THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 195 



the present time one of the most beautiful objects of its kind we 

 have ever jet seen, and contributes, in a great degree, to the beauty 

 and richness of the display which is made by means of the plunging 

 system. It has been subjected to severe frosts, but is quite unhurt ; 

 its flowery tracery is as sliarp and brio^ht as at first, and the material 

 has become as hard as adamant. Hidden amongst some shrubs are 

 a few blocks of this moulding that were left over after the work was 

 done, and have there been exposed to all weathers for a period of 

 four years. They are black with dirt, but in other respects they 

 are as perfect as when turned out of the moulds, and it would 

 apparently be no easy matter to break them. One of these was 

 submitted to the examination of the gentlemen who were assembled 

 at the works on the 21st of last month, and pronounced a most 

 satisfactory example of the capabilities of the concrete stone to resist 

 the destructive influences of the weather in this country. S. H. 



ADIANTUMS OF THE STOYE. 



|T page 173 I completed the list of the most useful hardy 

 and greenhouse Adiantums, and, according to the 

 promise there made, I now attempt a selection from 

 the stove kinds. I feel bound to say, however, that I 

 have grown all the stove kinds in warm greenhouse 

 temperature with the most complete success, and have tried many 

 in closed cases, and found them grow luxuriantly without the aid of 

 artificial heat even in severe winters. The remarks on cultivation 

 at pp. 169 and 170 apply, without any exception, to the species and 

 varieties now to be noticed. 



A. caudaticm. — Once-divided grey-green gracefully arching 

 fronds, each tapering to a point, where a little bulbil plant is 

 produced. Scarce and curious, a good fern to grow in a small 

 suspended basket. 



A. concinnum. — A most lovely maidenhair fern, with elegantly- 

 notched pinnules of a rich metallic green when mature, but tinged 

 with pale rose when young. It grows into a fine bold tuft, and 

 makes fronds eighteen inches in length, when liberally treated. It 

 has been tried here in a cool house several years in succession, and 

 has not once survived the winter, so we may fairly reckon it one of 

 the most tender of the family. It is important in the cultivation 

 of this fern never to wet the fronds, as it causes them to break off 

 close to the crown. A. concinnum is deciduous, and must be kept 

 nearly dry after it has lost its fronds until the new crop appears. 



A. cristatum. — The true cristatum has light distantly-divided 

 fronds, the pinnae of which are lance-shaped, and furnished on each 

 side of the rachis with oblong ovate pinnules. Stipes and rachis 

 distinctly purple, pinnules fresh full green. It is scarce and pretty, 

 decidedly tender, well adapted for a warm Wardian case. 



A. cultratum. — A splendid exhibition species, closely allied to 

 A. trapeziforme, and a good companion to that splendid fern. The 



