FERNS 



FERNS 



1215 



moss, carefully placed between the small rhizomes and thrown in a 

 dense shade. Their foliage should never be allowed to become dry; 

 they should be grown in a case. Winter temperature, 52° to 55°. 



Ilypolepis. A class of ferns with creeping rootstock, of easy 

 culture, requiring shade. Propagated by spores and di\nsion. 

 General culture of ferns. 



Leucosteffia. A class of ferns allied to Microlepia and Davallia, 

 which see. Deep-rooting ferns of easy culture. Winter temperature, 

 52° to 55°. 



Lygodinm. A class of ferns of easy culture, requiring a deep 

 rich loamy soil. L. palmatum is hardy. For culture, see main 

 article (p. 1210). 



Marattia. A bold, distinct, and interesting class of ferns. Allied 

 to Angiopteris, which see for treatment. 



Mfnisrium. A small class of interesting low-growing ferns. 

 Require a medium temperature of 52° to 55° in winter. General 

 culture of ferns (p. 1210). Propagated by spores. 



Microlepia. A class of mostly strong-growing and graceful 

 ferns of easy culture; M. hirta var. cristata, being crested, makes a 

 beautiful specimen. They like a strong open soil with a little cow- 

 manure added and a fair supply of water at all times. They require 

 good light but shady. Propagated by division or spores. 



1490. Pteris cretica var. albo-lineata. (X H) 



Nephrolepis. A large group of ferns hai-ing more garden forms 

 than any other class of ferns, and the end is not yet in sight, as 

 every year or two another form appears; the type A', exaliata will 

 grow fronds 4 to 5 feet long, while some of the variations will 

 grow them as short as S inches long. All the forms of A', exaltata 

 will stand sunshine under glass. A compost of three parts good 

 fibrj' loam, one part manure, one part sand, a small sprinkling of 

 leaf-mold and sphagnum moss thoroughly mixed, suits them liest. 

 They like a fair supply of water at all times. When potting, always 

 drop the plant down so as to cover }4 inch, as the young fronds 

 will readily push through the soil. N. Bausd is deciduous. A'^. 

 Duffii is a small fronded and beautiful species. Propagated readily 

 by runners, of which they furnish an abundance: pin the runners 

 down over the surface of the soil; in a short time they will make a 

 lot of young plants which can be taken up when they have made two 

 fronds, potted up into 2-inch pots, kept close for about two weeks, 

 when more air can be given them; then pot on as required. 



Notholcena sinuata. Native of Mexico; an interesting and grace- 

 ful fern of downy foliage. Grows well in a medium temperature. 

 Care must be taken in watering; it will not stand syringing. An 



open porous soil suits it beat. Propagated by division or spores, 

 spores preferred. 



Onychium. A class of interesting and graceful ferns of easy cul- 

 ture for which see main article. Winter temperature 48° to 52°, 

 Propagated by spores or division. 



Pelhea. A very interesting class of low-growing ferns of neat and 

 graceful habit. Winter temperature 55° to 5S° at night. Requires 

 a porous soil and good light; will not stand very much moisture on 

 foUage. Thrip and mealy-bug are the worst enemies. Readily 

 propagated by spores or division. 



Phlebodium. Ferns of strong-growing habit. See PolypoOium, 



Phyllitis. A class of shallow-rooting ferns of easy culture. Allied 

 to Polypodium, which see. 



Phymotodcs. Somewhat shallow-rooted, but fairly strong-grow- 

 ing ferns, of easy culture. Best grown in pans. Require partial 

 shade and a porous soil as for shallow polypodiums or davallias. 

 They may also be used to cover walls in greenhouses, and to grow 

 on trunks of tall tree ferns. 



Plaiycerium. The stag and elk's-horn ferns. A distinct and 

 most interesting class of ferns. They naturally grow in the forks 

 of trees and on rocks. They are best grown on blocks or rafts; fibry 

 peat and live sphagnum moss suit them best. They should have 

 plenty of water in the growing season and a moist atmosphere at 

 all times. Winter temperature at night, 58° to 60°, adding 5° to 7** 

 by day. 



Polypodium. Comprising many divisions and many of them in 

 common cultivation. They are native of all climes. Some are hardy 

 with hardly any protection, while some require stove temperature. 

