112 FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. 



them. They require only the same soil that is 

 suitable for other ferns, and must, during their 

 season of active growth, receive plenty of water 

 at the roots ; but a drop must never touch their 

 fronds, as, if sprinkled like others, they will imme- 

 diately cease to be gold and silver ferns, and only 

 look like poor examples of other species which have 

 caught the drippings of the white or yellow wash 

 of some fresco-painter. Ferns of this class re- 

 quire less shade than most other species, but will 

 even thrive under a little direct sunshine, provided 

 it be not at noon nor in hot weather. When well 

 grown they are very elegant, and are particularly 

 adapted to exhibition-purposes. They are not, as 

 a rule, good for the fern-case. 



The following list contains many of the best Gold 

 and Silver Ferns for cultivation, and also of the 

 forms which have no white or yellow powder, but 

 belong to the same genera, and require the same 

 treatment as the first : l 



I. With Yellow or White Powder. 



Gymnogramme chrysophylla, Kaulf. (Lowe, vol. i., PI. i, 

 under G. Martensii). From the West Indies : powder 

 yellow; fr. 10 to 20 inches long. 



G. chrysophylla, var. Laucheana, Hort., is a cultivated variety 

 of the last, with powder of a deeper yellow. 



G, Peruviana, Desv. From Tropical America: powder 



i For all abbreviations used in the lists in this book, see explanation 

 following Table of Contents. 



