Ferns for Drawing-room Decoration 



79 



are bipinnate, and bear young plants upon the 

 ends, spreading, and dark green, the foot- 

 stalks being clothed with large dark chafty 

 scales. 



P. coriaceuni. — Fronds tripinnate, about 

 3 feet in length, the pinnae leathery in tex- 

 ture, and dark green ; the fronds are spread- 

 ing and gracefully arched, forming a noble 

 ornament where space can be aftbrded it. 



F. vestitinn. — This is a fine plant, having 

 bipinnate fronds some i8 inches long, the 

 pinnse being of a rich bright green, whilst 

 the rachis and stipes are densely clothed 

 with large chafty scales. 



Fteris hastata. — This very fine plant is 

 remarkable for its vivid dark green hastate 

 pinnae and black stipes, which give it more 

 the appearance of a Maiden-hair than a 

 Pteris ; the fronds are bipinnate, and grow 

 some 2 feet long. This plant should find a 

 place in every collection. 



P. argjita. — A plant of robust habit, 

 growing some 4 feet high ; fronds pinnate, 

 the pinnae being pinnatifid ; the fine light 

 green of the fronds is very cheering, and 

 where space can be afforded, it will form 

 a grand object. 



P. cretica. — This plant has pinnate fronds, 

 about I foot in height ; the pinnee are long and 

 bright green. 



P. cretica atbo-lineata. — A variety of the 

 preceding, with darker green fronds, and, in 

 addition, ornamented with a band of white, 

 which occupies the centre of each pinnae. 



P. longifolia. — An old garden ' plant, and 

 very ornamental ; the fronds are erect, pin- 

 nate, some 18 inches high, and dark green. 



P. argyrcca. — A grand and very effective 

 plant ; fronds broad and spreading, growing 

 from I to upwards of 4 feet in length ; the 

 ground colour is of an intense metallic white, 

 each pinnai being beautifully margined with 

 dark green. 



P. serrulata. — A superb kind for the ama- 

 teur, as it is so useful for bouquet-making in 

 addition to its ornamental appearance when 

 used for in-door decoration ; the fronds are 

 pinnate and spreading, pinna; long, linear, 

 pend'-ilous, and light green. 



P. serrulata eristata. — This resembles the 

 preceding, but has a beautiful curled crest 

 upon the end of each pinnae. 



P. ireviula. — A fine noble growing plant, 

 somewhat resembling P. arguta, yet abun- 

 dantly distinct, with broad spreading vivid 

 green fronds. 



Thavmopteris aiistralasica. — This is the 

 Australian Bird-nest Fern, which must not 

 be confounded with T, nidus, which is too 

 often done ; the fronds are erect, narrow at 

 the base, Avidening upwards, entire and vivid 

 green ; it is a noble plant, deserving extensive 

 cultivation. 



Woodxvardia radicans. — This noble Fern 

 is perhaps the most effective plant for a large 

 vase upon the top of a pedestal ; the fronds 

 are beautifully arched and pendulous, pinnae 

 broad, and rich deep green in colour. 



Before quitting this subject, I would im- 

 press upon the minds of my readers the 

 necessity of buying only those plants which 

 are sufficiently large to be effective at once, 

 for even under the best treatment the growth 

 of plants when kept in the dwelling-house is 

 very much slower than when they have the 

 advantage of a plant house; and I have known 

 much disappointment accrue from the use of 

 small things that required to be well grown up 

 before they can become effective. Ferns re- 

 quire an abundance of water at their roots, 

 and when used in the dwelling-house they 

 should be carefully tended to prevent them 

 suffering from the arid atmosphere which 

 pervades the dwelling apartments. This, and 

 an occasional syringing, to remove any 

 dust from the leaves, will be all the care 

 necessary to keep them in good health, and 

 enable them to cheer the heart of all be- 

 holders with their elegant and graceful crown 

 of leaves. 



It must not be supposed that we consider 

 it essential to use the whole of the kinds 

 named here ; but as tastes differ, even in the 

 love of Ferns, the descriptions will enable 

 each person to gratify themselves, and to 

 select only those which are the most beauti- 

 ful, according to their own peculiar views and 

 requirements. — Vive Vale. 



