FERNERIES. 



389 



a few years ago in my pocket. The Cyathea princeps, from Mexico, 

 is a lovely fern, but it has to be grown in the warmer part of the house. 

 The C. ScJiiedci (fig. 889) is a very graceful fern ; the under surface 



FIG. 888.- Cyathea medullaris. 



FIG. 889. C. Schiedei. 



of the fronds is of a lovely silvery lustre: it is a desirable acquisition. 

 The genus Alsophila yields us two species, the A. australis (fig. 890) 

 and A. capense, both of which do well in the outdoor ferneries in 

 summer time. The Onoclea sensibilis and Struthiopteris germanica 

 (fig. 887) we have excluded from the house altogether, as they grow 

 so much better out of doors. 



The Dicksonia antarctica is a noble tree fern, nearly but not quite 

 hardy. It grows rapidly from spores, and in a few years makes a 



FIG. 890. Alsophila australis. 



FIG. 891. Dicksonia squarrosa. 



good trunk. Dr. Hooker pointed out to me the advisability of not 

 removing the dead fronds, but of allowing them to fall pendant over 

 the trunk, which gives a peculiar and picturesque appearance to the 

 whole plant. We grow also plants of the D. squarrosa (fig. 891). 

 $ome species of Dicksonias are called by Kaulf Cibotium, and of 



