THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 195 



Pfltzer is another grand variety, with orange-scarlet flowers. In 

 Triomphe, Triomphe de Lorraine, and Triomplie de Thumesnil, we 

 have three good varieties, of different shades of red and crimson- 

 scarlet. I have one or two other passable varieties, but a3 they are 

 not equal to the above, I have refrained from naming them. The 

 above recommended are a good collection to begin with. 



INDOOR CULTURE OF HARDY FERNS. 



BT GEORGE GEAT, 



Head Gardener, Norbiton Hall, Kingston. 



|T may perhaps seem strange to advise the growth of hardy 

 plants under glass, whilst we have so many tender things 

 that require shelter and protection. I hope, however, 

 to show, in the course of my remarks, that I am well 

 justified in so doing. In the neighbourhood of all large 

 towns there are hundreds of villas which have little glass structures, 

 facetiously termed by the builders "conservatories." These are 

 generally placed in a position that renders their being heated by the 

 ordinary flue or hot-water apparatus simply impossible, without 

 having a chimney smoking away under the bedroom window. They 

 are also frequently overshadowed with the adjoining walls in a way 

 to prevent a glimpse of sun ever reaching them, besides a large pro- 

 portion of the common daylight being obscured. To grow tender 

 plants, portable stoves — which are in most cases portable nuisances 

 — have to be brought into action. When plants that require an 

 abundance of light and air, and protection from frost, are attempted 

 to be grown, general failure is the result, and the owner is exposed 

 to annoyance and expense for nothing. How can it be otherwise ? 

 How can it be expected for amateurs, who have very little practical 

 knowledge of plant-growing, to succeed under circumstances that 

 would baffle us professionals ? But, nevertheless, the people so 

 situated are worthy of our sympathy, and we are bound to help them 

 if we can. 



To make this class of house an ornament to the garden, and a 

 pleasure to the owner, plants must be grown that will thrive under 

 the adverse conditions pointed out above. Hardy ferns aro better 

 adapted for this work than anything I am acquainted with, unless 

 the position be very sunny, and then succulent plants are better. 

 They will not grow without attention or trouble, but they can be 

 grown with less care than the heaps of soft-wooded stuff with which 

 these places are generally filled ; and, what is of more importance 

 still, no heating apparatus is required : all the bother and expense 

 in that direction are thus entirely dispensed with. The form of the 

 house must decide whether the plants are to be grown in pots or 

 planted out. There is much pleasure in dealing with them in both 

 ways ; but where a little rockery can be made, planting out is by far 

 the best plan. They will grow with greater freedom, and with less 



