JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



GROWING FEENS IN CASES. 



"■ ' ' ASY and pleasing as Perns generally are to 

 cultivate, we seldom see them in a satis- 

 factory state in Fern cases — failure seems 

 f?l^ |h'>Vv->7 to be the rule rather than the exception. I 

 Vvl*^ . — > have often seen cases nicely fitted up, and 

 • ■ ■^■' -^ ^ in a short time after having been sent 

 home they were returned with all the once- 

 healthy httle plants appearing as though 

 they had passed near a fire, or been ex- 

 posed to the fiercest rays of the sun, or to 

 some similar bad treatment. In other instances I have 

 seen cases returned to be remodelled, some rank-gi'owing 

 Lycopod ha-^-ing been allowed to monopoUse the whole 

 case, and consequently to choke the weaker-growing in- 

 mates. I may add other instances where, from want of 

 a sufficient cu-culation of au-, the plants have dwindled 

 and become weak ; and, to assist in their rapid extinction, 

 a httle cobweb-Like fungus has developed itself amongst 

 them ; then aU the inmates of the case soon became 

 extinct. 



AU these failm-cs are the results of mismanagement. 

 In the first instance the failm-e arises from a want of 

 proper attention in watering, many persons supposing 

 that Perns in cases requu-e little or no watering. Others, 

 on the contrary, drench them with water. I need hardly 

 say that both of these modes of treatment wUl ruin in a 

 short time the best-arranged case of Ferns. 



Let me here tender my advice with respect to watering. 

 Provide yourself with a very small pot or can, with a 

 small, long, slender spout that will throw a stream of 

 water al)out the size of a straw. An oil-can that is used 

 in oiling engines is what I generally emplo}-. This, 

 having a long slender spout, can easily be passed amongst 

 the Ferns without injmy to then- fronds. Ferns in cases 

 should never be watered over the fohage. Look the case 

 over every week, or oftener, certainly not less frequently. 

 It will be found that the plants in the elevated portions 

 of the rockwork in the case will require most attention 

 in watering, but those in the lower parts will seldom 

 requu'e any water, as that supiilied to the upper parts 

 will drain to the lower. Perfect drainage is at aU times 

 necessary to oari-y off all stagnant water. 



In fitting up a case of Ferns care should be taken to 

 select those only which are suitable for growing in cases. 

 If the case is of large size the Perns may be selected 

 accordingly, but I would not advise the coarse-gi'owing 

 kinds being used under any chcumstances, as they soon 

 become too large for then- place, and are, consequently, 

 unsightly. The medium and smaUer-gi'owing kinds are 

 most suitable. 



Place the plants iu positions where they can develope 

 thou- fi-onds without crowding each other ;" nothing looks 

 more unsightly than a confused mass of fronds. Place 

 the drooping kmds in an elevated position, so that they 

 may thi'ow their fronds out and hang down without any 

 obsti-ucWon. If Lycopods are used — and they generally 

 give a finish to the case — do not allow them to overrun 

 No. 681.— Vol. XXIl., New Series. 



the case, but keep them within bounds, otherwise they 

 will soon destroy the Ferns with wliich they come in 

 contact. 



Wh-e crooks are very useful in the cultirre of Ferns in 

 cases, for with them the fronds can be ai-ranged to much 

 greater advantage than they could otherwise be ; you can 

 ply them to any desu-ed shape, and can then place them 

 where they will be seen to the best advantage. 



In instances where the plant produces too many fronds, 

 so that if all were left they would become crowded and 

 confused, remove enough of the surplus fronds when 

 they are young that those left may have a fair chance 

 to develope. 



Air has a gi'eat influence on success or failure in grow- 

 ing Ferns iu cases ; manufacturers nine times out of 

 ten never pro^ade ventdators, but simply box the Ferns 

 up with, perhaps, a few perforated holes in the top of 

 the case. This is decidedly wrong : Fern cases should 

 be provided with both top and bottom ventilators, which 

 should to a small extent be always open, and ought 

 hkewise to be moveable, so that aii' may be admitted 

 in varying quantities as required. A free circulation of 

 air is as necessary for the well-being of the plants in a 

 Fern case as tliose in a greenhouse. Although Ferns for 

 the most part Like shade and moisture, tliey will not 

 tlu-ive weU in a stagnant atmosphere ; therefore it is 

 highly necessary that a free cu'culation of air should be 

 provided. It is true that too much an- may be given, biit 

 enough should always be admitted to keep the glass just 

 clear, and this will prevent tlie .appearance of that dis- 

 agreeable cobweb-hke fungus wliicli disfigures the fronds. 

 Sufficient air will render the plants healthy and luxui'iant, 

 and tliey wiU never have a dwindled appearance, wliich 

 they would present if kept in a confined Hi-ventilated 

 atmosphere. 



The glass of the Fern case should be wiped occasionally, 

 and if the foregoing dh-ections lie attended to the ease wUl 

 always present a neat and pleasing aspect, and wUl amply 

 repay the trouble expended on it. — T. B. 



MARECHAL NIEL ROSE AT OAKWOOD HOUSE, 

 MAIDSTONE. 

 In the spring of last year I described (vol. xx., page 334) 

 a very fine specimen of Marechal Niel Rose in the garden 

 at Oiikwood House, near Maidstone, the residence of 

 L. D. Wigan, Esq. A subsequent visit made in the past 

 April enabled me to see this fine Rose still further ex- 

 tended, and in beautiful condition. I have already stated 

 that it is planted in a rather confined corner in a con- 

 servatory attached to the mansion, and is trained in a 

 loose and easy manner underneath the glass roof, where 

 it covers a space of upwards of 21 feet by 20, and affords 

 the necessary shade to Azaleas and other flowering plants 

 beneath. The roof is a veiy light one, the conservatoiy 

 being a modern structiu'e, and it would be difficult to 

 conceive a more fitting place for this fine Rose ; for, as is 

 well known to all who have grown it, the weight of the 

 blooms turns them downwards when they attain then- fuU 

 No. 1233. -Vol. XLVIl., Old Series. 



