206 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



notice of fern-growers, as suited to contribute ia a special manner 

 to the interest of a collection of acrogenous plants. I have all the 

 species that are known, and one of them I consider the most elegant 

 of all plants ever seen upon the face of the earth. This gem is called 

 Equisefum sylvaticum, one stem of which is represented in the 

 accompanying figure. If the reader can imagine a nine-inch pot, 

 with about fifty of these stems crowded together in it, all of them 

 arching over with exquisite grace, like feathers from the tails of 

 birds of Paradise, the colour the most tender shade of emerald 

 green, no apology will be needed for calling attention to it in these 

 pages, in which beautiful hardy plants have always received special 

 attention. 



Equisetum sylvaticum is a British plant, very scarce generally, 

 but plentiful enough in some districts. When met with it is usually 

 in peaty soil, beside a water-course in a shady wood, or on a bank 

 beside a ditch overhung with trees and rank herbage ; always in a 

 moist, shady spot, and if not in peat, in some light soil of similar 

 nature. My best plants in pots are kept under a stage, and have all 

 the drip that results from the watering of plants above them, 

 besides the water given them in the usual way, and their appearance 

 is so delightful, they so fascinate me that I never enter the house 

 where they are kept without having a peep at them. They are to 

 me a feast which never satiates, though I sometimes become tired of 

 flowers, especially after I have for weeks constantly been visiting 

 great gardens, and comparing and criticising bedding effects. We 

 have it also planted out in the shadiest and dampest part of a 

 rockery, in a cool fernery, and also in a shady part of the fernery 

 out-of-doors. It increases fast, and may, if desirable, be parted 

 annually in spring when it begins to grow; but to make a fine 

 specimen it should not be parted, but be shifted to a larger and 

 larger pot every year, and this should be done without breaking the 

 ball when the plant is shifted ; no, not even the crocks should be 

 removed. 



Another grnnd species is JEquisetum telmateia, which is of more 

 robust habit than the last, with regular whorls of branches, which 

 differ from those of sylvaticum, that they do not branch again. This 

 grows on dry sandy banks, and is tolerably common, especially in 

 the southern parts of England. It grows finely in the rockery if 

 planted in a shady spot, and though found wild in very dry positions, 

 I have never found it succeed except in a damp position, unless 

 assisted with frequent watering. Sandy peat is the best soil for it. 



Another and most beautiful species is E. umhrosuin. This is 

 very distinct and very rare. The whorls of branches are rather 

 crowded, and they all rise at a regular angle, and gracefully arch 

 over at their ends. This grows in very shady places, and requires 

 the same kind of cultivation. 



Equisetum palustre is another exquisitely beautiful plant. By 

 many this will be considered more beautiful than sylvaticum, for the 

 slender branches divide and subdivide into the most hair-like rami- 

 fications ; indeed, it looks as if constructed of hair, but in a manner 

 that would be impossible to human fingers even if only in imitation 



