■222 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GAKDENTNG. 



should be used freely, and will then add quite a 

 <Jiarni. The Xew Zealand Flax, Fhormium tenax, 

 and the several variegated forms, are Hkewise very 

 desirable plants for associating with pahns and 

 ferns, as they have long, broad, flag-like leaves, and 

 are just the thing for grouping near water, a rugged- 

 •edged pool of which shoidd be arranged somewhere, 

 to be constantly replenished and kept fresh by drip- 

 pings or ripplings from the rocks above, the sight 

 .and sound of which also impart a sense of refresh- 

 ment and a feeling of coolness on the hottest 

 summer days. 



Begonias, of the Eex type, seem to have gone 

 almost out of cultivation, and yet they are among 

 the very best plants for growing in masses, either 

 ■on the floor-level or high up in large pockets 

 on the rock, in which positions they show most 

 conspicuously, and at once attract notice from 

 even the most casual observer. When first sent out 

 these Begonias were thought to require stove-heat, 

 but it has since been found that they will flourish in 

 any house from which frost is excluded, and, what 

 is more, they wiU stand the constant drip or splash- 

 ing from a waterfall, which continuous wetting their 

 leaves seem to like. So telling are these Begonias, 

 that those who have ferneries should not fail to plant 

 a few groups, as their beautiful foliage is so bright 

 that it quite lights up a place. 



Another eiiective plant for associating with ferns 

 is t'atsia japonica, better known under its garden 

 name of Aralia Sieboldi, having large ornamental 

 foliage, deeply cut or lobed, with a clear polished 

 surface. Aspidistra lurida variegata is likewise 

 highly ornamental, having leaves about three inches 

 wide, and from eighteen inches to two feet long, 

 broadly veined throughout with rich creamy-white, 

 which shows up in contrast with the bright green. 



Coming to ferns, one of the fir<!t deserving notice 

 is Woodwardia radicans, which has stout stalks, rising 

 from u, massive slow-creeping crown, and bearing 

 wide - spreading, gracefully - arching, magnificent 

 fronds, running to a length of from four feet to 

 six feet; each fi-ond, when they attain age, form- 

 ing a young plant at the point, by taking which 

 off and potting or planting the same, an increase 

 is readily effected. The proper situation for 

 Woodwardia radicans, when grown in the natural 

 fernery, is well up in a large pocket, where there is 

 jutting rock, as then its grand fronds can droop 

 over and down, and be seen to the greatest advan- 

 tage. 



Another fine plant for placing in a similarly 

 lofty position is the Lygodium scandens, which, if it 

 cannot find anything to fasten itself to and climb 

 on, trails and depends in the most light, easy man- 

 ner, and has a very pleasing appearance. Nephro- 



lepis exaltata and iV. iuierosa are also very effective 

 ferns, the first-named being the larger and stronger 

 of the two, although both are distinct and desirable, 

 and of great value for baskets or clothing project- 

 ing portions of rock, over which they run quickly, 

 and cover with their wiry, fast-creeping stolons, 

 that send out numerous gracefuUy-arching, narrow, 

 elegant fronds. It is sufficient to name the Adian- 

 tums to commend them to notice, as they are 

 general favourites ; A. cmieatum being most exten- 

 sively grown, and to be found in every house ; but 

 besides this well-known species there are others of 

 fine form that attain large size and are jnst at 

 home in a green-house temperature, where, if planted 

 out, they creep imderground by means of fleshy, 

 tuberous-like roots, and send up numerous tall, 

 out- spreading fronds with black stems that have a 

 striking appearance. Among the Aspleniums there 

 are many specially adapted for planting out in the 

 natural fernery, as most of them are bold and 

 effective, and several of gracefully pendulous habit, the 

 finest in this respect being A. serratum, which bears 

 arching, nine-inch wide, smooth, deep gi-een fronds, 

 ranging from two feet to three feet in length. A. 

 bulbiferum, likewise a valuable kind, is interest- 

 ing owing to its bearing small bulbous plants on 

 the upper surface of its fronds, which viviparous 

 habit is common to the Aspleniums, and renders 

 their propagation easy and quick. A. lucidiim, A. 

 prtemorsum, A. diversifolitiin, A. flaooidum, A. hiforme, 

 and A. Canariense are all sorts to grow, and besides 

 these large showy ^'arieties there are others smaller, 

 A. appendimlatum being very distinct. Davallia ca- 

 nariense, known as the Hare's-foot Fern, is well 

 adapted for planting on rock-work, and so are B_. 

 pyxidata and D. dissecta, which are the best of the 

 green-house Cavallias. Zomarioi tnagdlaniea, gibba, 

 and chilensis are two noble ferns suitable for con- 

 spicuous places, and there are several of the Pteris, 

 such as P. cretiea alio lineata, P. scaberula, P. serru- 

 lata, and P. longifolia, that should also be grown. 

 Platyeerium alcicorne, the Stag's-hom Fera, niust 

 not be left out, as it is a most remarkable kind, re- 

 quiring very little or no soil, for it will live and do 

 well on the face of moist rock. For covering the 

 bare ground under the ferns the Lycopodiums and 

 Selaginellas come in, i. denticiiUtum being most 

 useful, as it spreads at a rapid rate and is of a most 

 beautiful green. 



Planting and After-treatment.— The chief 

 points to command success are firm planting, a 

 copious watering of the roots, and a moist atmosphere 

 till the roots get a good hold of the fresh soil. The 

 treatment requisite after that is to syringe heavily 

 daily during the summer, as humidity is essential in 



