226 Commercial Gardening 



that sell best in 3-in. pots, and are wanted at all times. A. Nidus, the 

 " Birds' Nest Fern " from Australia, has become a very popular market Fern 

 of late years, and it is not unusual for one firm alone to have an annual 

 output of 60,000 to 70,000 plants in 3-in. pots, besides large numbers in 

 5-in. and 7-in. pots. The large shining-green fronds forming a cuplike 

 cluster are highly decorative. The variety australasicum (fig. 311), has 

 a black and sharply keeled rachis, while multilobum or multilacerum has 

 the upper portion of the fronds cut into crested or pinnatifid segments. 



Blechnum. A genus of handsome low-growing tree Ferns closely 

 related to and resembling the Lomarias, from which, however, they may 

 be distinguished by having the spore clusters in lines parallel with and 

 usually contiguous to the median nerves. Amongst the kinds requiring 

 greenhouse treatment are B. australe, from South Africa, and B. cartilagi- 

 neum, from Australia. B. brasiliense and B. Lanceola, both from Tropical 

 America, should be grown in the stove, and with them B. occidentale, a 

 pretty species in which the young fronds are brightly tinted. 



Brainea insignis. A pretty Chinese tree Fern with salmon- tinted 

 young fronds. In a small state it is worth growing, but it is at present 

 practically unknown to marketmen. The same may be said of other Fern 

 genera, like Cyathea, Cystopteris, Didymochlsena, Deparia, Hemionitis, 

 Hemitelia, Hymenophyllum, Hypolepis, Lindsaya, Meniscium, Notho- 

 chlsena, Platycerium (the Stag's Horn Ferns), Woodsia, and Woodwardia 

 representatives of which are grown by specialists chiefly to meet the needs 

 of private collections. They all have a certain value, but that is a matter 

 settled by the buyer and seller according to circumstances. 



Cheilanthes. A large genus of ornamental Ferns with gracefully cut 

 fronds. The spore clusters are roundish, and situate near the ends of the 

 free veins. The only species of market value is G. elegans, the Lace 

 Fern, and even this is rarely seen. It is a form of the Tropical American 



C. myriophylla, and has fronds 10-20 in. long, thrice-pinnately cut into 

 small pouch-shaped pinnules smooth above, hairy beneath. It grows freely 

 in a warm greenhouse, and sells best in small pots. 



Davallia (HARE'S FOOT FERN). The Davallias are graceful Ferns with 

 creeping hairy rhizomes, bearing some fancied resemblance to a hare's 

 foot. The spore clusters are marginal and the veins free. Of the large 

 number of species comparatively few find a place with the market grower. 

 Amongst the best may be mentioned D. bullata, and its varieties decora 

 and Mariesi, the latter being very popular for the extraordinary shapes 

 into which it is made by the Japanese frogs, toads, monkeys, balls, &c. 



D. canariensis, D. dissecta, D. tenuifolia, D. stricta, D. Tyermanni, 

 D. Speluncce, D. Griffithiana, and others are sometimes brought to market 

 chiefly in baskets. They are all graceful in appearance, but may be grown 

 as easily in pots as in baskets. 



Dicksonia (Cibotium) Schiedei. This is a Mexican tree Fern 10-15 ft. 

 high when full grown. It is an excellent Fern, and sells by the thousand 

 in America. It has not yet "caught on" with British growers, but its 



