SEPTEMBER. 231 



where there is a little shade. Notwithstanding the difference in 

 their natural habitats, it appears to submit to cultivation equally 

 freely with P. dryopteris. They both thrive well with me in dry 

 and exposed situations. Root also creeping. 



4. P. CALCAREUM. Somc ycars ago, when we were compara- 

 tively strangers to each other, I found this Fern rather shy and im- 

 patient under cultivation ; in fact, I had been in the habit of losing 

 my entire stock for several winters in succession, until I found out 

 that the roots were disposed to resist both my fingers and the knife, 

 which, I confess, were at times unsparingly applied to them ; I w^ould 

 therefore recommend its being planted out in unbroken masses, if 

 from its habitats, and if out of pots, with the balls of earth entire. 

 It requires a more sheltered situation than either of the preceding, 

 as it is generally furnished with longer stems. 



I have now arrived at that part of my remarks on this genus, 

 where it may be expected that I should say something relative to 

 the distinctive characters of the last species, more especially as it 

 has often been suggested to me that they were no more than dif- 

 ferent forms of the same plant. To this I can only reply, that I have 

 cultivated them for many years, and always found them to retain 

 their respective characters. Notwithstanding that P. calcareum is 

 usually found upon chalk and limestone formations, it appears the 

 same after many years' cultivation as when taken from its habitats, 

 indeed if it had been disposed to run into either of the two, I think 

 I must have observed the transition. 



R. Sim. 



WINTERING THE CARNATION. 



As winter will soon approach us, perhaps the following plan of win- 

 tering the Carnation may prove acceptable. My frame stands on 

 legs, and has a false bottom eight inches from the ground, well 

 drilled with a 1 j-inch auger. On this bottom I put a layer of pot- 

 sherds and brick-rubbish, and on these my pots (48's, each containing 

 two plants) are placed. I then fill up to the rims with a compost of 

 three parts cinder-ashes and one part sawdust, with a small quantity 

 of powdered charcoal, all well mixed. In this mixture the plants 

 may be watered without the least fear of injury from mildew, &c., 

 as the water passes off freely, and no damp is generated in the frame 

 from the earth beneath. In this way I have grown Carnations, &c. 

 for a number of years, and have always had an extremely healthy 

 stock. I have false bottoms in my frames, because I use them for 

 other purposes, such as working Dahlias and growing Cucumbers 

 in, &c. 



Bermondsey. Alpha. 



