IN MY LADY'S GARDEN 



some of the latest introductions ; but Mrs. Mease, in pale 

 primrose, is one of the loveliest of these, and also of good 

 constitution, producing flowers of most elegant form. 



Ferns and selaginellas should be used freely in arranging 

 the somewhat stiff chrysanthemum, as well as larger foliage 

 plants. 



The selaginellas, midway, as they seem to be, between the 

 ferns and the mosses, are yet distinct from both, and they 

 certainly have a charm of their own. 



Very beautiful is the lace-like denticulation of their leaves, 

 which are not unlike some forms of seaweed, except in colour ; 

 and the metallic shades of blue seen on some of the selagi- 

 nellas, as well as the bright red stems of others, add to their 

 distinction. The most common of the selaginellas and at 

 the same time the hardiest is the low creeping plant often 

 seen in our greenhouses, S. Kraussiana, and this is useful as 

 an edging to a narrow border under glass or to cover the 

 roots of a basket fern. The golden form (S. Kraussiana 

 aurea) is scarcely so desirable as the green one, for its yellow 

 tint is not easily distinguishable from that of a decaying 

 plant, and the rich verdure of the ordinary kind is distinctly 

 valuable. S. pubescens Brauni needs rather more warmth, 

 and should have a thoroughly moist atmosphere during the 

 summer when in growth ; but at this time of year, when the 

 plant is almost dormant, it will stand well in a room without 

 gas, and is remarkably handsome as a furnishing plant, for 

 its elegant sprays are in the richest shades of green, being 

 also very valuable for cutting, as they do not fade quickly 

 in water. It grows to the height of 12 inches, and is a 

 native of the East Indies ; but it will flourish in a minimum 

 temperature of 50, and is more easily managed than most of 

 the larger selaginellas, which require a thoroughly saturated 

 atmosphere at all times to do well. S. Martensii, a native 

 of Mexico, is one of these, with upright seaweed-like fronds 

 of great beauty ; but it needs to be kept in a fernery with 

 greenhouse temperature, and is of no use as a furnishing 

 plant. The climbing sprays of S. coesia arborea (also 

 called Wildenovi altissima, or laevigata) are like a peacock's 



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