336 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



case, and during the time you are watering and wiping with a cloth 

 the inside of the case all round, sufficient air will have been admitted. 

 The water you use must be soft and of about 70 degrees of heat. A 

 very good way to water pots and pans with ferns is to immerse the 

 bottom in water for two or three seconds, and the water will then 

 ascend by capillary attraction through the entire ball of the plant, 

 and a more decided watering will thus have been secured. Some 

 advocate keeping filmy ferns entirely closed, but that idea is erro- 

 neous, especially in the management of the Warrington case. A 

 gentle circulation of air must always be provided for them, especially 

 when the temperature is low, owing to the great amount of moisture 

 in the atmosphere caused by the presence of water. 



As the Warrington case is the very best structure for growing 

 the British and foreign filmy ferns, a choice list will enable my 

 readers to select the best for their purpose. The Hymenophyllums, 

 Trichomanes, and Todeas are the special favourites. Some of the 

 New Zealand and American kinds are very lovely, though they are 

 seldom seen in the hands of amateur cultivators, although the same 

 treatment required for the commoner kinds, such as Hymenophyllum 

 Tunbridgense and Trichomanes radicans, will suit them very well. 

 Of the Hymenophyllums we have — 



Hymenopliyllum Tunbridgense, choice British species found in the 

 neighbourhood of Tunbridge Wells ; hence its name. It has a 

 matted tufty creeping growth, the fronds being from one to six inches 

 long and of a dull brownish green. 



Hymenopliyllum unilateral, another British species, of a dense 

 tufted growth, the fronds averaging from two to four inches in height, 

 and brownish green in colour. These ate the only wild British 

 filmy ferns, and are always found together. 



H. caudiculatum, with large light green fronds. 



H. chiloense, an exquisitely beautiful, small, densely tufted species, 

 with yell >wish-green fronds. 



H. flexuosum ; this species is as like a Selaginella as a fern ; it has 

 lovely crisped wavy fronds. 



H. pulcherimum, a New Zealand species of a large and strikingly 

 handsome appearance ; the fronds are elegantly divided and of a 

 yellowish-green colour. 



HINTS ON CULTIVATING HEART'S-EASE. 



j]F beds for the spring crops are not made early in this 

 month, it will be too late, and better to postpone the 

 matter until spring. The plants can, in the meantime, 

 be kept in pots ; and the intended ground, if well 

 trenched, will have the benefit of the winter's frost. 

 If the season continue mild, however, the plants may be placed in 

 their beds any time before the middle of October ; for it must be 

 borne in mind, that they can now be bought of growers stronger and 



