ON THE CULTIVATION OF BRITISH FERNS. 53 



having a few early flowering plants. They require to be kept 

 through the winter in the stove, close to the glass, in small pots' 

 and then managed as to soil, potting, &c. as the spring-sown 

 plants, and they flower finely in April, May, and June. 



I think too rich soil very injurious : the plants often take the pet, 

 and die off by the roots, in it. I have frequently seen plants with 

 fine healthy leaves and flowers, dying gradually upwards. I cannot 

 account for this disease, excepting by the soil being too rich. 



To be certain to procure seed from Salpiglossis atropurpurea 

 and Barclavana, it is necessary to impregnate them artificially ; 

 whilst picta , straminea, and their varieties, seed freely without any 

 care. Upon examination, however, this apparently strange cir- 

 cumstance may be easily accounted for : the pistil in those species 

 is considerably elongated, and the stigma on its summit is of a 

 curious boat-like shape ; and as the flowers stand quite erect, the 

 pollen falls to the ground without effecting its office, unless by 

 chance some friendly insect assist in the business, which whatever 

 it may do in their native situation, is not to be expected in our 

 greenhouses. 



Out of doors seed is not to be had, at least I never could obtain 

 any ; but perhaps in the south of Britain, seed may be procured in 

 the open air. 



By impregnating with different sorts, I find they sport into 



various and beautiful shades of colour and size ; and I have no 



doubt many sorts will run one into another, which satisfies me that 



most of the kinds now ranking as species, will have to be reduced 



to mere varieties. 



Thos. Appleby. 

 Jan. 2, 1834. 



ARTICLE III.— On the Cultivation of British Ferns. 

 No. II. By M. 



Having now more than thirty species of British Ferns growing 

 healthfully in the open ground, I would suggest the following 

 method, which I have practised, to those who wish to form a col- 

 leetion of thu interesting tribe 



Without remarking on the ornamental disposition of the ground, 

 the first thing to be considered is, having the bed in which it is 



