PORTUGUESE GARDENS 17 



or Fern by the yard, seems to be first favourite, 

 and splendid specimens are to be seen, each frond 

 measuring one to two yards in length. Gymno- 

 grammes, or golden ferns, are also much prized, 

 and the Asparagus sprengerii has during the last 

 few years found many admirers, with its long 

 sprays rivalling in length the Feto do metro. 

 AdiantumA and all the commoner ferns are given 

 a place, according to the taste of their owners. 



I cannot close this chapter without a few words 

 on the subject of the neat devices made by the 

 Portuguese out of canes or bamboo, for training 

 plants. In some instances it may be overdone, 

 and one cannot always admire rose-trees trained 

 on to bamboo frames in the shape of fans, crosses, 

 or even umbrellas ; but the little arched fences as a 

 support to lower-growing plants are used with very 

 good effect. I have copied the idea in England with 

 some success for training ivy-leaved geraniums in 

 large pots or tubs, by planting four rather stout 

 bamboos or canes, two feet or more in height, in 

 the pots, then slipping four pieces of split cane into 

 the hollow ends, and either forming four arches, 

 by inserting each end of the split length into the 

 hollow, or else a pagoda-like effect can be made by 

 taking the split canes into the middle, and then 



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