230 THK FLORIt^T. 



on the Rose. All that is necessary further to remark here is, that 

 to insure a good bloom, good soil is indispensable ; and for the gene- 

 rality of Roses no mixture is better than good loam and rotten dung ; 

 but some of the Noisette, China, and Tea-scented varieties, being 

 more tender, require a lighter and drier soil and a warmer situation. 

 Another essential point is, keeping the young shoots free from 

 aphides; and this is easiest done by dipping the infested ends in 

 diluted tobacco-liquor. 



J. B. Whiting. 



REMARKS ON BRITISH FERNS. 



NO. VII. 



[Continued from p. 189.] 

 POLYPODIUM. 



This genus is readily distinguished from any of the preceding genera 

 by the absence of the involucre or indusium. 



1. P. vuLGARE. It is scarcely necessary to offer any remarks on 

 the cultivation of this common British Fern, as we find it growing 

 in almost all soils and situations. It certainly, however, luxuriates 

 most on the decayed stumps of trees in shady woods and hedge- 

 banks. The fronds are pinnatifid. 



P. vuLGARE, var. CAMBRicuM. Like many other monstrosities, 

 the P. cambricum far .surpasses the original form in elegance, as the 

 lobes or segments are all deeply and beautifully notched on their 

 margins, characters which it appears to retain under every sort of 

 cultivation. As an instance of the esteem in which this elegant 

 British Fern is held, I may mention that I send out more of it than 

 of any other kind that I possess, either native or exotic ; this is 

 easily accounted for, as, in all probability, the original station or 

 stations afforded only one solitary plant each, and for many years it 

 may have had to depend upon cultivation for its existence. 



P. VULGARE, var. BiFiDUM. In this the segments are divided at 

 their extremities ; and this is the only difference that exists between 

 it and the normal form. There are also a P. vulgare, var. serra- 

 tum, and some other very slight variations, which I consider to be 

 scarcely worthy of notice. 



2. P. DRYOPTERis. A vcry accommodating Fern under cultiva- 

 tion ; if planted in a dry part of the fernery in loam and peat, it will 

 increase rapidly, as it has a creeping root. It is usually found wild 

 in the north of England and Scotland, growing on old stone walls 

 and masses of broken rock, where it is exposed to all kinds of 

 weather ; it therefore may be considered extremely hardy, and well 

 calculated for all the purposes of out- door planting. 



3. P. PHEGOPTERis. This is not quite so plentiful as the last, 

 and generally affecting to grow in rather moist situations, among 

 rocks and loose stones, in sub -alpine countries, and more especially 



