144 THE FLORIST. 



season a watering with weak manure-water should be given once a 

 week. If thrip make its appearance, fumigation should be resorted 

 to, or the under side of the leaves syringed with weak tobacco-water. 

 Timely attention only in applying a remedy, if necessary, will pre- 

 vent the ravages of this pest from becoming detrimental to the health 

 of the plant through the destruction of its foliage. 



C. Cox. 



CULTIVATION OF TROPICAL FERNS AND LYCOPODS. 



This highly interesting tribe of plants was at one time scarcely cul- 

 tivated ; but within the last few years they have become great favour- 

 ites. Ferns are very accommodating ; they will either grow in pots, 

 or do well planted out on rock-work at the end of a house ; some of 

 them being climbers, if they are placed near the end wall, they will 

 soon reach the top, if the wall be kept damp. We have a piece of 

 rock- work at the end of the Orchid-house, and on the top of the stones 

 there are about six inches of mould for the Ferns to grow in at the 

 back ; the wall is fourteen feet high, and it is covered with climbing 

 Ferns, of which Polypodium phymatodes and Acrosticum scandens 

 are the best. When planted in this way they form objects of great 

 beauty. Under the climbing Ferns we have other species which are 

 well adapted for planting out. At one corner there is a Tree Fern, 

 and at the other a Fan Palm. In the centre of the rock-work is 

 Asplenium nidus, a noble Fern, Polypodium eiFusum, Adiantum tra- 

 peziforme, Didymochlsena pulcherrima, and Polypodium aureum, all 

 of which are good species for planting out. 



The most suitable place for growing the different kinds of Ferns 

 and Lycopods is a stove or an Orchid-house, where there is plenty of 

 heat and moisture, with a temperature ranging from 50° to 60° in 

 winter. Most Ferns delight in shady places, in which they develope 

 their delightful green foliage to advantage ; growing, as they do, 

 during summer and winter, they are always interesting. 



Ferns are very useful for bouquets, some of them lasting fresh in 

 water for a long time ; and intermixed with flowers they produce a 

 charming effect. Some of the dwarfer-growing kinds are best suited 

 for the purpose I have just mentioned, such as Adiantum cuneatum, 

 A. trapeziforme, A. assimile, A. formosum, together with Darea cicu- 

 taria, and many others. Ferns succeed well planted in glass cases in 

 a warm room ; at the bottom of the case there should be about three 

 inches of drainage, then a layer of moss, filling in with the same com- 

 post that is used for pot Ferns. This done, plant, and finish by 

 giving some water to settle the soil about the roots ; the case should 

 be kept close for a few days, until they have begun to emit new roots, 

 then give a little air. 



A good compost for Ferns and Lycopods is turfy loam, peat, and 

 leaf-mould in equal parts, chopped into pieces with some river-sand, 

 mixing all well together ; the strong-growing species should have 



