52 MASSACHUSETTS HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Sir W. J. Hooker and his associates belongs the credit of so great 

 an increase during the later years. I cannot learn exactly how 

 many are now under cultivation in America ; probably from six 

 hundred to eight hundred species. 



The habit of making so great account of mere varieties as is 

 now the custom in England, seems absurd and wrong. Almost 

 every extended list describes over fifty varieties of some single 

 species ; probably the majority of these are abortive, malformed, 

 ungraceful plants, religiously cared for and perpetuated, yet en- 

 tirely unworthy of a place in any conservatory. Why should 

 these be preserved any more than an unhealthy or malformed pe- 

 largonium or fuchsia? It is certainly not in accordance with the 

 true spirit of improvement in cultivation that these are kept. 

 There are variations of species, however, of great merit, as the 

 Adiantum Farleyense and var. cristata of Aspidium Filix-mas, be- 

 sides many others. 



"We cannot, in cultivating ferns, do better than to look at nature. 

 I know but one fern that will grow with its root, or rather its rhi- 

 zome, under water ; they need a plentiful supply, but must have 

 perfect di ainage ; if in pots or pans, for the more delicate kinds 

 one third of the pot should be filled with finely broken crocks, with 

 a bit of dr}' moss on top to prevent the earth washing through to 

 clog the drainage. 



The soil which is acknowledged to be the best for general use is 

 about one part river sand, one part virgin loam, and two parts leaf- 

 mould or peat, not made too fine. I have never tried manure, nor 

 can I find any notice of its being used, except in one instance when 

 well decomposed stable manure was tried with success. An even 

 temperature, avoiding drafts, and a humid atmosphere, are to be 

 desired for the tropical fern house ; the house itself to be sunk be- 

 low ground, and to face any way but south. The water shedding 

 pinnules of the species of Adiantum suggest that showering the 

 top of the plants is unnecessary, and I find by a slight personal 

 experience that this is true, as has also been found the case at the 

 Kew gardens, according to the reports. The necessary dampness 

 may be kept up by having wet sand on the benches, and by sprink- 

 ling the ground as well. Many species of Gymnogrmnme, Notlio- 

 la^na, Cheflarifhes, and Pelkea grow in exposed situations, and will 

 endure drought and the direct rays of the sun. Some may be 

 treated as severely as a cactus, while most species of Asplenium, 



