Copyright, 1899, by 

 rUORISTS' PUBl^lStllMG CO., 520-535 Caxton Bulldlnft, CtllCAGO. 



Vol. m. 



CHICAGO AND NEW YORK, APRIL 27. 1899. 



No. 74 



ADIANTUM TETRAPHYLLUM. 



Among the less common species of 

 maiden-hair ferns Adiantum tetra- 

 phyllum is deserving of special men- 

 tion, and some idea of its general out- 

 line may be had from the illustration 

 which accompanies this note. But un- 

 fortunately an ordinary photograph 

 fails to show us the fine distinctions 

 of coloring that present themselves in 

 the living plant, and in consequence 

 we are compelled to fall back upon 

 cold type for our descriptions. 



The plant in question has been found 

 in fern collections for many years 

 past, and has produced an occasional 

 variation in form from time to time, 

 though it is not a notably prolifie spe- 

 cies, perhaps the best of these varia- 

 tions from the type being that known 

 as A. tetraphyllum gracile, in which 

 the pinnae are rather narrower than 

 those of the original species and the 

 young fronds show a higher coloring 

 than is found on the type. 



A. tetraphyllum may be classed as 

 a moderate grower, the fronds reach- 



ing a height of 12 to 15 inches, and are 

 usually four times divided, or rather 

 divided into four segments. While un- 

 folding the young fronds are frequent- 

 ly bright pink, this color gradually 

 fading as the frond develops, until the 

 mature leaf becomes dark green. 



This species prefers warm house 

 treatment, is evergreen, and grows 

 best in a rather loose and open com- 

 post. It requires plenty of water at 

 the root, but during the winter espe- 

 cially should not be watered overhead 

 frequently, or the fronds are liable to 

 become rusty. Snails seem to have a 

 special liking for the young foliage of 

 A. tetraphyllum, and close watching 

 is required to get the best of these 

 pests. W. H. TAPLIN. 



CYCLAMEN. 



Adiantum Tetraphyllum, 



A subscriber writes: "Let me know 

 through the Review what to do and 

 how to keep cyclamen bulbs for the 

 summer and what time in fall to 

 start them." 



Presumably subscriber alludes to old 

 bulbs, i. e., bulbs that flowered last 

 winter and are now more than a year 

 old. It used to be the fashion to 

 keep over cyclamens two and even 

 three years, but this is seldom done 

 now. It is more profitable to raise 

 plants every year by sowing in Sep- 

 tember, for eTitra fine plants, and De- 

 cember and January for later crops. 



It you want to try the old bulbs an- 

 other year there are two methods: 

 Stand the plants, after flowering is 

 done, outside where they will not re- 

 ceive the broiling suns of summer and 

 water only occasionally, just enough 

 to keep the bulbs from shriveling. 

 Start growing in September by shak- 

 ing oft all the old soil; cut off most 

 of the roots and start growing either 

 in cold frame or greenhouse; or, you 

 can shake off the soil, trim back roots 

 and plant out of doors in good soil 



