266 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 43C. 



the most noted raiser of these valuable border flowers, had 

 an extensive display of superb varieties, the majority seed- 

 lings. Bat it is difficult to describe them as they differed 

 only by subtle shades of purples and lilacs. One I singled 

 out as very remarkable, and, in fact, is the only variety I 

 have yet seen with ivory-white flowers, and is a decided 

 break from the prevailing tints. It may lead up to some 

 remarkable seedlings with variegated flowers. 



The Chrysanthemum-flowered Pseonies from Messrs. 

 Wallace, of Colchester, attracted much attention, as they 

 are distinctly different from the full double sorts. Mr. 

 Wallace told me he imported them direct from Japan, 

 where they have evidently made a point in selecting this 

 peculiar type of flower. The flowers are large, with broad 

 shell-like outer petals, while the inner petals are narrow 

 and incurved like a chrysanthemum, or rather like an 

 anemone. One can see a future for this type of Pceony, 

 though perhaps they will never rival the glorious French 

 varieties with huge globular double heads. 



The most remarkable cultural exhibit in the show was a 

 collection of Streptocarpus grown to perfection by one of 

 the best vegetable gardeners in the country. The plants 

 represented all the finest of the Kew and Chelsea hybrids, 

 and every plant carried quite a sheaf of several scores of 

 blossoms. They were quite a revelation to most people, 

 and especially to the men who raised the hybrids, as they 

 never thought that such perfection could be attained in 

 such plants. The collection was the greatest advertise- 

 ment Messrs. Veitch could have for their hybrids, and, no 

 doubt, it will give an impetus to Streptocarpus culture. Of 

 the miscellaneous exhibits may be mentioned the pretty 

 Californian Brodifea Howelli lilacina, which was con- 

 sidered worthy of a first-class certificate. It is much richer 

 in color than the type, and the same exhibitors, Messrs. 

 Wallace, also showed B. ixioides erecta, distinct from the 

 type in its larger flowers and more erect umbels. They also 

 had a number of lovely Californian bulbous plants, Calo- 

 chorti and the like, besides Japanese Lilies, of which the 

 new form of L. Japonicum, called Alexandra, was remark- 

 able. It may be best described as a pure white Lilium 

 Krameri. Messrs. Veitch showed some choice Japanese 

 shrubs in flower, including Cornus Kousa, Styrax Japonica, 

 Indigofera decora alba, and Ctesalpinia Japonica, all of 

 which have proved hardy in their nursery in Surrey, 

 though all regarded as doubtful plants generally in this 



country. 



Kew. 



William Gold ring. 



Cultural Department. 



Filmy Ferns in the Dwelling-house. 



IT may seem strange to some to be told that Filmy Ferns are 

 good house plants, as their fronds are of the thinnest pos- 

 sible texture and they require to be continually kept in a very 

 humid atmosphere, but they can be grown successfully by 

 keeping them all the time in a glass case. An inexpensive 

 case can easily be constructed with three large panes of glass 

 for the top and for the two sides, and two smaller ones for the 

 ends. The size of the panes can be determined by conve- 

 nience and the kinds of Ferns it is intended to grow. The 

 bottom of the case should consist of a stout piece of wood, and 

 on top of this a zinc pan to prevent water getting through, and 

 also to provide a constant supply of moisture. The glass can 

 be kept in position with four pieces of oak-wood with the 

 bark on and a quarter section grooved out the entire length. 

 The pieces can be nailed to the wooden frame, and at the top 

 fastened with wire or pieces of wood running all the way 

 round, finished off so that the glass top will lie perfectly flat. 

