21C 



JOUENAL OF HORTICDLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAIiDENEB. 



[ March 12, 1874. 



creted and faced with Portland cement. The Vines should be 

 planted in the narrow interior border, the roots passing through 

 arches to the outside. 



In preparing the border, if the soil will produce good vege- 

 tables it will answer perfectly well for the Vines, and two 

 points only wUl require attention — the first is to see that 

 the superfluous moisture arising from heavy rains or other 

 causes drains away sufficiently fast to avoid stagnation ; the 

 second, to have the soil of a uniform depth of not much less 

 than 2 feet, and if, as is usually the case, the natural soil is 

 not deep enough, apply the necessary addition to raise the 

 border somewhat above the surrounding level, giving it a 

 gentle slope from back to front. — Edward Luckhukst. 



NOTES UPON FEENS.— No. 7. 



GLEICHENIA. 



TnE various members of this most beautiful genus have always 

 been held in the highest esteem by all growers of plants, indeed 

 they must rank as the aristocracy of the order. As a genus 

 Gleichenia is characterised by a creeping rhizome, fronds rigid, 

 opaque, and several times diehotomously branched, the pinnae 

 being linear and piunatifid ; the ultimate divisions are small, 

 orbietJar, and often concave, or large, linear, comb-like, and 

 plane, whilst the veins are either simply or pinnately forked. 

 There are two very distinct-looking sets of these plants, and 

 some pteridologists have established these as distinct genera ; 

 but they have so many points in common, and all resemble 

 each other so much in general appearance, that I must per- 

 force follow my old master, and regard them only as distinct 

 groups of one genus. The first group, Eugleichenia, may be 

 recognised by their small ultimate divisions, which are ovate, 

 orbicular, and often concave or cucuUate; sori punctiform, 

 naked, often set in a hollow cavity, consisting of but few spore 

 cases, the numbers usually varying from two to four. The 

 second group, Mertensia, is recognised by its ultimate divisions 

 being larger and plane, and the sori consisting of from eight 

 to twelve spore cases. Again, species of this group have a more 

 erect habit of growth than the first, which mostly assume the 

 character of climbers. This, without going too deeply into 

 distinctions, may be considered the principal characteristics of 

 the genus Gleichenia. 



The character and general appearance of these Ferns are so 

 beautiful and distinct that they cannot fail to charm the eye of 

 every beholder, and it is really no wonder that they are held in 

 such high estimation by all lovers of beautiful plants ; yet it is 

 marvellous that, knowing the beauty and high commercial 

 value of those we have, I say it is marvellous that collectors 

 should allow so many fine species as are known to science to 

 still remain desiderata in our plant houses at home. 



Gleiehenias, as before remarked, have long creeping rhi- 

 zomes, a circumstance which will at once reconcile the culti- 

 vator to the fact that breadth and not depth is of the utmost 

 importance to the development of a fine specimen. Again, 

 essential as thorough drainage is to Ferns of all kinds, to these 

 it is one of the chief points in culture, for no Gleichenia 

 will remain in good health for even a short period with bad 

 drainage and sour soO. Ordinary pots for young specimens 

 wOl be found perfectly suitable ; but as the specimens become 

 large, shallow tubs will be found best, inasmuch as they furnish 

 the greatest amount of surface-room for the wiry rhizomes to 

 creep over. I have found these plants thrive admirably in 

 good rough fibrous peat and silver sand, with just a dash of 

 fight sandy loam added to it; the drainage must be perfect, 

 and then the plants will enjoy a liberal supply of water to the 

 roots, but I never could believe they liked it upon their fronds 

 from the syringe. 



Gleichinias, like many other Ferns, are very liable to the 

 attacks of scale and thrips. They must be carefully watched 

 to prevent the progress of the first-named pest, because if they 

 are allowed to increase they are difficult to eradicate, and 

 render the plants very unsightly ; whilst, should the latter 

 make their appearance, it will be a tolerably sure indication 

 that the plants are placed in a higher temperature than is 

 congenial ; and the remedy, therefore, will be removal to a 

 lower temperature and slight fumigations with tobacco for two 

 or three weeks, with an interval of about three days between 

 each operation. 



EUGLEICHENIA GKOUP. 



G. jiicKorHTLLA. — A very fine, free-growing, temperate-house 

 species. The branches and rachis are furnished with short 

 reddish-brown hairs ; branches pinnate ; pinnre pinnatifid and 



smooth; segments sub-rotund, the margins being nearly plane 

 or but slightly recurved, the upper surface deep green, paler 

 below. It is a plant of scandent habit, fronds extending to an 

 indefinite length and much forked. Native of I'ort Jackson 

 and various parts of Tasmania. 



