1873.] PTERIS SERRULATA. ^ 283 



them here. The plants are much benefited by exposure to the open 

 air one month at least before placing them in winter quarters. If the 

 weather at the beginning of September is stormy or very wet, the 

 plants should be removed to the greenhouse, previously washing the 

 pots, and attending to what tying is required. The points of manage- 

 ment during the winter months are, to protect from sharp currents of 

 air, and to be specially careful in watering, applying it only when 

 actually necessary, till the flower-buds develop, when it may be applied 

 liberally. The following varieties have flowered equally well here 

 this spring, viz. : Perfection, Due de Nassau, Louis Napoleon, the 

 Bride, Standard of Flanders, Marie, Gem, Cupid, Beaute de I'Europe, 

 Stanleyana, Criterion, Roi de Leopold. 



Tea-Roses. — These need only to be mentioned as being eminently 

 adapted for the decoration of the greenhouse. For pot-culture they are 

 invaluable, and being comparatively easy of cultivation, claim a place in 

 the most unpretending establishment. With us the first blooms opened 

 early in March, from Gloire de Dijon, a strong-growing, free-flowering, 

 and now well-known variety by every one, and we have had a succession 

 from plants of other varieties ever since. Those that have flowered early 

 should be cut back a little and repotted in rich fibry loam, and placed out 

 of doors in a sheltered position well supplied with water both at the 

 roots and overhead. Special care is necessary to keep down green-fly, 

 which otherwise would do much injury ; checks from drought will 

 induce it as fast as anything. A good plan is to mulch the surface 

 with rotten cow-dung. They should be taken indoors before damp 

 weather in autumn sets in. Little or no water is required during the 

 winter months, unless in the case of forcing, which was ably referred 

 to on a previous occasion in your pages. D. M. 



IsLAY, \Zth May. 



PTEBIS SERRULATA. 



Those who have to keep up a supply of plants for house decoration, 

 will find this Pteris a most useful plant. It is noways particular as 

 to soil, so long as it is sufficiently open, though a compost of fibrous 

 peat and loam, with a dash of silver sand added, will be found the 

 most satisfactory. I prefer 5-inch pots to larger ones, the plants 

 are so much more graceful grown in this size, and fit better into vases. 

 It is well to keep growing on a few seedlings in a nice growing tem- 

 perature to keep the supply fresh in appearance ; a minimum of 50° to 

 55° is suitable, and, shaded slightly, the fronds come longer. As the 

 plants get too large for house-work, they may be used to give variety 

 to the conservatory. I mean to try how a few will do in baskets. 



