264 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



Filmy Ferns. Until the invention of the Wardian case the 

 culture of the Filmy Ferns was a failure, but given a fair 

 start and the observance of a little common-sense, and there 

 is no class of Ferns which so well repays a minimum of 

 trouble with a maximum of pleasure. The Filmy Ferns, 

 so called from the delicate and diaphanous nature of their 

 fronds, rank decidedly among the most beautiful plants 

 extant. In their native haunts, which are mainly situated 

 in hilly regions, they clothe the rocks, leafy banks, and the 

 trunks of trees and tree ferns with dense masses of trans- 

 lucent frondage, ranging from minute moss-like growths 

 up to the stately fronds of the Todeas, and varying in 

 form from the exquisitely slender hair-like types of Tricho- 

 manes trichoideum to the broad, kidney - shaped, almost 

 leathery foliage of T. reniforme even in one and the same 

 genus. In the vast majority of cases they spread by means 

 of thin, ramifying rhizomes, which cling to rock and other 

 congenial sites and form mat-like cushions of glistening 

 emerald verdure. Wherever they are found, the condi- 

 tions are such that the atmosphere is constantly saturated 

 with moisture, and it will also be seen that perpetual 

 shade is afforded by the loftier vegetation amid which they 

 thrive. Transport them even for a few minutes into 

 dry air, and they quickly shrivel. From the nature of 

 their habitats, therefore, it is easy to outline their cultural 

 requirements, both as regards soil and aerial conditions, 

 and we can at once perceive that a close Wardian case or 

 even a bell-glass in a cool, shady position, or, better still, a 

 sunken brick-lined and glass-covered pit in a shady corner of 

 the garden, secure the main essentials. The soil, as we have 

 seen, consists entirely of the debris of vegetation mixed with 

 more or less broken rocks ; or there may be no soil at all, as in 

 the case of the fern-clad tree trunks. In practice, good brown 

 lumpy peat affords precisely the requisite foothold ; hence, 

 taking a fair-sized Wardian case, we should secure the proper 

 drainage for the Filmies are not Bog Ferns by a careful and 

 liberal supply of broken pots and broken bricks, nearly filling 

 the receptacle with these. After this pile up the lumpiest 

 peat possible, mingling it liberally with coarse silver sand and 

 lumps of porous stone, and, finally, top the compost with 

 pieces of rock. This done, take the clumps of Filmies and 

 peg them securely down over the rocks in the desired positions, 

 leaving room between the species for subsequent spreading. 

 Then prepare some finer peaty compost mixed liberally with 

 coarse silver sand, and sift this over the clumps until they are 

 fairly buried, finally giving such a drastic drenching from jug 



