THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 329 



Commencing with the Adiauticms, we liave the lovely A, cuneatum, 

 commonly called the " Maidenhair Fern ;'' A. fonnosum, a strong 

 grower, with large branching fronds. A. liispidum and A. pedatu7?i 

 are both handsome, and medium growers ; average height about twelve 

 inches. The latter is nearly or quite hardy. 



Passing from these, we come upon the AlsojjJulas. The species 

 belonging to tliis genus are tree ferns, of noble and majestic outlines, 

 suitable for large houses only. I have A. australis and A. excelsa 

 growing away finely. 



A large selection of Aspleniums might be made, for they are all 

 beautiful, but I shall content myself with naming the following, 

 which I consider to be the best in my collection : — A. hulbiferum, a 

 beautiful dense grower; A. dimorplium, A. nionantliemum proliferum, 

 and A. "pramorsum. 



Athyrium Goringianum tricolor must not be missed, for it is one 

 of the prettiest ferns I have. 



The Clieilanthes include a few fine subjects, but they are rather 

 difficult to manage until one gets used to them. G. eJegcms and G. 

 farinosa are both good, and will well repay a little extra trouble. 



Gibotium Barometz is a fine handsome free-growing fern, with 

 immense glossy green fronds. 



Distinct from all the foregoing, we have the Davallias. D. hul- 

 lata and D. Ganariensis ought to be in every collection. I wish my 

 readers could see my plants of them. 



The DicJcsonias are another magnificent genus of tree ferns. All 

 the species are good, whether large or small. When they are about 

 six feet high, with good heads, they give the fernery a grand appear- 

 ance, and as they overtop the dwarf growers, which I place under 

 the shelter of their large fronds, they do not take up much appre- 

 ciable room. I grow Antariica, which I consider equal in point of 

 beauty to any of them. 



From the giants we turn again to the dwarfs, and the first we 

 come to are the Doodias. J), caiidata and D. rupestris are both 

 charming little things. 



I have a few good specimens of the Gleichenias, but as they are 

 rather expensive to buy, I am almost afraid to say anything about 

 them. G. diclwtoma, G. liecistophjlla, and G. spehmcce, are the three 

 best species I have. These ought not to be taken in hand until the 

 first principles of fern-growing are mastered. 



We can also find several good things amongst the Lastreas^ such 

 as L. elef/ans, L. opaca, and L. Standlsliii. 



The lovely Leptopteris superha should be in every collection. It 

 requires to be grown under a glass, slightly elevated, and in a shady 

 corner, and the fronds should be frequently sprinkled. 



Litohrochia aurita and L. vesperUUonis are too coarse for limited 

 collections, but they have the qualification of a free habit, and on 

 that account will be useful to those who cannot well manage the more 

 delicate kinds ; I never grow more than one of each. In the spring 

 I turn the plants out of the pots, cut them into several pieces, and 

 then pot a piece of each, and throw the rest away. By shifting 

 them into larger pots, as they may require, through the season, I 



