202 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



[ September, 



and other analogous ferns, a group of which I know many cultivators have failed 

 to obtain fine healthy well-grown specimens. 



About ten years ago my employers requested me to make a hardy fernerv, 

 and after looking about for some time for a suitable spot, it was decided to con- 

 vert an old chalk-pit to this purpose. In forming the collection, it was my desire 

 to obtain all the normal, with the best of the abnormal forms of British Ferns, 

 and particularly the British and hardy Exotic Osmundas, with Struthiopteris 

 and others of a similar kind. 



The ferns were all planted out at the same time, and had an average amount 

 of care bestowed upon them ; but, to my great annoyance, the Osmunda and 

 other ferns of that class did not grow satisfactorily. They were tried for three 

 or four seasons with no better results. Liberal waterings did not seem to avail 

 much, the water passing off almost immediately, owing to excessive drainage, 

 and the great absorption by the roots of the surrounding trees, so that the plants 

 soon became dry, and looked badly. By means of these failures, however, I 

 ultimately arrived at the method of growing them, which I now proceed to lay 

 before the readers of the Florist and Pomologist, for the benefit of those who 

 may have encountered similar difficulties, and who may wish to obviate them. 



A piece of ground, of irregular shape, large enough to contain about twenty 

 plants, was staked out, and the mould, or more correctly speaking, the chalk, 

 was removed to the depth of three feet ; a bricklayer followed, and put in a 

 floor of three bricks laid on the flat, set in good Portland cement, and over that 

 a layer of plain tiles, the sides being made up to the ground level with a 4|-in. 

 wall, well built up in the same kind of cement ; this made the whole watertight, 

 and prevented the roots of the surrounding trees from penetrating and robbing 

 the ferns of their moisture. The space was filled up with earth, compounded 

 of good loam, peat, and leaf-mould, in equal proportions, with about one-fifth of 

 good rotten dung added thereto ; these ingredients were thoroughly mixed and 

 well trodden in, and then the ferns were planted. In forming this bed, provision 

 was made for the escape of the surplus water, by introducing into the front wall, 

 at about 4 in. from the bottom, a common 3-in. drain-pipe, which communi- 

 cated with a small tank, about 3 ft. square, sunk into the chalk, so that all 

 waste water became absorbed. 



This method proved to be eminently successful, the plants far surpassing in 

 size any I have ever seen under artificial cultivation, and, judging from report, 

 rivalling their growth in their natural habits. Last season I could boast of 

 Osmunda regalis with fronds at least 8 ft. in length, Osmunda sjjectabilis 4 J ft., 

 Osmunda Claytoniana 5 ft., Osmunda cinnamomea 3 ft., and the beautiful 

 Osmunda regalis, var. cristata, 3 ft. in length. Adiantum pedatum grew from 

 2 ft. to 3 ft. in height, and others were proportionately fine. The plants were not 

 drawn up by being planted closely together, but were placed at a fair distance 

 apart, and became handsome and noble specimens. Every spring I apply a 



