212 PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. 



Smilax to plant are such as have been grown the year pre- 

 vious from seed ; these, if set out in August, will give a 

 full crop by November. The stems being cut the roots 

 will produce another crop by March, and yet another by 

 May, if well handled ; the night temperature, after No- 

 vember, should be from fifty-five to sixty. As Smilax 

 does not require a specially light house, if such a house 

 is used for it in the summer months it had better be 

 shaded. Any good rich, loamy soil will grow Smilax. 



Since Smilax was introduced we have had two rivals 

 useful for festooning purposes namely, the Climbing 

 Fern (Lygodium scandens) and Climbing Asparagus 

 (Asparagus tenuissimus) , but neither have taken well, 

 and I believe that a few years longer will put them out 

 of cultivation for the purposes for which Smilax is used. 

 The cultivation of these is almost identical with that 

 of Srnilax, except that the Asparagus does not seed and is 

 raised from cuttings. 



ROSE, LEMON AND APPLE-SCENTED GERANIUMS. 



The leaves of various scented geraniums are also used 

 for mixing with flowers. When used in the summer 

 months the plants are usually planted out, but when re- 

 quired for winter the treatment should be the same as 

 for winter-flowering geraniums. 



FERNS. 



Ferns are much used for winter decoration, both as 

 plants and to mix with cut-flower work. The species 

 used are comparatively few and are mainly the Adian- 

 tums, or Maiden Hair Ferns. Small plants of Adiantum 

 are now used to mix in with baskets of cut flowers, 

 instead of using the cut fronds. Among the best are : 

 Adiantum cuneatum, A. amabilis, A. Roenbeckii, 

 A. Williamsii, A. decorum, and A. Farleyense. Of 

 other genera, are ; Dc^vallia Mooriana, Pteris 



