IRISH GARDENING 



2*^ 



will creep about the rock work, so need not leave 

 bare spaces) ; P. vnlgare, P. v. Oainbricuni (also 

 good for wall). 



Mediuji Forms. 



Adiantuni chilense, A. cuneatum, A. Willi amsii, 

 Aspleniuni luciduni, Allosorus achrosticlioides, 

 Cyrtouiiuin caryotidiuni, Dictyogj.T.nania japonioa 

 variegata, Lastrea recurva. L. n^ontana, L. 

 fragrans, L. erythrosora. Niphobolus lingua, 

 Polystichuiu triangulum laxum, V. loncliitis, 

 Pberis cretica alba lineata, P.serrulata, Soolopen- 

 drium vulgare, S. v. crispuni, Todia pellucida, 

 T. superba, Trichontanes radicans (these three 

 for cave). 



Tall Forms, 



Adiantuni pedatuiu, CyrtomiuuT falcatum, C. 

 fortuneii, Dicksonia antarctica (this is a tree 

 fern. a.nd should be planted amongst those of 



(Pteris serriUata). soutc very narrow, otherq 

 broad, plain or tasseled and variegated, are very 

 siiitable for this situation. '' Ilart's-tongues " 

 (Scolopendriurns) in almost ei..dless variety may 

 be liad very cheaply. I'olypodys in many 

 varieties will creep about. ^Maidenhairs, too, 

 will tbrive and charm with their fairy leaflets. 

 Many others can be obtained. All should be 

 purchased quite small. Some of the soil is picked 

 away from the roots, then the finger, inserted 

 through the rabbit netting, is moved about to 

 form a space in the soil, the roots are then care- 

 fidly pushed into this till the crown is just level 

 witli the wire, then the finger is inserted a little 

 higher up and soil pushed down on the roots and 

 the space filled up ; this second hole is now 

 plugged v/ith some fresh soil, a piece of moss 

 put in, and the planting is done. A few squirts 

 from a syringe just above the level of the plant. 



Pl.TNTS PlSSAIiDIl AT Kol^BlCK CaSTLI-: 



February, 1918. 



medium height, so as to give it head room later) : 

 Lastrea dilatata, L. rigida, L. n,ristata, L. a. 

 variegata. L. opaca, L. goldeana, Lygodium 

 japonica (scandens — climber): Polystichum 

 munitum, 1'. setosum, I\ angulare. P. achros- 

 ticlioides, P. proliferum. Pteris crispa. P. 

 argyrea. ^Yoodwardia radicans (This splendid 

 fern is alniost too large for a modest hoiise. 

 Its fronds shoot \ip and then bend over till their 

 tips are far below the level of the crown : it 

 should therefore when quite small be planted, 

 the crown pointing down, in the wall : only some 

 of the fronds will arch outwards : they may 

 attain a length of 9 feet. Young plants will form 

 near the tip of each frond). 



As the back wall is not prepared for the real 

 cidtivation of ferns. Init only as a, means of 

 furnisliing the liouse, our rule as to growing one 

 of each kind does not hold good for this situation. 

 Many common evergreen kinds can be got to 

 furnish the wall. Numerous " ribbon ferns " 



and you may leave it, confident that it will grow. 

 The plants having been given their chosen 

 places in the rockery should be carefully planted. 

 If they are in small pots they should be \\ atered 

 the evening })CJori' jjlanting. Turn the plant out 

 of the pot. and be careful in the subsequent 

 handling not to injure the roots. If the iiot is 

 very full of roots, just slightly loosen, or rouiid, 

 off, the upper edge of soil where the surface ^^ as 

 in contacu with the pot : do not disturb or try 

 to pick out the drainage crocks that were at the 

 bottom. If the pot was not very full of roots, 

 this drainage material may be carefully picked 

 ovit. The ball of roots is then placed in a hole 

 made with the fingers, in the centre of the 

 " pocket " full of compost, which is then filled 

 in around the plant and very firmly pressed in 

 with both hands, one on each side, all round, 

 more comjaost being added as it is pressed in 

 till it is level, or very slightly higher than the 

 surface that was in the pot. The whole pocket 



