240 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



This fact, then, should not be overlooked in relation to exotic aquatics. 

 This is one of the reasons why we had recourse to the applying of 

 warmth to the water by the medium of a Macphail pit, as in the case 

 of the flowering of the Pontederia. As I have proved that aquatics 

 may be so managed as to grow and be flowered successfully, depend- 

 ing for sustenance entirely on clear water and heat, I would ask, 

 would not such plants prove a novelty as well as an acquisition to 

 our horticultural exhibitions were they to be exhibited in glass vessels ? 

 It may be asked, Why propose glass vessels instead of earthenware 

 for exhibiting such aquatics as need no soil to assist their maturity ? 

 My reply is this, I have found, on inspecting the roots, that not only 

 were they remarkable for their beautiful feather-like formation, but 

 they presented to the eye such a rich combination of colour, that, 

 apart from extravagancy of illustration, could only be compared to 

 the transcendent beauty of the rainbow. 



THE LADY FERN. 



!HIS is by some considered the most elegant of all the 

 British Alices, but we may reasonably question if it is 

 so. The common Brake and the common Lastrea are 

 each so beautiful in their way, that I would not, by any 

 approach to an i^ose dixit, pronounce the Lady Eern to be 

 superior in beauty to either of them. But there can be no question 

 that it is beautiful, indescribably beautiful, both in the delicate 

 divisions of the fronds, in their graceful arching outlines, and their 

 fresh, lively tone of yellowish green. It needs no praise ; it is 

 admired by all who can appreciate elegance of form. And among 

 the thousands of ferns in cultivation, there are but few that can 

 compare with it in captivating grace, and readiness of adaptation to 

 a variety of circumstances. 



Athyrium Filix-fcemina, the " Lady Eern," is usually met with 

 in damp, shady hollows, in peaty soil, or in ancient rocky debris, 

 where water trickles constantly, or on moist banks, where for many 

 years decayed leaves have collected on a foundation of mellow hazelly 

 loam. When cultivated in the garden, a shady, moist spot is indis- 

 pensable ; and a mixture consisting of equal parts mellow loam, 

 peat, and good leaf-mould will grow it in perfection. It will grow 

 in turfy peat alone most luxuriantly ; but if neither peat nor leaf 

 soil are to be had, a mixture of good mellow loam, and one-third 

 part of rotten cocoa-nut fibre, will answer very well, provided 

 moisture and shade are also provided. I have no doubt spent hops, 

 when quite decayed, would very well take the place of leaf soil, 

 where the latter is not obtainable, and I know from experiment that 

 hot-bed dung, when decayed into a clean powdery dust, will suit it 

 as well as any material it was ever planted in ; but if it is not rotted 

 to dust it will not do. One of tlie finest plants I have ever seen is 

 planted in the gi-avel walk, in a hole made for the purpose, and in 



