THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 273 



is also of great width, with huge divisions, the lobes cut into slender 

 ribands and the ends of each tapering to a point ; this and cam- 

 bricum are the choicest of the series. 



Polystichutn angulare, the soft prickly shield fern, and its hand- 

 some associates P. aculeatum and P. lonchitis, grow to grand pro- 

 portions in the hardy fernery, and require scarcely any attention at 

 all. Loam, peat, and even sweepings of the potting-bench, suit 

 them almost eqvially well, provided they have plenty of water at the 

 root, a shady position, and are safe from drip. P. lonchitis is the 

 most particular as to soil, and will grow to the greatest perfection in 

 a well-drained mixture of turfy peat and silky loam. The varieties 

 of these species are less bewildering than those of some other British 

 ferns. Of P. angulare, the best is plumosum, with very elegantly 

 toothed lobes, richly crowded, and very symmetrical. Concinnum is a 

 rival of the last, but distiuct from it in its delicate shiny toothing 

 and rich green colour. Cristatum is exceedingly fine, the fronds 

 terminating in crests and tassels. Grandidens is beset with great 

 gaping teeth, and is a good subject for culture in cases. Latipes is 

 a giant with scaly stipes, the fronds thrice divided, and the pinnules 

 with an ear-like lobe at the outer base of each ; it is almost tropical 

 in style of growth, and will always pay for pot culture. Proli- 

 ferum is a great favourite with cultivators on account of the pretty 

 appearance of the little- bulbils produced on the pinnae, and its 

 truly graceful habit. Rotundatutn is unlike every other British 

 and exotic fern ; the fronds are lance-shaped, the primary pinnae of 

 even width throughout, and the pinnules quadrant or crescent- 

 shaped, and the terminal one of each set fan-shaped, or nearly 

 elliptical. 



Though the common Hart's Tongue, Scolopendrium viilgare, is- 

 the last of the species we shall have to name in this review, we are- 

 almost afraid to begin selecting, for there are no fewer than eighty- 

 two varieties enumerated, and as we know most of them, and possess a 

 considerable number, we should prefer to recommend the fern- 

 grower to take them all for better for worse, and by the prices 

 quoted in Mr. Sim's list, we find that a set of one of each would 

 cost just £38 17s. Gd., which may startle some of our readers who 

 happen to be novices in fern-growing. But we will endeavour to- 

 make a selection of the most curious and beautiful which are offered 

 at moderate prices. 



First for real beauty and a free-growing habit, Crispum, whicK 

 is like the species in its general outline, but more stiff and erect, 

 and beautifully waved and crisped from top to bottom. Next Alci- 

 corne, with huge fronds, breaking at the summit into huge bifid or 

 trifid segments or stags'-horns. Polyscupis undosum, the fronds 

 terminate in twisted horns, so beautifully as to appear crested : a. 

 gem for pot culture. Cristatum makes a charming companion to- 

 Polyscupis for pot culture ; it grows nearly erect, the fronds are 

 wavy, cordate at the base, and at the summit spreading into broad 

 semicircular fans. This does not attain any great size, has a lovely 

 green hue, and is always barren. The finest of all the crested 

 ScolopendriuQis, and the prettiest fern known for a pot specinaen or 



VOL. I. — NO. IX. 18 



