February 10, 1906 



HORTICULTURE 



159 



Ferns for Every Day Use 



Onychium japonicum. 



Doodia is a small genus closely related to Blechnum, 

 having their fruit dots the same in one or more stripes 

 on each side half way between the mid rib and the 

 edge of the leaflets. They are very hardy, good decora- 

 tive plants, requiring no heat, and very accommodat- 

 ing in regard to the place where they are grown. They 

 are all of relatively dwarf habit, the foliage growing 

 in a crown and resembling a many leaved little blech- 

 num before they begin to branch out. In some of them 

 the young fronds are of a beautiful rose turning from 

 copper to very dark-green color, and of a very heavy 

 texture. They like a very porous soil and good drain- 

 age and are easily propagated from spores which grow 

 all over the greenhouse and under the benches. They 

 can also be divided. 



D. aspera, from Australia, is one of the most com- 

 mon. The simply pinnate dentated fronds about ten 

 inches long are of a strong texture. The young fronds 

 are of a very apparent red color. There are some 

 crested forms from it in cultivation. 



D. Blechnoides from Australia is one of the biggest 

 growing species, resembling much D. aspera, but frond 

 much longer and erect and does not branch out so 

 readily. 



D. caudata. from Australia and New Zealand, is a 

 smaller, easy-growing species of softer texture, very 

 common in greenhouses. The large leaflet is long. 



D. dives, from Java, requires more heat. The fronds 

 are larger and longer than in the others. 



D. media var. lunulata, from New Zealand, is one of 

 the nicest, of drooping habit. The leaflets are large, 

 blunt at the top and eared at the base, set apart at the 

 lower part of the frond and near together at the top. 



Doodia aspera. 



The fertile fronds have the leaflets more narrow and 

 longer; there are a few different forms grown. 



Onychium is another small genus. There are only 

 two species known in cultivation. They have their 

 fruit dots like Pteris at the edges of the little leaflets. 

 The edges are reflexed over the spore masses as indusi- 

 ums. They like to be grown in loose soil and are 

 easily propagated from spores and division. Their fine 

 foliage is a good substitute for adiantum, is of heavier 

 texture and keeps much longer. 



0. Japonicum. the most common, is a native of Japan 

 and Himalaya. It is cold house fern, very finely cut 

 and of good durability. 



0. auratum, from Himalaya, resembles much the 

 preceding, but grows on single crown. The fertile leaf- 

 lets are a little rolled up and of yellow color under- 

 neath. It does not like too much moisture, especially 

 when young. 



^^ ^C/^-^^**, 



Tuberous Rooted Begonias 



(See Colored Supplement) 

 The tuberous-rooted begonia is a very valuable flow- 

 ering plant for the embellishment of the garden in 

 summer time. Probably none other remains in flower 

 for so long a time while giving such a brilliant dis- 

 play. It thrives far better when the summer is show- 

 ery or even wet than if the weather during that time 

 is hot and dry. Should the latter be the case the plants 

 do not grow so freely, neither do they produce such 



