230 



Commercial Gardening 



allowed to suffer from want of water. Plenty' of room and light are also 

 very important. It seems to be the impression that too high or too low 

 a temperature is the cause of sporting back, but we are satisfied this is not 

 the case, having tried them in temperatures from 45 to 75 F. and had no 

 trouble except with a few that got potbound or stood too close to the steam 

 pipe and died out frequently. While we do not pretend to be authorities 

 on this subject, we would advise anyone having any trouble with Pierson 

 Ferns to give them better soil, and see that they never dry out. You will 

 soon have them looking different, and the imperfect leaves may be cut off. 

 Piersoni does not lift well from the bench if very large. If you want fine, 

 large plants, keep them in pots, and plunge the pots in soil or moss." 



Onychium japonicum. This is a free-growing little Fern, native of 

 Japan, China, North India, &c., having mature fronds 1 ft. or more long, 

 ovate in shape, and four times divided into numerous segments. Plants 

 for market sell best in small pots, and may be grown in a cool or warm 

 house according to circumstances. 



Osmunda. A small genus of Ferns remarkable for their distinct ap- 

 pearance and for having the spore clusters borne on separate fronds. The 

 " Flowering Fern" or " Royal Fern" (0. regalis) is the best-known species, 

 and is found in many parts of the temperate and subtropical regions. It 

 grows from 6-8 ft. high, having twice -pinnate barren fronds, and erect 

 cylindrical trusses of fertile fronds thrown up in the centre. Small plants 

 in 3-in. or 5-in. pots sell well, and are easily grown in a cool house. The 

 variety palustris requires more humid conditions, and the variety 

 corymbifera is a rare crested form. 0. Hilli is more compact in growth, 

 but is a fine plant. 0. javanica, a native of Java and Ceylon, is of slower 

 growth than the others, and is somewhat stiffer in appearance. 



PellSBa. A small genus with pin- 

 nate or twice-pinnate fronds more or 

 less leathery in texture, having free 

 venation, marginal sori, with the 

 edges of the pinnae in some species 

 bent back to form a spurious in- 

 dusium. Several kinds are grown in 

 small quantities, amongst the most 

 popular being adiantifolia, alaba- 

 mensis,atropurpurea, Calomelanos, 

 cordata and its variety flexuosa] 

 falcata, geranicefolia, gracilis, has- 

 tata, intramarginalis, involuta, 

 mucronata, rotundifolia, and terni- 

 folia. The last-named and P. Calo- 

 melanos require stove treatment, 

 but the others are easily grown in 

 a greenhouse. 

 Fig. su-piatycerium wuh^ki Platycerium (STAG'S HORN FERN). 



