122 



THE GARDENER. 



[March 



The soil best adapted for Tree-ferns is a compost formed of peat, loam, leaf- 

 mould, and sand. Such a mixture is used at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 

 The ingredient should not be sifted ; but the peat and loam, which should be 

 fibrous, chopped into small pieces. The leaves should be used when only half 

 decayed, chopped fine ; for by using them before they reach the last stage of decay 



they are not so liable to render the compost too close in texture, and they are just 

 as capable of nourishing plants at that stage as afterwards. Free drainage is indis- 

 pensable ; no class of plants suffer sooner from stagnation than Ferns, and none 

 require more steadiness in the supply of water. If they are allowed to get dry, 

 so that the fronds "flag," in nine cases out of ten they never rise again. — Thomas 

 Sampson's Seed Catalogue. 



WINTER-BLOOMING ORCHIDS. 



In the early part of January last we had an opportunity of inspecting a new 

 Orchid-house that Mr William Bull, of the King's Road, Chelsea, S.W., has just 

 erected for the growth of Orchids. " This house has been constructed so as to 



