50 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GARDENING. 



New "Worlds; A. caudatum is confined to tlie Old 

 World, A. lueidum is a handsome "West Indian and 

 South American species, a foot or more high, of 

 rohust growth and erect habit ; the leathery fronds 

 are simply pinnate, the terminal segment heing 

 larger than the rest, having from six to ten smaller 

 ones on each side : A. macrophyllum, having much 

 the same distribution, resembles it in habit, but has 

 fewer pinnse, the lower ones on the barren fronds 

 being so broad that the opposite ones often overlap ; 

 in a young state the 

 fronds are often beauti- 

 fully tinged with red. 

 Two South American 

 species, A. Feei and A. 

 digitatum, are remarkable 

 on account of their long 

 climbing stems, which 

 are a foot or nearly two 

 in length, with numerous 

 branches. A. tenerimi is 

 a West Indian and South 

 American plant, much 

 like our common Jlaiden- 

 hair, but la,rger and more 

 branched, with smaller 

 segments. To this species 

 is often referred as a 

 variety the very beautiful 

 A. Farleyense, which is 

 perhaps too well known 

 to need more than a re- 

 ference, with its dense 

 masses of softly green 

 and graceful!}' drooping 

 fronds, the barren pin- 

 nules being elegantly 

 fringed, and the young 

 fronds being of a de- 

 licate pink colour in 

 their earlier stages. It is, however, interesting 

 inasmuch as its origin has not been definitely traced. 

 The first specimen known came up accidentally 

 among some ferns sent from Barbadoes by a gentle- 

 man, whose residence (Farley Hill) suggested the 

 name of the plant. It has been stated, however, 

 that seedlings of this fern have produced examples 

 of A. scutum, in which case it would be referable to 

 that species. A. Farleyense was first brought into 

 notice at a show of the Horticultural Society in 

 1865. The plant most grown and used as Maiden- 

 hair is A. cuneatum, although our British A. Capillus- 

 veneris (which we shall consider later on) generally 

 lays claim to that title. Although now so common, 

 it was not introduced to this country until 1841 ; but 

 the ease with which it is grown caused it to spread 



with great rapidity. It grows very readily from 

 self-sown spores. The pinnules are smaller than 

 those of A. Capillus-veneris, and the fronds thus 

 have a more slender and graceful appearance. It is 

 a native of Brazil. A variety known as elegantulum 

 has much smaller pinnae, and thus assumes a very 

 delicate and graceful appearance. The farthest 

 point in delicacy and grace is, however, reached by 

 A. gracillimum, a plant with the growth and habit 

 of A. cuneatum, but with fronds composed of pinnae 

 so delicate that they 

 have an almost lace-like 

 appearance. Although 

 distinct enough for gar- 

 den purposes, the plant 

 is doubtless a form of 

 A. cuneatum. A. digita- 

 tum is a very beautiful 

 species, with lax habit, 

 long fronds, and distant 

 deeply-cut pinnules. It 

 is a native of Brazil 

 and South America. A. 

 ruhellum is a small Peru- 

 vian species, noticeable 

 for the pink hue with 

 which it is tinged, the 

 young fronds being pur- 

 plish crimson. 



Cultivation. — ^Most of 

 the Adiantums are easily 

 managed ; there are pro- 

 bably none of them 

 which would not thrive 

 in a mixture of peat, 

 loam, and silver sand 

 in equal parts, with, 

 of com-se, due atten- 

 tion to secure thorough 

 drainage. Good leaf- 

 mould, when procurable, might be substituted with 

 advantage for the peat, which is by no means so 

 indispensable for the good cultivation of ferns aa 

 most gardeners seem to think. Indeed, some of the 

 finest plants of A. cuneatum we have ever seen were 

 grown in pure loam, and potted almost as firmly 

 as a heath. The latter plan enables growers to 

 obtain good specimens in comparatively small pots, a 

 consideration of no small importance in many in- 

 stances, besides reducing to a great extent the 

 danger of over-watering. Plenty of light and air 

 are essentials. Of course, direct sunlight, as in the 

 case of most ferns, must be avoided. 



It is almost impossible to draw a line between 

 the stove and green-house kinds, as most of the 

 thoroughly tropical ones will succeed well under 



