of Rural Art and Tade. 



135 



vegetation. As regards flowering climbers, 

 nothing surpasses >tephaiiotis fiorihunda 

 (white), Dipladmia amahiUs and D. signis 

 (deep rose), Allainanda Hendersonii, and A. 

 grandijlora, or A. nohilis (yellow). 



For windows, a few plants of Tropaeolum 

 Lobbii may be trained on wires or string, near 

 the glass, and will flower freely. Rondeletia 

 sper.iosa is another valuable winter-flowering 

 stove plant that does well treated as a climber, 

 For potting, use a fresh, open compost of peat, 

 fibrous loam, leaf mould and sand." — The 

 Garden. 



Ferns for Bouquets — Choose Adian- 

 tuin cuiieatnni and Pteris serridatn, two of the 

 very best of A. cimealum. There is an ele- 

 gant variety named A. gradllimum (elegan- 

 tissimum), a kind with finer fronds than those 

 of the species. There is also a variety of 

 Pteris serrulata, the divisions of which are 

 finely crisped. Several of the Davallias are 

 useful for such work and last long in good 

 condition in a cut state, especially if dipped in 

 water before they are used. Of these the best 

 are DavaUia huUata and B. dissect a; but 

 the common hare's foot (D. canariensis)^ and 

 D. el at a, come in very usefully for such pur- 

 poses. Adiantum Farlyeiise, A. capillus 

 vetieris, A. te7ierv,m, A. tinctian., A. cnlpodes 

 and A. assintile all yield good fronds for bou- 

 quet making. — The Garden. 



Miniature Ferns aniouf/st Orchids. — 

 Miniature ferns of all sorts are always objects 

 of admiration, especially those of adiantum or 

 Maiden hair type. A very interesting feature 

 of these ferns appeared in our Orchid house. 

 From lack of space elsewhere, we have been 

 growing a quantity of ferns, principally Adi- 

 antums and Gymnogrammas., on the back 

 shelves of the structure, the spores from which 

 have wafted among the orchids ; the result is 

 an abundant and spontaneous growth of young 

 ferns. The effect produced by these on the 

 pyramids of sphagnum on which the aerides, 

 saccolabiums, etc., are placed, is exquisite. 

 Adiantums remain very dwarf when their 

 nourishment is confined to moss alone. Gym- 

 nogrammas are not so elegant, the fronds 

 being larger, and they do not droop over in 



the same graceful manner. Vanda baskets 

 are finely furnished, and rendered very pretty 

 in this way. Indeed the whole are so much 

 improved — bare mounds adorned and off"ensive 

 baskets hid — that I would reconnnend those 

 who may not be so fortunate as to attain such 

 a voluntary embellishment, to place a few 

 spores of the old and useful adiantum amongst 

 some of their orchids and try the eff"ect. — 

 The Gardeners'' Chronicle 



Variegated Ahutllons Allow me to 



recommend to the notice of your readers a 

 variegated form of the Due de Malakoff Ahu- 

 tilon which is in every way superior to Thom- 

 sonii. The former has a much larger leaf than 

 that of the last named kind, is more beautifully 

 marbled, a stronger grower, and the flower is 

 much darker in color than that of Thomsonii. 



One of the most charming Abutilons, how- 

 ever, and probably the most useful for bed- 

 ding purposes, especially as an edging plant, 

 to be pegged into form, or to grow down and 

 cover a sloping edge of some nine to twelve 

 inches deep, or as a carpet plant, or for bas- 

 kets, is Abiitilnn vexillariiini, a real creeping 

 variety, having a habit of growth much like 

 that of ivy. It has small, pointed and richly 

 marbled leaves, that are most eflective in 

 color ; it is also a free-growing kind which can 

 be readily propagated, and is moderately 

 hardy. Those who have large quantities of 

 plants to bed out yearly, will do well to make 

 a note of this variety, which I am certain will 

 prove everything desired, in its peculiar color, 

 for the purposes mentioned. — Garden. 



A Beinitifnl Rose. — The London Gar- 

 deners'' Magazine describes a rose now grow- 

 ing at Mr. Harrison's nursery at Darlington, 

 which is certainly a beauty. The tree is three 

 years old, budded on the Manetti stock, but 

 is now growing on both the Manetti and its 

 own roots. It covers eight lights four feet 

 broad by ten feet long. The house is spanned 

 roof. This spring Mr. Harrison has cut about 

 two thousand roses, and a third crop is now 

 approaching maturity. These blooms find a 

 ready market. In early spring they sell at 

 sixpence each. Two thousand blooms at three- 

 pence each would produce £25. 