 The kind of soil in which I find Filmy Ferns to succeed best 

 consists of rough peat or fern-roots, pieces of broken pots, 

 bricks or sandstone in equal proportions. Some rough sand 

 should be added, and lumps of charcoal the size of small 

 Hickory nuts, all mixed together thoroughly. Some rough gravel 

 should first be put into the zinc pan and this covered with 

 some that is a little finer. Instead of planting the Ferns out in 

 the case I prefer to keep them in pots or small seed pans, and 

 success depends greatly on the manner in which they are 

 potted. One-third of the pot should be filled with small pieces of 



broken pots for drainage, and the remainder filled with a suffi- 

 cient quantity of the soil to keep the plant when finished off 

 well above the rim. The soil should be firmly pressed about 

 the roots and pieces of charcoal or standstone be used to keep 

 it firmly in place. When placed in the case the spaces around 

 the pots should be filled in with different kinds of rocks. The 

 tallest plants should be in the centre, or if the plants are all 

 about the same size some should be stood on pieces of flat 

 stones. The rocks will soon become moss-grown and present 

 a beautiful appearance. After the Ferns are potted and 

 arranged the first watering should be done with a fine sprink- 

 ler so as to settle the soil ; after that they must be watered 

 through the spout of a small watering-pot, as the fronds should 

 not be watered overhead. If water is kept in the zinc pan all 

 the time it will be found that the plants will require but very 

 little water. A window facing north is the best position for 

 them, and if put in a more sunny place they must be shaded. 

 In fact, the sun should never be allowed to shine on them as 

 it dries up the moisture which condenses on the fronds much 

 too rapidly. 



In the selection of kinds to be cultivated there are a great 

 many to choose from. The greater number are only of botani- 

 cal interest, but there are several ornamental-leaved species 

 suitable for this purpose. One of the best is Trichomanes 

 renitorme, a native of New Zealand, with almost transparent, 

 kidney-shaped leaves. The variety of the Killarney Fern, 

 T. radicans, which grows wild in some parts of Alabama and 

 adjoining states and is named Alabamensis, is well adapted 

 for this work, as it is dwarf and grows very easily. T. trichoi- 

 deum is well worth trying; the divisions of the fronds are 

 almost hair-like, presenting a beautiful appearance when well 

 grown. Small plants of Todea superba have a very orna- 

 mental appearance; they can be kept for some time in a 

 small state if given only limited root room ; otherwise they 

 soon become too large for a glass case. Among the Hymeno- 

 phyllums, H. demissum, H. hirtellum and H. pulcherrimum 

 all thrive under ordinary conditions. 



Botanic Garden, Washington, D. C. G. IV. Oliver. 



Notes on Hardy Perennials. 



■pyCTAMNUS ALBUS, oftener found in gardens under the 

 -'-' name D. Fraxinella, is an extremely effective plant when 

 well grown. We find the form with rosy or purplish flowers 

 more robust, and it makes much larger and more effective 

 plants here than that with white flowers. This perennial plant 

 has been cultivated in gardens for a great many years, and few 

 perennials have a better and more effective habit. It has stout 

 stems standing erect without staking, and attains a height of two 

 feet and sometimes more with good cultivation. It has verv dis- 

 tinct shining pinnate leaves. The flowers are produced in erect 

 terminal racemes, and they last for two or three weeks in good 

 condition. It does best here in a deep, partially moist soil and 

 in a position where it is shaded from the sun during the hot- 

 test part of the day. We find that it thrives best if not disturbed 

 too often. 



Along the back row of the herbaceous border large plants 

 of Clematis recta are in full bloom and are imposing at this 

 time. This hardy perennial Clematis is an ideal plant for such 

 a position, but requires caretul tying to a strong stake about 

 four feet in length. If this is neglected the showy white 

 corymbs are not seen to advantage at flowering time. There 

 are several forms of this plant, some of them blossoming a 

 week or sometimes nearly two weeks before the others open 

 their flowers. The typical plant is from four to five feet high 

 and well clothed with pinnate leaves, the leaflets stalked, ovate, 

 acuminate and entire. The flowers in many of the forms are 

 produced in dense corymbs, although some have loose 

 corymbs and are less valuable as decorative plants. One dis- 

 tinct variety now in flower makes a neat border plant attaining 

 a height of from two to three feet, and it has loose corymbs of 

 white flowers. This plant is known as C. recta lathryfolia. 

 C. integrifoha is a neat distinct border plant with stems two 

 feet high and stands erect without any support. The leaves 

 are entire, rather scattered on the stems, ovate-lanceolate and 

 smooth. The nodding blue flowers are produced singly on 

 rather long peduncles at the ends of the stems. Although it 

 is not as showy as some plants belonging tothis genus, it has 

 its own place and works in nicely in the third row from the 

 front in the border. 



A plant that attracts a good deal of attention in the border is 

 Gypsophila Gmelinii. This Siberian plant has an elegant 

 habit ; it is about eighteen inches high and spreads out a yard 

 or more in diameter. The Loose, spreading stems are pro- 

 duced from a half-woody root and form a round, compact 



