THE FLOEAL WOELD AND QAEDEN GUIDE. 305 



see how they will thank you for it. Eut when autumn comes reduce 

 the supply, and gradually dry them off for their accustomed season 

 of rest. Forgive this digression. The Acrostichum and Caladiums 

 both require an unlimited supply of water while growing, and a 

 varying period of rest in winter (the fern, of course, must not be 

 allowed to become dry even then, while the Caladiums may). This 

 is my only excuse for thus coupling them. 



The fronds of the Acrostichum are, when full-grown, full five 

 feet long, and pinnate, or, in other words, only once-divided ; the 

 upper part of the mature fronds being covered with sori on the 

 lower side. The pinnje (or divisions of the fronds) are from nine 

 inches to a foot iu length, quite smooth, and of a lively green colour. 

 The fronds rise from a short upright stem, and seldom does the 

 plant attempt to make offsets ; consequently, like the Hemidictyon, 

 and all plants of a similar habit, it needs occasionally to be renewed 

 from spores. You cannot continue to grow a specimen of this for a 

 whole lifetime, as in some other species ; but this is no great draw- 

 back, for upon the first symptoms of wearing-out in your specimen 

 you can easily raise some young ones from spores, which, with 

 proper treatment, will quickly rival their parent. This Acrostichum 

 would form a magnificent specimen for exhibition; and, curiously 

 enough, one seldom sees it exhibited, although the plant has long 

 been in cultivation. It would make one of the best back-row. plants 

 that could be sel'^cted, being so entirely distinct in character from 

 any and every other fern grown. 



ACTINOPTEBIS BADIATA, 



Acrostichum aurenm will only be found suitable for growth in a 

 garden where there is plenty of stove-room ; so, as we have to suit 

 the requirements of all classes, we must take as the subject of our 

 next gossip a small-growing gem which deserves to be cultivated 

 everywhere. The plant last mentioned has been introduced for 

 many years (fifty, the books tell us, though it is*still rare). The 

 next we select is among the newest of new plants ; in fact, it is so 

 scarce, that I have only once seen it growing. I have plenty of 

 specimens of it in my herbarium. The plant referred to is Actinop- 

 teris radiata. Such a pretty little thing is it, that you may cover a 

 full-grown specimen with your hand ; and the little fronds would 

 remind one of a miniature fan-palm. It is a native of India, and is 

 found as well in some parts of Africa, from Upper Egypt to the 

 Cape of Good Hope, and iu the islands of Bourbon and Madagascar. 

 I find mention made of this lovely fern in " Hortus Suburbanus 

 Calcuttcnsis," where it is said that most of the Indian ferns are 

 confined to the mountain districts and the west coast of the penin- 

 sula ; but this species, and Cheilanthes farinosa, are found in the hot 

 dry plains of India. It grows plentifully upon the old walls of 

 Madras, Agra, and other places, A capital figure of this fern is 

 given in a work which is much more rare than it ought to be^ — Sir 

 William J. Hooker's " Icoues Plantarum." It may at first seem 

 strange that one of the commonest Indian ferns was not sooner 

 introduced into our gardens, but this may easily be accounted for ; 



