, often panicled racemes, yellow, veined with green. _l._ subulate, ascending, lower ones 4in. to 6in. long. Stem slender, often flexuose. Orient.

=A. damascena= (Damascene). _fl._ white, in dense generally simple racemes, 6in. to 12in. long. _l._ in dense rosette, 6in. to 9in. long, subulate. Stem simple, erect. _h._ 1-1/2ft. to 2ft. Asia Minor.

=A. liburnica= (Liburnian). _fl._ yellow, striped with green, in generally simple lax racemes, 6in. to 9in. long. Stem simple, erect, strict, 1ft. to 2ft. high, upper half naked. South Europe.

=A. lutea= (yellow). _fl._ yellow, fragrant, in a dense, very long, straight, simple raceme, in the axils of buff-coloured bracts, which are nearly as long as the flowers. Summer. _l._ numerous, awl-shaped, triangular, furrowed, smooth, dark green, marked with lines of a paler tint; root leaves tufted. Stem 3ft. or 4ft. high. Sicily, 1596. The best known and handsomest species. SYN. _Asphodelus luteus_.

=A. l. fl.-pl.= This resembles the species, but the flowers are double, and last much longer than those of the typical form; it is a very pretty plant.

=A. taurica= (Taurian). _fl._ white, striped with green, in generally simple dense racemes, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 2in. wide. Stem simple, erect, 1ft. to 2ft. high, densely leafy at base of raceme. Asia Minor, &c. SYN. _Asphodelus tauricus_.

=A. tenuior= (slenderer). _fl._ yellow, in simple lax-flowered racemes, 3in. to 4in. long, 2in. wide. Stem simple lower half leaf, upper naked, 1ft. Orient. SYN. _Asphodelus tenuior_.

=ASPHODELUS= (from _a_, not, and _sphallo_, to supplant; in allusion to the beauty of the flowers). Asphodel. ORD. _Liliaceæ_. Very pretty hardy herbaceous perennials, with fleshy fasciculated roots. Perianth white or yellow, of six equal spreading segments; stamens six, hypogynous, alternately long and short. Leaves usually radical, tufted, narrow, or triquetrous. All the species enumerated thrive in good deep sandy loam, and are very suitable for borders and shrubberies. Propagated by division of the root, which is best done in early spring.

=A. æstivus= (summer). _fl._ white. Summer. _h._ 2ft. Spain, 1820.

=A. albus= (white).* _fl._ white; peduncles clustered the length of the bracts. May. _l._ linear, keeled, smooth. Stem naked, simple. _h._ 2ft. South Europe, 1596.

=A. creticus= (Cretan).* _fl._ yellow. July. _l._ filiform, striated, toothed, ciliated. Stem leafy, naked above, branched. _h._ 2ft. Crete, 1821.

=A. fistulosus= (pipe-stalked). _fl._ white. July, August. _l._ upright, striated, subulate, fistular. Stem naked. _h._ 18in. South Europe, 1596.

=A. luteus= (yellow). A synonym of _Asphodeline lutea_.

=A. ramosus= (branchy). _fl._ large, white, with a reddish-brown line in the middle of each segment, springing from the axils of ovate-lanceolate bracts, and in very long dense racemes. Summer. _l._ sword-shaped, stiff, sharply keeled below, channelled above. Stem much branched. _h._ 4ft. to 5ft. South Europe, 1829.

=A. Villarsii= (Villars'). _fl._ white; raceme dense, elongated; bracts dark brown. Stem simple or rarely branched. _h._ 1ft. to 2ft. Eastern France. See Fig. 164.

=ASPIDISTRA= (from _aspidiseon_, a little round shield; in reference to the form of the flower). SYN. _Porpax_ (of Salisbury). Including _Plectogyne_. ORD. _Liliaceæ_. Hardy, or nearly hardy, evergreen, foliage plants. Flowers insignificant, produced close to the ground, remarkable for the curious mushroom-like stigma, by which this genus is characterised. They thrive in almost any ordinary garden soil, but are best grown in rich loam, leaf soil, and sand; plenty of moisture being allowed. Propagated by suckers.

=A. elatior= (taller).* _l._ oblong, large, on long petioles, leathery; plant stemless. _h._ 1-1/2ft. to 2ft. Japan, 1835. This very easily cultivated and quite hardy foliage plant is much grown for window gardening and other decorative purposes, for which it is well suited.

=A. e. variegata= (variegated).* A fine variety with alternately-striped green and white leaves.

=A. lurida= (lurid). _fl._ purple. July. _l._ oblong-lanceolate, on long petioles. _h._ 1ft. to 1-1/2ft. China, 1822. A very graceful species, with long evergreen leaves. It is an effective plant for the outdoor garden during summer, and is nearly, if not quite, hardy. See Fig. 165.

=A. punctata= (dotted). _l._ lanceolate, on long stalks. _h._ 1ft. China. This is very closely allied to _A. elatior_, but of inferior value.

=ASPIDIUM= (from _aspidion_, a little buckler; in allusion to the form of the involucre). Shield Fern. ORD. _Filices_. Including _Cyclodium_, _Cyclopeltis_, _Cyrtomium_, _Phanerophlebia_, and _Polystichum_. Stove, greenhouse, or hardy ferns. Sori sub-globose, dorsal or terminal on the veinlets; involucre orbicular, fixed by the centre. They thrive in a compost of sandy peat with a little loam. Several species are admirably adapted for the indoor fernery. The hardy species are best grown in the shade; a little sandstone should be incorporated with the soil. For general culture, _see_ =Ferns=.

=A. acrostichoides= (Acrostichum-like).* _sti._ 6in. to 8in. long, densely scaly below. _fronds_ 1ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to 6in. broad; pinnæ of the lower half barren, 2in. to 3in. long, 1/4in. broad, spinoso-serrated throughout, auricled at the base above; the pinnæ of the upper half fertile, much smaller. _sori_ occupying the whole under side. North America. SYN. _Polystichum acrostichoides_. Hardy.

=A. a. grandiceps= (large-crested).* A very handsome fern, having the apices of the fronds and pinnæ heavily crested; equally desirable for the hardy or temperate fernery. Of garden origin.

=A. a. incisum= (incised).* A variety with the pinnules deeply cut and acutely pointed.

=A. aculeatum= (sharp-pointed).* The Hard Shield Fern. _sti._ tufted, 6in. to 12in. long, more or less scaly. _fronds_ 1ft. to 3ft. long, 6in. to 12in. broad, ovate-lanceolate; lower pinnæ close, lanceolate, 4in. to 6in. long, 1/2in. to 3/4in. broad; pinnules ovate-rhomboidal, unequal sided, auricled on the upper base; teeth aristate. sori nearer the midrib than the edge. A variable and hardy species, common throughout the world. SYN. _Polystichum aculeatum_. _A. a. proliferum_ is a proliferous Australian form. _A. a. vestitum_ has the rachis densely clothed to the point, both with reddish-brown fibrillose and large lanceolate dark brown scales. See Fig. 166.