Blanching 



126 ) 



Blechnum 



of water in spring and the first half of summer. 

 .Summer temperature, 65 to 70; winter, 00 to 65. 



Principal Species : 



quinquonervia, 10', Je., trinervia, 8', Je., ro. 

 rlesh, wli. 



BLANCHING. 



The process by which the tough green stems 

 and growths of Celery, Leeks, Endive, Lettuces, 

 etc., become converted into the white, nutty food- 

 stuffs which form such an agreeable addition to 

 the salad bowl and dinner table. It is performed 

 in various ways, with different materials, according 

 to the position the subject to be blanched occu- 

 pies ; but all have the same end in view, viz. the 

 exclusion of light, and consequent prevention of 

 the formation of chlorophyll. Lettucas are 

 blanched by tying the leaves together with a 

 piece of raffia ; Cabbages, by simply bending :i 

 broken leaf over their hearts ; Celery and Leeks, 

 by partially covering with soil ; and Endive, by 

 tying like Lettuces, covering with an inverted 

 flower pot, earthenware saucer, or piece of slate. 

 Khubarb and Seakale are blanched by forcing in 

 a heated, darkened chamber, or by covering with 

 large pots in the open ground. 



BLANDFORDIA. 



Handsome Liliaceous plants (prd. Liliacerc) allied 

 to Hemerocallis and Funkia, but in outward 

 appearance more resembling Cyrtanthus, though 

 very different in structure. The flowers are funnel- 

 shaped and drooping, and range from yellow to 

 orange and scarlet : they are very showy. The 

 leaves are narrow, strongly ribbed, and crowded 

 near the base of the stem. The rootstock is a very 

 short rhizome furnished with fleshy fibres, but not 

 truly bulbous. Propagation is effected by offsets 

 and by seeds. Fibrous loam and peat in equal pro- 

 portions with a little leaf mould and a good dash 

 of sand, make a suitable compost. The species 

 require cool greenhouse treatment, with a fairly 

 liberal supply of water when making growth, but 

 to be kept dry when resting. Repotting may be 

 accomplished in autumn, before fresh growth com- 

 mences. 



Principal Species : 

 Cumiiughainii (KCC grandi- 



flora). 

 Uainmea, H', Je., dull 



yel. 

 aurea, 1' to 2', sum., 



gold yel. 



Other Species : 

 intermedia (see grandi- 



flora). 



grancliflora, 2', Jy., crim. 

 (.w/w.s-. Backhousii, Cun- 

 niughamii. intermedia, 

 punicea, and speciosa). 



nobilis, 2', Jy. , or. 



marginata, 2', Jy., Sep., 

 crim. 



BLECHNUM. 



A genus of Ferns (ord. Filices), closely allied to 

 the well known and popular Lomarias. They are 

 either of creeping or tufted habit, and often have 

 an erect stem, like a miniature tree Fern. The 

 handsome British Fern, popularly known as Blech- 

 num Spicant, is correctly Lomaria Spicant. It is 

 a grand plant, either for the greenhouse or the 

 outdoor fernery. 



Propagation. By offsets, by division of the 

 creeping rhizomes, and by spores. 



Soil. The species are not fastidious, as they 

 may be grown in peat and loam in various relative 

 proportions, with sharp silver sand or finely broken 

 crocks intermixed to ensure porosity. 



Other Cultural Points. Some require stove 

 moisture and heat, say, 55 to 60 in winter, and 

 60 to 90 in summer. Others may be grown in a 

 greenhouse. 



Principal Species : 



australe, 1|-', grh. Stem stout, creeping, scaly. 



brasiliense, 2' to 4', grh. Nearly hdy. in 

 various parts of Britain, but does well iii st. 



cartilagineum, 1' to 2', grh. Leathery. 



longifolium. 1' to 2', st. Stem slender, creeping 

 (. latifolium and gracile). 



- fraxineum. Habit more robust, 

 nitidum, 1' to IV, st. 



occiclentale, 1' to 2J', Aug., grh. One of the 

 easiest to grow and accommodate (syn. glandulo- 

 sum). 



- multifidum. Crested and tassellecl. 

 unilaterale, i>" to 1-J-', st. or grh. Stem elon- 

 gated, fronds thin in texture (gym. polypodioides 

 and triangulare). 



Photo: CasseH>tCo.,lM. 



BLECHNUH TRIANGULAUE. BLECHNUM OCCIDENTALS. 



Other Species : 



angustifolium,rto lj',st. 



boreale (see Lomaria 

 Spicant) . 



aitkeuiana (see Lo- 

 maria Spicant aitkeni- 

 anum) . 



corcovadenee (a var. of 

 brasiliense). 



denticulatiim, Je., grh. 



fmlaysonianum, st. 



fontnnesianum, st. 



gracile, st. (tee longi- 

 folium). 



hast;itum, st. 



intermedium, st. 



Lanceola, G" to 12", st. 



trifoliatum. 



laivigatum, grh. 



ork'ntale, st. 



pectinatum, st. 



polypodioides (nee uni- 

 laterale) . 



rngosum, 1', st. and grh. 



serrulatum, hdy. (ti/n. 

 striatum) . 



triangulare (we unilater- 

 ale). 



trifoliatum (see Lauceola 

 trifoliatum). 



volubile, st., cL 



