834 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Flowering Fern (Anemia). 



Gyathea. Vigorous ferns, many of 

 which attain tree-like dimensions. Those 

 in general cultivation are dealbata, the 

 Silver Fern of New Zealand, and medul- 

 laris, a particularly strong grower, that 

 needs a large and 

 lofty structure for its 

 accommodation. 



Cyrtomium (Holly 

 Fern). The Cyrto- 

 miums, which are 

 natives chiefly of 

 Japan, are among the 

 least particular of 

 ferns, and do well in 

 the dwelling - house, 

 but, of course, better 

 still in a greenhouse. 

 The pinnate fronds 

 are of a hard leathery 

 texture and dark 

 green colour. The 

 best is falcatum, of 

 which there are some 

 distinct garden forms, 

 namely, Butterfieldi, 

 Fensomei and Mayi. 

 The fronds of Mayi 

 are prettily crisped 

 and crested at the 



tips, while in the variety cristata this character 

 is even more pronounced. Other distinct sorts 

 are caryotideum and Fortunei. 



Davallia. An extensive class of ferns, 

 which occur more or less plentifully through- 

 out the greater part of the world. Most of 

 them are characterised by creeping rhizomes ; 

 many have finely- cut fronds, though there is 

 a marked exception in heterophylla, of 

 which the sterile fronds are lance-shaped, 

 while the fertile ones are deeply serrated. 

 From their creeping character many of the 

 Davallias are well suited for growing in 

 suspended baskets or on blocks of Tree 

 Fern stem. One of the best for this pur- 

 pose is the Squirrel Foot Fern (D. bullata). 

 It derives its popular name from the hairy 

 points of the rhizomes being suggestive of 

 a squirrel's foot. Another sort Canariensis 

 is known as the Hare's Foot Fern. The 

 various fern balls and representations cf 

 animals, birds, etc., that are so largely sent 

 to this country from Japan, are formed of 

 Davallia bullata. For forming large specimens 

 some of the Davallias, such as Brasiliensis, 

 Canariensis, elegans, Fijiensis and its varieties, 

 Mariesii, solida, tenuifolia and Tyermanni are 

 well suited. On the other hand, parvula is a 



The most handsome Maidenhair fern (Adiantum Farleyense). 



