106 THE FLORIST. 



if we are to judge from the specimen forwarded to me. In this form 

 the pinnules appear to be much larger, and more deeply lobed, as 

 well as serrated, which may be attributed to the plants growing 

 under more favourable circumstances than Britain can lay claim to. 

 It will, however, be readily admitted, that Mrs. Ker is too accurate 

 a botanist to be much deceived in her exotic Fern of A. Capillus 

 Veneris. From its altogether apparently stronger habit, I would 

 fain hope that it will prove to be a plant of easier cultivation out 

 doors than our British form, which is at the best but a troublesome 

 subject in the fernery, if not provided with a well- sheltered and con- 

 stantly damp corner, which is not constructed without a considerable 

 degree of both trouble and expense. In a mixture of heath-mould, 

 light sandy loam, and silver- sand, it will submit to pot-culture freely. 

 I have seen it very fine in a Wardian case, where it was not too closely 

 shut up. 



CETERACH. 



C. OFFiciNARUM. This pretty little Fern is said by some to have 

 no real involucre ; but, in fact, the whole underside of the frond is 

 very conspicuously covered with chaffy scales, some of which may 

 perhaps perform the part of an involucre. Be this as it may, the 

 plant has from time to time been refeired to other genera, and under 

 such circumstances it perhaps cannot be better arranged than where 

 it now is. However, if associated at all, I for one should be disposed 

 to refer it to Scolopendrium, as what I consider, if not mistaken, to 

 be an involucre, corresponds better with that genus than any other. 

 It submits to cultivation readily, and forms a handsome and very 

 distinct object in the fernery. I can well remember many ^^ears ago 

 having seen it growing in great profusion on some rock- work in the 

 gardens at Sion House, where many of the plants were undoubtedly 

 seedlings. It is not a scarce Fern. 



Nursery, Foofs Cray. Robert Sim. 



HOW TO OBTAIN THE BEST 

 CUT BLOOMS OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS FOR EXHIBITION. 



At the risk of being blamed for devoting so many of our pages at this 

 season to the Chrysanthemum, we cannot refrain from furnishing 

 such of our readers as did not attend the last meeting of the Stoke 

 Newington Chrysanthemum Society with the admirable lecture de- 

 livered on that occasion by Mr. Taylor, and which is as follows : — 



" I shall confine my remarks to the practice I have pursued in 

 producing the beautiful blooms of this flower, for which our annual 

 exhibition is distinguished. That perseverance and watchfulness are 

 the only means by which we can hope to obtain success in our la- 

 bours is evident to all engaged in the cultivation of flowers ; without 

 assiduity on the part of the gardener or amateur, nothing beyond 



