228 



NOTES ON NEW PLANTS. 



ATHYBIUM PILIX-FEMINA, var. COIlTMBIl"i:RtJM. 



The lovely Lady-fern, the most graceful 

 and delicate of our native Filices, is in 

 itself one of the most beautiful objects on 

 which a fern-grower can lavish his care, and 

 as it thrives to admiration in any good turfy 

 or loamy soil in a wet and shady situation, 

 it is one that can be used freely in the hardy 

 fernery. But the varieties of ferns are those 

 which attract most attention, especially for 

 pot-culture, and of the Lady-fern, we have 



covered with sori, of a bright reddish brown 

 tint, which, with the brown tinge of the 

 caudex, gives a rich warm hue to the under 

 side of the fronds, which has a pleasing 

 effect in contrast to the delicate green of the 

 upper sides. The tufted growth of corym>- 

 biferum is after the fashion of that in multi- 

 Jidum, not so full, but more distinct ; or, 

 rather, it is like crispum, with a more up- 

 right habit and less delicacv of structure. 



■seven very distinct varieties, all of them 

 curious and beautiful, and of the^e imt/liji- 

 dum and crispum are, perhaps, the most 

 popular; the latter is a telling exhibition 

 fern, very slender and delicate, with the 

 points of the fronds densely tufted and 

 crisped, so as to bear a close resemblance to 

 parsley. The variety corymhiferum, is alto- 

 gether new and peculiar, and what is espe- 

 cially interesting, it is fertile, for we have 

 three of its prettily tufted fronds, well 



This is certainly one of the most beautiful 

 hard fern varieties we have, and as it will 

 do well in a suitable position out of doors, 

 we recommend our fern-loving readers to be- 

 come at once possessed of it. For greenhouse 

 culture and exhibition, it will prove a valu- 

 able acquisition. Mr. E. Cooling, of Mile 

 Ash Nurseries, Derby, has the stock, and is 

 now sending out strong plants. [Price 

 7s. Gd. each.] 



