Encyclopaedia of Gardening 239 



room fern. Filix-mas, the Male Fern, scores of varieties. Lepidum^ 

 a graceful fern, suitable for table decoration, but should be propa- 

 gated frequently to get young plants. Molle, a popular market 

 fern; var. corymbiferum is nicely crested. Montanum, the hardy 

 Mountain Buckler Fern, may be grown on the rockery; vars. 

 Barnesii and cristatum are good. Spinulosum, the Prickly Shield 

 Fern; var. dilatatum has many good forms, such as crispum, 

 Howardiae, and Stansfieldii. Thelypteris, the Female Buckler 

 Fern. There are scores of others. 



Nephrolepis (nephrolep-is, from nephros, kidney, and lepis, scale,, 

 in allusion to the covering of the spore cases. Ord. Filices). 

 Graceful ferns, mostly evergreens of pendent habit, and consequently- 

 suitable for culture in baskets. Davallioides and its varieties 

 furcans, furcans plumosa and multiceps, are particularly good for 

 this purpose; they like a warm house, and may be propagated by 

 rhizomes. Bausei and cordifolia are also popular, and may be 

 propagated by the tubers which they produce; the former is- 

 deciduous. Exaltata is a good species for a hothouse. Those that 

 produce spores may be increased by that means. Loam, with a. 

 third of leaf mould, and sand, suit. The evergreens must be given 

 a little water in winter, and they will take large quantities, both at 

 the root and overhead, in summer. 



Nerine (neri-ne, after Nerine, daughter of Nerius. Ord. Amaryl- 

 lideae). 5^ Bulbs. 



Neriurn, Oleander or Rose Bay (ner-ium. Ord. Apocynaceae) . 

 The Oleander is a well-known shrub, grown in large pots or tubs for 

 the sake of its beautiful double pink flowers. It is not difficult to- 

 grow, but it is what gardeners term a dirty plant that is, much 

 subject to the attack of insects (see Aphides). It must be kept clean 

 by regular fumigation or sponging, or it will soon fall into bad 

 health. Propagation is by cuttings in sandy soil under a bell- 

 glass, or in bottles of warm water in spring. Loam, with a fourth, 

 of peat and some sand, suits, and repotting should be done in 

 spring. After flowering the shoots may be trimmed and less water 

 given to afford a rest, after which they may be started again. There 

 are several named varieties, differing in hue, but few specialise the 

 plant. It is poisonous. 



Nertera depressa, Bead Plant (ner-tera, from nerteros, lowly. Ord. 

 Rubiaceae). A pretty little plant, the great charm of which is the 

 abundance of red berries, which nestle' in the leaves just above the 

 ground (see the Botanical Magazine, t. 5799). It is a nice creeper 

 for the rockery, but is not quite hardy. Carpet bedders were wont 

 to make use of it. Some gardeners establish it on the trunks of 

 tree ferns. Propagation is by division or seeds. Sandy soil. 



Netting. A supply of tanned fish netting should always be kept 

 in gardens, as it is useful for protecting seedlings and fruit from 

 birds, and in protecting fruit blossom on wall trees from frost. 



New Zealand Flax, Phormium tenax. 



New Zealand Spinach. See Kitchen Garden. 