G. MicEOPHYLLA GLACOA. — This Very fine form differs from 

 the normal state considerably in cultivation, being more robust 

 in habit, and the pinna) stouter in texture ; the upper surface 

 is deep green, below it is beautifully white. It is a superb 

 cool-house plant, at present rare in collections. Native o£ 

 New Zealand. 



G. si'ELUN'c^. — There would appear to be several forms of 

 this fine species ; the differences, however, have not been suffi- 

 ciently defined to lead to the separation of such forms as dis- 

 tinct species. The differences I have noticed have been the 

 greater size of puma; and segments, some being closely set, 

 whilst others are long and lax, and another form is to be found 

 wonderfully ramified. The general ajipearance of the seg- 

 ments is somewhat ovate, and pale green above, glaucous and 

 saccate below. It must take rank as one of the handsomest 

 of its tribe. A cool-house species. Native about Port Jack- 

 son and various parts of Tasmania. 



(i. sEMivESTiTA. — Although having something the appear- 

 ance of G. mierophylla in a dried state, it is, nevertheless, 

 sufficiently distinct under cultivation to be easily recognised 

 from that species. It moreover enjoys a slightly warmer spot 

 than the kinds previously enumerated. The fronds are dieho- 

 tomously forked ; the branches are clothed with numeroue 

 reddish-brown hairs, and, in addition, the rachis is furnished 

 with a few stellate hairs ; the segments orbicular-ovate, nearly 

 plane, or but slightly pouched, and bright dark green above. 

 A very handsome plant. Native of Malacca and New Cale- 

 donia. 



G. ALriNA. — There is little doubt but in many parts of the 

 three kingdoms this species would prove to be quite hardy, 

 and form a charming addition to the out-door fernery. It 

 seldom exceeds a foot in height. Fronds dichotomous ; the 

 pinnae about an inch long ; segments orbicular, densely 

 packed together, and bright green above; the young shoots 

 profusely clothed with ferruginous hairs. It would appear to 

 be abundant upon the high mountains of Tasmania, but at 

 present is very rare in cultivation. 



G. DicARPA. — A very elegant species, distinguished by its 

 small orbicular segments with a broad recurved margin and 

 deep pouch ; the rachis is furnished with some pubescence, but 

 the branches are quite glabrous. It is bright green in colour, 

 and does not like any but the coolest treatment. Native of 

 Tasmania. 



G. poLVPODioiDES. — In this we have a distinct and beautiful 

 species, one which I have never seen but once in cultivation 

 in English collections. The young fronds and the braueheE 

 are more or less profusely clothed with dun-coloured hairs; 

 segments ovate, deep green above, sh'ghtly glaucous below. 

 This, like G. semivestita, should be provided with a snug 

 corner. Native of the mountains of South Africa. 



G. RUPESiRis. — This is a fine bold-growing cool-house plant, 

 somewhat rare, and only tc) be met with in the most choice 

 collections. The stems are reddish-brown, and the pinna; very 

 thick and coriaceous in texture ; they are obtusely rounded, 

 with thickened margins, deep green above, but glaucous be- 

 neath. As a eimUe it may be said to be a dense-growing cori- 

 aceous form of G. spelunca}, although thoroughly distinct from 

 it. Native of New South Vi^ales. 



G. iiEciSTornvLLA. — With this species I shall conclude my 

 remarks upon the first section of this genus. It would seem 

 to be closely related to some of the others, and the differences 

 in herbarium specimens are often very shght ; when the plants 

 are cultivated, however, they are easily discerned. The fronds 

 are much branched ; the ultimate segments small and saccate, 

 bright green and glabrous ; the branches and rachis profusely 

 clotlied with ferruginous hairs. An elegant cool-house species 

 from New Zealand. — Experto Crede. 



THE CATHERINE AND OTHEE OLD PEAKS. 



The inquiry about the Catherine Pear recalls to my mind a 

 cry uf the street vendors of fruit some fifty years ago, for I 

 perfectly remember " Fine Catherine Pears, six a-penny, six 

 a-penuy. Pears ! " being called out in a large commercial town 

 in 1822, on the same day as the details of the suicide of Lord 

 Castlereagh were hawked about. I regret my memory does 

 not enable me to give a description of the fruit, but believe it 



