May io, 1893.] 



Garden and Forest. 



207 



Many Ferns grow only on rocks, while others are found in 

 stony soil ; some are sub-aquatic, and, again, some favor rich 

 black vegetable-mold. All Ferns, however, will thrive in 

 mold, provided other conditions are similar to those in which 

 they are found wild. The common Polypody (Polypodium 

 vulgare) is always found growing in tufts on rocks where but 

 little soil can accumulate. P. incanum is not unlike P. vul- 

 gare. It is only found in the southern states, though it is hardy 

 in the east. It also grows in similar positions, and sometimes 

 on trees where moisture is assured. These two species should 

 be planted among stones to secure ample drainage, with very 

 little organic matter about their roots. Cheilanthes vestita, 

 another rare and beautiful Fern, also grows in the clefts of 

 rocks. This is sometimes called the Lace Fern, owing to its 

 elegant fronds ; it is perfectly hardy. Camptosorus rhizophyl- 

 lus, the Walking Fern, grows in similar situations, and is a 

 most interesting Fern, peculiar to North America. Young 

 plants are produced at the tips of each frond as they arch over 

 and touch the soil ; these take root, and the plant is thus propa- 

 gated. Asplenium Trichomanes, the Maiden-hair Spleenwort, 

 is a desirable Fern, though not common in cultivation ; its cul- 

 ture is simple, similar to that of C. rhizophyllus. This is also 

 the case with Wall Rue (Asplenium Ruta-muraria), a very 

 small, but interesting, species often found on old walls and in 

 clefts of limestone rocks. Old mortar rubbish should be added 

 to the soil to insure its well-doing. These Ferns all need 

 stones or rocks about their roots ; they are of dwarf habit, and 

 must not be associated with any of the more robust kinds, but 

 should be planted in nooks by themselves. Though no elabo- 

 rate arrangement of stones or rocks is necessary, they are a 

 decided advantage in a fernery, and furnish a diversity of po- 

 sitions, and also assist in making a more natural and informal 

 effect. The well-being of the plants must, of course, not be 

 sacrificed for the sake of the rocks, and there must be a good 

 supply of soil to contain moisture for the support of the plants, 

 or failure is certain. 



Among Ferns that should not be included in stocking a 

 fernery is Struthiopteris Germanica. It spreads rapidly and 

 should be confined where it cannot ramble at will and crowd 

 out other Ferns. It is commonly known as the Ostrich Fern 

 and is very handsome and most valuable for naturalizing. 



Some Ferns need a great deal of moisture, such as Wood- 

 wardia Virginica, W. angustifolia, all theOsmundas, Aspidium 

 acrostichoides, Dicksonia punctilobula and the Maiden-hair 

 Fern (Adiantum pedatum). Among kinds that succeed well 

 in drier positions are Aspidium marginale, A. Goldianum, A. 

 cristatum, A. spinulosum and its varieties ; also the species 

 of Phegopteris, such as P. polypodioides, P. hexagonoptera 

 and P. Dryopteris. The Hartford Fern (Lygodium palmatum) 

 must not be omitted. Its climbing habit should be encouraged ; 

 it takes some time to become established and is of a rambling 

 disposition at the roots. The Botrychiums and Ophioglossum 

 are very interesting, owing to the bunch-like, fertile portions of 

 the fronds which havegiven them the name of flowering Ferns. 



There is one beautiful exotic Fern that should be known 

 by all growers of Fern ; this is a species from Japan, As- 

 plenium Goringianum pictum. It is beautifully variegated 

 with red, gray and grqen, and is quite hardy. But few forms 

 of native Ferns, which vary from the types, are known in gar- 

 dens. This is due to the lack of observation and interest in 

 these plants. I found beautifully crested forms of two species 

 which I was collecting. One plant, Aspidium marginale, was 

 surrounded with numerous smaller ones, all of which were 

 crested at the end of each division of the frond. If Ferns were 

 more sought for, and cultivated, we should soon hear of sem- 

 inal varieties exceeding their parents in beauty. 



It would add much to the interest of a fernery if some of 

 the native Orchids were planted among the Ferns. The con- 

 ditions would be suitable for all the Cypripediums, Habena- 

 rias, Orchis spectabilis, Spiranthes, Goodyeras and Pogonia. 

 Indeed, every species of native Orchid could be grown in such 

 a situation, excepting, of course, the southern Epidendrum 

 conopseum, which is epiphytal. The soil should be composed 

 largely of decayed leaf-mold, with loam added. Fertilizers are 

 unnecessary and would, in some cases, be injurious both to 

 Ferns and Orchids. Two things only are necessary, shade 

 and moisture, either natural or supplied in some artificial way. 

 Exotic varieties may be added by way of experiment, and it 

 would be very interesting to the grower and others interested 

 in Ferns to know which are reliably hardy in the colder sec- 

 tions of the United States. Most Ferns die down in winter, 

 and a top-dressing of leaf-mold would be of great benefit as a 

 protection to the crowns and for nourishment to the roots. 

