Cystopteris 



( 272 ) 



Cytisus 



CYSTOPTERIS. (THE BLADDER FERN.) 

 Elegant hardy Ferns (ord. Filices), with one 

 exception (bulbifera) natives of Britain. Allied to 

 Microlepia and Woodsia. They are choice subjects 

 for the hardy fernery, where they delight in a light, 

 rich soil, such as sandy loam, peat, and leaf mould 

 in equal parts. When in pots, a little old mortar 

 rubbish should be added to the soil. Propagation 

 is by spores and division in all cases ; by bulbils, 

 in addition, in the case of bulbifera. Spores are 

 best sown in autumn, and division of the crowns 

 should be practised ill March and April. 



are by no means unornamcntal. The Laburnum was 

 formerly included in this genus, but it is now placed 

 in a genus with its allied species, such as Adami. 



Propagation. By seed, sown when ripe, in sandy 

 soil in a cool frame, artificial heat not necessary ; 

 by layers ; by grafting upon a common stock, such 

 as the Laburnum, for the rarer species and those 

 of prostrate habit ; and by cuttings of the young 

 shoots, taken in spring or autumn, with a heel, and 

 struck in a close frame. The cuttings should be 

 about 3" long. This is the method of propaga- 

 tion for the Genistas. 



CYTI.-US scor.uurs sui.i'iirKF.rs (see p, 27 



Principal Species : 

 alpina, 4" to 9". 

 bulbifera, 6" to li". May 



be propagated by the 



bulbils, 

 fragilis, 6" to 9". There 



are several forms of this 



pretty native Fern, of 

 which angustata, den- 

 tata, and dickeaua are 

 the best. The last named 

 is especially distinct, 

 moutaua, G" to 'J", rare. 



CYTISUS. 



Description. Handsome flowering shrubs (ord. 

 Leguminosa;), hardy for the most part, but in a 

 few instances requiring the shelter of a green- 

 house. There is a considerable variation in habit, 

 some of the species making thick bushes 10' or 12' 

 in height, as in the case of the common Broom ; 

 others being prostrate shrubs suitable for planting 

 in the rock garden. In this latter section may be 

 placed Ardoinei, purpureus, and the charming 

 hybrid kewensis. Canariensis and racemosus arc 

 very popular window and conservatory plants, and 

 as " Genistas " rind their way in thousands into the 

 market. Albus and prsccox are grand plants for 

 massing in clumps upon the lawn, for even when 

 not in bloom their long, green, whip-like branches 



Soil. A good, sandy loam, with an admixture of 

 leaf mould or peat, will suit the pot plants admir- 

 ably. For those growing outdoors any ordinary 

 soil will suit, provided it be not too heavy and 

 lumpy. 



Other Cultural Points. The dwarf, bushy 

 Genistas, in .">" and ti" pots, so much in request, 

 are obtained by striking cuttings in close frames 

 in spring, and growing the plants steadily on in 

 cold frames through the early part of the summer. 

 Pinching is resorted to several times, to induce a 

 bushy habit, and towards the end of the summer 

 the plants are placed out of doors on an ash bed 

 to ripen. Firm potting is essential, and, once the 

 pots are filled with roots, occasional supplies of 

 liquid manure are given. In spring the plants are 

 brought into heat in batches, so as to furnish a 

 succession of bloom. Much heat must not be 

 given, or the buds will drop. Canariensis is 

 naturally a little later in blooming than raceraosus. 

 Old plants are cut back immediately after flowering, 

 placed in gentle heat, and kept syringed. They 

 soon break into fresh growth, and are then gradually 



