76 



EECEEATIVE SCIENCE. 



from wliicli the arches sprmg. The eight 

 summits and the centre are hollow, that is, to 

 use gardeners' language, they have "pockets *' 

 of the proper width and depth to receive 

 flower-pots of what we call 4i8-size, the size 

 most used, and in which very large specimen- 

 plants may be grown. 



By this plan you accomplish two objects ; 

 you conform to the best principles of aqua- 

 rium management, by keeping out of the 

 tank all such plants as are unsuitable, and 

 you indulge your ferns with a course of 

 treatment which suits a certain number best 

 of anv. 



Flower-pot encased in Eock-work, partly plunged in 

 Water, for Ferns. 



I was at an expense of some pounds last 

 spring to make a tank with supply from 

 the New River, and siphon pipe to keep the 

 water to a proper level, expressly to grow 

 twoof our commonest ferns, Osrmmda regalis 

 and Athyriumf.f. They are in 9-inch pots, 

 plunged sis inches deep, and have become 

 magnificent specimens, well worthy of the 

 trouble bestowed upon them. Yet, the royal 

 fern is one of the very worst for pot-culture 

 under ordinary management. In the mode 

 of managing tanks which I am now advocat- 

 ing, the ferns need only to be properly chosen. 



and their growth will be marvellously per- 

 fect and luxuriant, provided the bottoms 

 of the pots only touch the surface of the 

 water, or are plunged in it not more than 

 two or three inches. When their season is 

 over, their removal is a simple affair of lifting 

 out the pot, which is easily replaced with 

 another, and so on ad infinitum. The lovely 

 Cystopteris fragilis, planted in one of Pas- 

 call's shallow cutting-pots, surfaced round 

 with Lycopodium denticulatum, makes a beau- 

 tiful ornament on the summit of a cromlech 

 in one of my tanks. It is usually two inches 

 deep in the water ; it grows with vigour and 



Flower-pot (flat shape, as in sketch) encased in Eock- 

 •work, wholly plunged in Water, for Lilies. 



delicacy, throws up numbers of new crowns, 

 and is much more persistent than under any 

 other method of management. If it casts its 

 fronds early, I cut them close over, and a new 

 crop starts at once ; but it rarely shows a 

 brown frond all the season, its habit is so 

 changed by this truly aquatic mode of cul- 

 ture, which is favoured by those convenient 

 conditions, shelter and shade. 



The ferns so used in the tank, repre- 

 sented above are : Scolopendrium angusti- 

 folium, Onoclea sensibilis, Asplenium adian- 

 tum nigrum; Osmunda gracilis. Plaiyloma 



