Gardening for Amateurs 



839 



They need liberal treatment and should 

 be grown in a cool house, as they are other- 

 wise very liable to be attacked by thrips. 

 The best are orientalis and radicans. 







Filmy Ferns. There is a very beauti- 

 ful and distinct class to which the name of 

 Filmy Ferns has been applied. Most mem- 

 bers of this section have fronds of a semi- 

 transparent nature. They grow naturally 

 in damp woods and similar spots, and one 

 has to remember that they are moisture- and 

 shade-loving plants, of which the fronds 

 must never be allowed to get quite dry. 

 They do not require much heat, and thrive 

 best in a closed case or frame in a cool 

 fernery or in a Wardian case in the dwelling- 

 house. It is very necessary that they have 

 a well-drained compost, mainly consisting of 

 peat and sand, with in some cases small 

 pieces of sandstone mixed therewith. If 

 the pots are plunged in moss so much the 

 better, as these ferns are particularly fond 

 of moisture and yet resent being watered 

 overhead. The moss may be freely moistened, 

 and this will ensure the atmosphere of the 

 case being alwavs surcharged with moisture. 

 Filmy Ferns include Hymenophyllum, Tri- 

 chomanes, and some Todeas. The follow- 

 ing is a good selection : Hymenophyllum 

 asplenioides, H. ciliatum, H. crispatum, 

 H. demissum, H. forsterianum, H. Tun- 

 bridgense and H. Wilsoni. Trichomanes 

 Alabamense, T. angustatum, T. Colensoi, 

 T. cuspidatum, T. humile, T. radicans 

 (Killarney Fern) and its varieties, T. reni- 

 forme and T. trichoideum. The Todeas are 



larger than those above mentioned, indeed, 

 T. superba suggests almost a miniature 

 Tree Fern. They have, however, the same 

 type of foliage as the others, and require 

 the same treatment. The different kinds 

 are Todea Fraseri, T. grandipinnula, T. 

 pellucida, and T. superba. 

 



Selaginella. Nearly allied to the ferns, 

 the Selaginellas, or Lycopodiums, as they 

 are sometimes called, require the same 

 treatment. Those of trailing habit are 

 extremely useful for carpeting stages ; a 

 few are suitable for planting beneath the 

 stages or for hanging baskets. 



Immense numbers of Selaginella kraus- 

 siana are disposed of during the season in 

 Covent Garden Market, being largely used 

 for decorative purposes. This is very 

 easily grown, and will rapidly spread over a 

 considerable surface. Of the creeping and 

 trailing kinds may be mentioned, albospica, 

 Braunii, caesia, delicatissima, denticulata, 

 kraussiana, kraussiana aurea, kraussiana 

 variegata, patula, Poulteri, serpens and 

 variabilis. Of larger kinds some of the best 

 are africana, amoena, caesia arborea, cognata, 

 cuspidata, emiliana, erythropus, flabellata, 

 gracilis, grandis, Martensii, tassellata, 

 Victoriae, Wallichii, and watsoniana. The 

 creeping Selaginella caesia and the strong- 

 growing S. caesia arborea (or Willdenovii, as 

 it is sometimes called) are both remarkable 

 for the metallic blue lustre which over- 

 spreads the foliage and appears of varying 

 tint according to the point from which it 

 is viewed. 



Fuchsias. These have long been popu- 

 lar greenhouse plants, and deservedly so, 

 for they are most attractive when in flower 

 from June till September or longer. Then 

 in winter, when every particle of space in the 

 greenhouse is valuable, we can store the 

 Fuchsias away under the stage till early 

 spring if they are in pots. One of their most 

 valued uses is to clothe the pillars or supports 

 of the greenhouse and to train up the rafters 

 of the roof. With their pendent flowers they 

 make a delightful picture, and as they rest 



in winter, all the leaves falling off, they do 

 not shut out the light from the plants on the 

 stage when it is most needed. Fuchsias 

 may be raised from seeds, but cuttings are 

 the usual means of propagation ; they are 

 best inserted in spring or in August. To 

 encourage the plants to continue flowering 

 give them, during summer, weak liquid 

 manure twice a week, and remove all the 

 old flowers as fast as they fade. Another 

 very pretty use for Fuchsias is in hanging 

 baskets. 



