FEEXS. 79 



should be escluded. When over that height, and furnished 

 with fresh and -well-developed heads of fronds, they are very 

 effective in a group of plants. The only species generally 

 grown which assumes a useful tree-like habit is B. hraziliense, 

 and its two varieties, B. corcovadense and B. crispum. 



BKAINBA. 

 Onh' one species, B. insignis, is in cultivation, a very beau- 

 tiful and interesting tree-fern from Hong-Kong, which forms 

 a highly effective plant in a collection when it is shown in its 

 best condition. In this country it is seldom seen with a stem 

 of sufficient height to be exhibited in the tree-fern class. It 

 thrives well in an intermediate house, in a comparatively 

 small pot, filled with a compost of fibry peat and loam, with 

 a liberal sprinkling of silver sand and charcoal nodules. It 

 requires abundance of water and shade while making its 

 growth. 



CYATHEA. 



A genus of tree-ferns, comprising some of the handsomest 

 species in cultivation, and of great usefulness for either deco- 

 rative or exhibition purposes. Among the best are G. Burlcei, 

 C. dealbata, the handsome and popular silver tree-fern from 

 oSTew Zealand ; C insiffnis, known in gardens as Gihotium prin- 

 eeps, and C. meduUan's, one of the stateliest of all the New 

 Zealand species. 0. insignis is a native of the West Indies, 

 and thrives best in a stove, but the others succeed admirably 

 in a greenhouse, kept a little warm and moist when they are 

 pushing out their new fronds. They all grow well in the usual 

 compost for tree-ferns, — fibry loam and peat, with a free 

 sprinkling of sand and charcoal nodules, and plenty of drain- 

 age, in rather small pots. Abundance of water and shade 

 from sunshine while growing, and a moderate amount of both 

 at all other times suits them well. 



DICKSONIA. 

 The Dicksonias are a princely race of tree-ferns, the genus 

 including the greatest number of handsome arborescent species 

 of any grown in this country, and furnishing the exhibitor 



