48 THE FLORIST. 



fronds, in an early or more advanced state of development, the plant 

 very much resembles in appearance a marvellous great lichen or 

 fungus. 



The two fronds, as represented issuing from the centre, are fer- 

 tile ones, produced annually ; the fructification is situated in the 

 sinus, in a large triangular patch, of a rich brown colour on the 

 under surface. When these fronds are mature, they fall sponta- 

 neously from the plant, being attached by an articulation, and are 

 of no further service. The u])per portions are produced alternately, 

 right and left, covering the entire surface of the side as they expand ; 

 the one shewn in the figure is expanding towards the left hand. 

 When arrived at maturity they become brown, ultimately fall and 

 decay, for the support of the subsequent ones that are forming the 

 future plant. 



The present sjDecies was introduced into England, in a living 

 state, in 1843, from the Illawara district in New South Wales, by 

 J. T. Bidwill, Esq. ; but long before that period it was known by 

 dried specimens. It is cultivated by being attached to a board sus- 

 pended in the shady humid atmosphere of an ordinary plant stove. 

 The plant is at present about three feet in diameter, very healthy, 

 and growing vigorously. 



Kew, Jan. 11, 1850. J. Houlston. 



REVIEWS. 



A Packet of Seeds saved by an Old Gardener. Chapman and Hall. 



We have purchased a dozen of this little ninepenny work, with the 

 hope that its distribution may set others thinking as much as it has 

 done ourselves. We are all apt to get into a habit of looking at 

 things in one point of view, and it is well when a trifle of this sort 

 places them before us in a fresh light. We should have been much 

 better pleased had the writer's name been attached to this produc- 

 tion ; but this shall not prevent the expression of our hope that these 

 seeds may be sown broadcast, and bear fruit abundantly in both 

 masters and men. Our readers may like the opinions of others 

 quite as well as our own ; and coming, the first from a gentleman 

 and large employer, and the other from a practical gardener, they 

 may be considered, perhaps, as an index of the opinions likely to be 

 entertained by the right-thinking portion of both sections. The 

 first says, " Thank you most heartily for the * Packet of Seeds ;' I 

 hardly know when I have had such a treat as this morning after 

 breakfast ; I could not leave, my chair until I had finished them, and 

 then exclaimed. How I wish there were more !" The practical gar- 

 dener observes, " The observations and hints recorded by the old 

 gardener are well worth the attention of all. Some of us that have 

 roughed it through so much of the journey of life, have herein re- 

 called to our recollection much we have known ourselves, or seen 



