176 



health of the plants. This is called the natural cultiva- 

 tion of ferns, and approaches as near as possible to their 

 natural habitat. It is to be hoj^ed that such will soon be 

 established by our wealthy amateurs on this side of the 

 water, as it is much more instructive than the ordinary 

 way of growing these plants, and that there will be a 

 steady increase in the already growing interest in ferns 

 and ferneries. 



The evening was made more enjoyable and the remarks 

 much more interesting and clear by the exhibition of 

 ferneries and plants upon the platform illustrating the 

 subject. They were chiefly as follows : A large black- 

 walnut fern-case (cabinet-maker's pattern) containing 

 stone grotto and choice tropical ferns, SelaginelUis, Bego- 

 nia rex, etc. ; a square home-made case (large) con- 

 taining native plants entirely ; circular fernery (large) 

 containing tropical plants ; log with a fine specimen of 

 Platycerium alcicorne, stag horn fern growing upon the 

 top, other ferns and mosses on the sides ; wire basket 

 with Davallia ; cocoanut shells with maiden-hairs ; bell 

 glass with Adiantum Capillus- Veneris or English maiden- 

 hair, also other ferns in pots, cut fronds, etc. 



Ferns suitable for ferneries which can be purchased at 

 the greenhouses at fifty cents or less : — 



Pteris serulata, 



" argyrea, 



" longifolia, 



" tremula, 



" cretic-a, var. albo-lincata, 

 Pella3a rotuiutifolia, 



" liastata, 

 Gymnogramiiie sulphurca, 



" calomelanos, 



Doodftt caudata, 

 Asplenium Mexicaiuim, 

 Onychiuin Jaiionicmn, 



Adiantum Capillus- Veneris, 

 " affine, 



" ^'ICtluoiiicum, 



'• cunoatuiu, 



" fulvum, 



'' liispidulum, 



Aspidium raollo, 

 Selagiuella Martensii, 

 " ilensa, 



" Biaunii, 



'' Kniut^siana, 



" unrinata. 



