/ 8 FERNS. 



da}'. Fresh roots will soon begin to push from the crown, and, 

 running down the moist sphagnum, will give increased vigour 

 to the fronds. Tree-ferns delight in abundance of moisture 

 in the air while growing ; but care must be taken to have the 

 fronds well matured, in a more airy and drier atmosphere, 

 before the date of the exhibition, so that they may stand ex- 

 posure and not be damaged in transit. Owing to the pliable 

 nature of their fronds, tree-ferns can be covered up and 

 taken to a flower ^how with less trouble than almost any other 

 class of plants ; still, all due precaution should be taken not 

 to injure a single frondlet which would in the least detract 

 from the merits of a perfect specimen. 



Although tree-ferns are a numerous class in manj' tropical 

 and sub-tropical countries, the number of genera in cultiva- 

 tion is very limited, and not more than three or four of those 

 generally grown in our stoves and conservatories are ever seen 

 at exhibitions in tree-like proportions, with clear stems of six 

 feet or more in height. The best of these are included in the 

 following list. 



ALSOPHILA. 



A very handsome genus of tree-ferns, producing fronds of 

 magnificent proportions under good treatment, which have a 

 telling effect in any plant airangements. The finest species 

 for exhibition are A. audralis and A. excelsa, both of which 

 thrive best in a warm greenhouse, although they are hardy 

 enough to grow well in any glass structure from which frost 

 is excluded. They grow freely in a mixture of turfy loam 

 and peat, plentifully sprinkled with small bits of sandstone 

 and charcoal. They must have a copious supply of water 

 while growing, and a fair allowance at all times, and the 

 young fronds must be shaded from the direct sunshine till 

 they are full-grown. The stem of Alsophila is generally 

 rather slender, but by judicious mossing it can be increased 

 to any desirable girth, and with advantage to the size of the 

 head of fronds. 



BLECIIXUM. 



It is seldom Blechnums are exhibited as tree-ferns, and 

 unless their stems exceed three feet clear in height, they 