 Some are deep-rooting, while others are very shallow-rooting and 

 require a very porous soil. They are mostly evergreen excepting 

 the hardy species, which are deciduous. Some of the shallow-rooting 

 species will grow on a surface of very shallow material composed 

 of peat and moss, while others require an addition of loam. Tliey 

 are varied and distinct and can be employed for many purposes, to 

 cover walls in a greenhouse or conservatory or rockwork out-of- 

 doors. Some are very decorative and bold in habit, while others 

 are graceful and beautiful. The deep-rooting kinds require a com- 

 post of two parts loam, one part leaf-mold, one part peat, one part 

 sand, one part sphagnum moss, one-half part broken crocks and 

 one-half part broken charcoal; they require ample drainage and 

 an ample supply of water when growing, and reduced amount when 

 at rest in winter. The shallow -growing sorts will require ample 

 drainage and a compost of one part fibry loam, one part peat, 

 one part sphagnum moss, one-half part broken crocks and one-half 

 part charcoal. Some of the sorts will grow on a mossy surface or 

 can be employed to cover walls or unsightly places in a greenhouse 

 and by receiving an occasional syringing will do well, while others 

 are better grown in pots or pans. Pans for many are preferred. 



Pulysiichum. Many of these are hardy or will winter out-of- 

 doors with moderate protection. Propagated by spores or by pin- 

 ning down the fronds on a porous surface until small buds are 

 fairly well rooted, when they may be detached and potted singly. 

 A moderate soil suits them best. 



Pteris. Fig. 1490. A various group, some of them hardy, 

 others suitable for greenhouses and for stoves. They are not par- 

 ticular as to soil: a mixture of two parts peat, one part loam and 

 one part sand will suit them. The variegated forms should be pro- 

 tected from very strong light. Some of the species propagate 

 readily by di\i3ion of the creeping rhizomes. Most of the tender 

 species thrive in an intermediate or greenhouse temperature. 



Selaginella. A class of plants of decorative and useful character 

 and varied in form of growth as .S. cspsia, S. arborea and S. Will- 

 denovii; will grow to 15 or more feet, while others will not rise over 

 2 inches or so. Propagated by cuttings in the larger-growing kinds, 

 division in most kinds, and pegging in some tall -growing species. 

 Takedown a tall-growing sort and peg it to mossy and sandy surface 

 and in a short time when fairly well rooted, it may be potted sepa- 

 rately in the regular mixture for Selaginella. Compost for Selagi- 

 nella, two parts loam, one part fibry peat, one part leaf-mold, one 

 part sand, one part sphagnum moss, one-half part broken crocks 

 and one part charcoal. Mix the whole thoroughly, drain well as 

 recommended for ferns. S. grandis and S. Lyallii require a Wardian 

 case and will need a very moist atmosphere at all times, also a tem- 

 perature of 60° by night, with corresponding increase by day in 

 winter; in summer, 80° to 90° by day. 



Todea. The filmy ferns of New Zealand are T. superba, the 

 finest of them all; they are rare and seldom met with; they love a 

 deep shade and coolness at all times; a temperature of 40° to 45° in 

 winter suits them best. Their fronds should never be allowed to 

 become dry. The strong -fronded ferns are stove ferns, requiring 

 a winter temperature of 55° to 60°. 



Trichomanes. A class of filmy ferns of great beauty, requiring 

 a cool and moist atmosphere. They should be grown in fibry peat, 

 sphagnum moss, sand, and broken crocks in equal parts. They are 

 verj' shallow-rooting and must be handled with the utmost care in 

 repotting. They must be potted tight, and if small broken sand- 

 stone can be had, all the better; the depth of the soil need not be 

 more than 1 to l)-2 inches. Temperature 45° to 50° in winter. They 

 should be grown in a Wardian case, kept close except an opening 

 on the coolest side. The fronds should never become dry; but 

 should be sprayed several times a day if there is danger of their 

 becoming dry. 



Vitfaria lineata. A very unusual fern growing naturally on trees 

 in southern Florida. It does best fastened on a block in a mixture 

 of fibry peat and sphagnum moss or in shallow baskets in the fore- 

 going materials with a portion of sand, broken crocks and charcoal 

 broken small. Pot firmly but let the material be shallow. It loves 

 plenty of water at all times and a good light. Propagated by divis- 

 ion and spores. Winter temperature 55° liy night. 



