November 6, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



351 



tunitj- of clearing the soil of bucIi a pest, and so savinR not 

 only the present but future crops from its ravages. 'While 

 taking the latter view, the former one, which seemed to point 

 to possible failure, was only felt as a spur to exertion, and a 

 couple of men were immediately set to take up the Potatoes 

 one by one with trowels, destroying every wireworm that eould 

 be found, and replacing the Potatoes in the soU as they went 

 along the rows. It was a long and tedious job, but it was 

 undoubtedly a thorough one, for it was computed that upwards 

 of ten thousand of the enemy were destroyed ; and so the 

 battle was gained, the crop proving an excellent one, sound 

 and free from any blemish. 



The experience which has thus been gained will prove in- 

 Taluable in future practice ; and whenever land is found to be 

 infested with wireworms, I feel assured that Potatoes placed a 

 few inches beneath the surface and about 2 feet apart for a 

 week or two, will prove an unfaihng bait to lure them to de- 

 struction. — Edwaed LucKHur.sT. 



NOTES UPON FERNS.— No. 6. 



DAVAUJAS. 



I NOW purpose offering a few remarks upon this genus, known 

 popularly as the Hare's-foot Ferns, from the great resemblance 

 of the scaly rhizome of the typical species (D. canariensis) to 



l>AT&Uia p;lid&ta. — Part of barren and fertUo fronds fuU size, and portion of 

 fertile frond magnified. 



the foot of that animal. Many of these plants are admirably 

 adapted for basket-culture, whilst others of larger and more 

 robust habit of growth form noble specimens when grown in 

 pots, their large and bright green arching fronds rendering 

 them grand ornaments either for home decoration or exhibi- 

 tion purposes ; whilst others, again, form beautiful objects in 

 a Wardian case. Most of the species have fronds of a some- 

 what leathery texture, whicli renders them peculiarly suitable 

 for cutting for vases, as they last a considerable time without 

 curling, and sprigs of several of the more finely-divided kinds 

 may bo used with good effect for the decoration of a lady's 

 bair. 



Davallias are creeping plants, and should always be potted 

 cpon a slight cone or elevation, after the manner described 

 for the majority of Orchids, which gives a greater sur- 

 face for them to spread over, and at the same time prevents 

 the rhizomes from being buried, which would be injurious to 

 their well-being. As a genus they are characterised by their 

 ctoat, scaly, creeping rhizome (which, however, in cut or two 



instances are sub-erect). The fronds are sometimes pinnate, 

 but more usually bi-tripiunate, thick and leathery in texture, 

 and deltoid in outline ; veius forked and free without the 

 sUghtest indication of becoming netted ; the receptacles are 

 terminal, and bear close upon the margins, usually in the 

 sinus of the segments, oblong or sub-rotund sori, which arc 

 covered with a thin drj' indusium, which is attached at the 

 sides, and thus appears like a little jug or pitcher, and these, 

 being produced in great abundance, add materially to the 

 beauty of the fronds. For soil use rough peat and sand, and 

 drain well. 



GEOur I. 

 Species suitable for stove cultivation. 



clegans Bolida 



divuiicata Togelii 



peutapbyila 



uruata 



data 



Group II. 

 Species suitable for tbo greenhouee fernery, 

 canariensis Lindleyii pyxidata 



piUcbeila {see accompanying figure) 



Group III. 

 Specieg suitable for growing in baskets in the stove fernery, 

 dissecta bullata (deciduous) nitidnla 



decora 



LEUCOSTEGIA. 



The few species included in this genus are all very elegant 

 plants, requiring the temperatui-e of the stove fernery. They 



Leucostegia immorsa. — I'inna full size ; Bpore-masa magnified. 



are very nearly allied to Davallia, and, indeed, are included 

 in it by many pteridologists, but yet have many points of 

 distinction, which render them a distinct and natural group. 

 The chief differences may be summcd-up in this manner : 

 They have long scaly rhizomes, which for the most part are 

 half buried below the surface of the soil ; the fronds are thin 

 and membranous in texture ; the sori are mostly situated on the 

 extreme ends of the tips of the veins, whilst the indusium is 

 attached by its base ^only, and thus leaves the sides free. 



