CRYPTOGAMIA IN CULTIVATION. 55 



the names of ferns prove troublesome in correctly labelling a col- 

 lection ; there are also many garden names which have been given 

 to plants apparently without authority, and which add to the con- 

 fusion. As there are but few known hybrids, and as the origin of 

 almost all the varieties now cultivated can be decided, it is much 

 easier to name ferns correctly than it is many other classes of 

 plants that are the result of much hj^bridizatiou and long cultiva- 

 tion ; therefore it would seem to be the duty of all such societies 

 as this to recognize but one name, and that the correct one. 

 Thus by a joint and continued action with other societies one 

 system of correct names would come into use, saving much confu- 

 sion to future cultivators. 



As an illustration of this point I may mention that at the last 

 exhibition at Music Hall, in the same collection were two fine 

 specimens of Selaginella growiug in pans ; one was ticketed Ly- 

 co2}odium densimi, the other Selaginella densa. These are of course 

 the same name, and both plants were, without doubt, Selaginella 

 apus, a native of North America, from which the cultivated plant 

 does not seem to vary. 



A. P. Calder said that two years ago he planted a fern house 

 one hundred and twenty feet by ten, and that he had used cow 

 manure for the plants, which were thriving finely, as gentlemen 

 present could testify. He had found this manure indispensable 

 for all plants, but particularly for ferns. He used it only when 

 thoroughly rotted, and made a compost of one half cow manure, 

 and the other half soil from the woods. 



Mr. Robinson knew no reason why manure should not be bene- 

 ficial to ferns, though the books generally advise not to use it. 



William C. Strong agreed with the essayist that it is surprising 

 that ferns are not more cultivated. No plants produce finer efiects 

 on the lawn. 



Edward S. Rand, Jr., spoke of the readiness with which ferns 

 propagate. In the orchid house the spores floating in the air 

 grow in the baskets of orchids, and have to be weeded out. Gym- 

 nogramme cJirysopJiylla, especially, propagates with the greatest 

 freedom. He had grown in the ordinary dry atmosphere of a 

 dwelling house four species, Nephrolepis exaltata, Adiantum cunea- 

 tum, Pteris tremula, and Pteris Cretica albo-lineatd. Pteris semdata, 

 which is a nuisance in the hothouse on account of its seeding so 

 freely in every direction, cannot be grown in the parlor. 



