64 THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. [MARCH, 



of years ramify through its whole extent, so that without liberal surface-dressings 

 annually repeated, the shrubs will again dwindle away ; and though by the use 

 of such dressings they may be retained for a number of years, yet eventually the 

 shade of the spreading branches, and the manner in which they contribute to 

 carry the greater portion of the rain-water to their extremities, will effectually 

 prevent any shrubs from growing in the immediate neighbourhood of the stems 

 of the trees. In places of limited extent, this often becomes a serious evil, to be 

 guarded against by the planters of the day. 



Where such trees must remain, it will be found that grass will not grow 

 under them, and yet a constantly green surface is indispensable. The best plant 

 I know for furnishing this is the Irish Ivy, which will run over the ground, and 

 being annually nourished by the falling leaves, will grow luxuriantly, and form a 

 thick and permanent evergreen covering. I know no other plant which will grow 

 so well under Coniferous trees, and it is very easily kept within bounds. 



Bedleaf. John Cos. 



=c^3 



ACTINIOPTEBIS KADIATA. 



=>0 difficulty need be experienced in the cultivation of this lovely little 

 Fern, when the botanist's notion that it is found growing on dry banks 

 and such like places, and this too in very hot parts of the world, and 

 that, "therefore, the water-pot and syringe must be very cautiously 

 applied," is consigned to oblivion. 



On receiving from India two small dry stems about the size of a horse bean, 

 and some spores, I potted the one, and sowed the other, and placed them in the 

 Indian division of the orchid house. To my great delight, both plants and spores 

 germinated, and leaves were formed. They started well. The spore plants, 

 47 in number, were " potted off " in fern fashion ; the two old plants were 

 watered sparingly, but soon some of the first-made leaves began to die. I still 

 watered carefully, but the leaves continued to turn brown and die, till one plant 

 appeared to be gone to rest for ever. The other kept its fronds better, probably 

 owing to its having a little more moisture — perhaps from a small piece of sphagnum 

 moss or loam having found its way into the pot. In a week or two, the leafless 

 plant threw up again, and as quickly went down ; this was repeated three or four 

 times during the winter, and in spring I satisfied myself the plant was quite 

 exhausted and dead. I was also perfectly satisfied that it was owing to a want 

 of knowledge on my part. The young plants, too, began to die rapidly, so that I 

 feared our collection would soon be minus the Actiniopteris, and I thereupon 

 resolved to adopt a moister treatment, the result of which was satisfactory. 



By this time I had lost 40 of my 47 young plants, and one of the two old 

 ones. While the remaining seven were quite health)', I broke up some crocks 

 and charcoal in equal parts, and small as peas, and put with them a good bit of 

 silver sand, and a very small portion of loam and peat, only sufficient to set this 