 The catalogues of dealers in native plants give sufficient direc- 

 tions for planting. 



South Lancaster, Mass. E. O. Orpet. 



The Narcissus Season. 



A^ITH only nine days in April without some rain, we have 

 ^ * had at least an opportunity to test the Narcissi as wet- 

 weather plants. They evidently luxuriate in moist cool air, and 

 this seems to be an exceptionally favorable season. We had 

 our first flowers early in the month, and varieties have come 

 into flower slowly, and in the absence of hot days the blos- 

 soms have retained their freshness for an unusual time. Ordi- 

 narily we have a few hot days which hurry forward the flower- 

 ing, and if accompanied by drying winds the Daffodil season 

 passes with a rush. Narcissus poeticus has just opened, and 

 a number of varieties are showing their spathes, so that we 

 shall be favored with these beautiful flowers for quite two 

 months. All enthusiasm aside. Daffodils are beautiful flowers, 

 though there is much choice among them — a choice among 

 great riches. Narcissi seem to have always been great favorites 

 in England, and owing to the special interest awakened in the 

 last fifteen years the varieties known have multiplied amaz- 

 ingly, as the naflve haunts have been intelligently explored for 

 variations, and many zealous cultivators have devoted their 

 attention to hybridization. New as well as good old varieties 

 are still plants of price, showing that the popularity of the 

 family is unabated. The enormous sales of these flowers re- 

 ported in the English cities would explain the value at which 

 bulbs of good varieties are quoted ; in spite of their rapid in- 

 crease, they evidently have a value as dividend producers. 

 We are far behind the English in our appreciation of good 

 Narcissi, as the catalogues of our best dealers only offer a lim- 

 ited selection of varieties, indicating that they are in a limited 

 demand: At the ordinary florists' one seldom sees other than 

 the commonest, and often flimsiest, kinds, and there is evi- 

 dently room here for some enterprise, which would be well 

 rewarded. One cannot go amiss in securing such kinds as 

 Horsfieldii, Emperor, Maximus, Empress, Countess of Annes- 

 ley, Ard Righ, Golden Spur, Scoticus, princeps, poeticus, or- 

 natus, etc. 



But let me suggest that too few amateurs grow collections 

 of Narcissi in all the various sections. They are very inter- 

 esting to any flower-fancier, and there is such an amount of 

 material for selection that the interest is likely to extend be- 

 yond the purse. Barr, of London, or Hartland, of Cork, fur- 

 nishes well-grown bulbs (which our dealers import to order) in 

 great variety, and prices ranging from one penny to five 

 guineas each, prices which bear no relation to their respective 

 beauty. It will be the part of prudence and satisfaction to 

 make the first plunge among the most moderately priced 

 kinds, and buy the dearer as the collecdon needs addition in 

 some form or note of color. In the Incomparabilis section it 

 will be found especially that there are flowers to fill the entire 

 gamut of color, from pallid white to deepest yellow in various 

 combinations, and the notes are sometimes quarters, or even 

 eighths, so closely have the varieties been dift'erentiated. For 

 me the beauty of the Narcissus consists not only in its pleas- 

 ing forms, but in the softness and purity of color, and in this 

 many of them are deficient. There are too many catalogued 

 as pale sulphur, which is the ordinary euphemism for a 

 washed-out sickly tint, bearing little resemblance to an honest 

 yellow. Those flowers with medium tones of yellow are the 

 most satisfactory, the deeper yellow of the Tenby Daffodil 

 seeming as harsh as the paler ones are weak ; still all these 

 tints are somewhat varied by cultivation, with fertilization tend- 

 ing to coarseness. Size is dearly gained if the coloring is 

 thereby injured, as it often is in the kinds with white perianths 

 or those with orange-tipped cups. 

 Elizabeth. N.J. J.N.Gerard. 



The Water Garden. — While the memory of the late severe 

 winter is alive, it may be well to note that all the hardy 

 Nymphaeas survived in my shallow tanks, twenty to twenty- 

 four inches deep, as they have in milder winters. It seerns 

 unnecessary to provide much depth of water to insure the 

 safety of these plants. The tanks were covered after freezing 

 weather had commenced with boards seven-eighths of an inch 

 thick, which extended over the walls, as it is quite as desirable 

 to protect these as the plants. I found at no time over four 

 inches of ice formed, and I should be willing to risk any of the 

 hardy Nymphaeas in my tanks under a pot of water wiien cov- 

 ered. One of my tanks was closely covered, and the other 

 was partly covered by a sash. In the former the fish and frogs 

 all died, while in the latter they survived. I am not prepared 

 to say that the difference in the light was the cause of the fa- 

 tality, but I shall have a sash or two as part of the covering 

 hereafter. As new tanks are being built at this time, the own- 

 ers may he warned against using cemented tanks before wash- 

 ing out the free lime, which is very injurious to plants and 



