286 



CASSELL'S POPTJLAK GAEDENING. 



that the aspect of his window is east, it continues 

 to bloom until December. It will grow in ordinary 

 potting soil, and requires shifting into a larger pot 

 from time to time, as the growth of its roots renders 

 this necessary. A little manure sprinkled over the 

 soil and washed in helps it during the growmg sea- 

 son It clings to wires arranged for it to cUmb upon, 

 and can be removed from these wires without much 

 difaculty when it is wished to move the plant. The 

 wires in the window had better be fixed there, in- 

 deed a single stout wire is sufficient for the purpose, 

 and it would be desirable to have this wire looped at 

 intervals of eight or ten inches, in order to be able to 

 tie the branches up firmly. It requires to be regu- 

 larly watered, inattention to this causing the leaves 

 to flag and the plant to become sickly. It is much 

 benefited by being laid out on the grass once or 

 twice during the year on mild days and weU syringed 

 with water, taking care that the water is not colder 

 than thfe atmosphere. 



Palms, or at least such of them as do not need a 

 high temperature, are particularly suitable for cul- 

 ture in rooms, since their roots are contented with 

 pots of a smaller size proportionately than most 

 plants, and their foliage is easily kept clean. They 

 may for general purposes be divided into two groups, 

 those which have fan-shaped leaves, and those which 

 have plume-like or feathery leaves. The former 

 group contains many kinds which wiE grow in rooms, 

 but as a rule they take up too much space. The 

 latter group are free from this drawback, and occupy 

 very little space in proportion to the effect which 

 they produce. ' 



Wherft, there is room for Fan Palms, a selection 

 from the'^ifQUowing list should be made : — 



Latania borlionica. 

 Sabal Adansonii. 

 Sabal Palmetto. 



Gliamaarops excelsa . 

 Ghameerops Fortunei. 

 ChamEBrops humUis. 

 Corypha australis. 



The best amongst the pinnate-leaved Pahns for 

 growing in rooms are — 



Areca Baueri. 

 Areca sapida. 

 ChamBBdorea elatior. 

 Chameedorea lunata. 

 GhamGedoi-ea Schiediana. 

 Iriartea andicola. 



Jubtea spectabilis. 

 Phoenix dactylif era. 

 Phoenix recmiata. 

 PhcBnix sylvestiis.* 

 Seaforthia elegans. 



Cyrtoniium caryotideum. 

 Savallia canariensis. 

 Davallia pyxidata. 

 Boodia aspera. 

 Doodia caudata. 

 Boodia lunulata. 

 Xiastrea opaca. 



Nephrodinm molle. 

 Platycerium alcicome. 

 Polystichum capense. 

 Pteris oiguta. 

 Fteris cretica. 

 Pteris serrulata. 

 Ptens tremula. 



Woodwardia radicans. 

 Woodwardia orientalia. 



If space can be found for such large-growing forms 

 as the following, they are well worth attention :— 



Phlebodinm aureum. 

 Phlebodium sporodocar- 

 pum. 



Amongst British Ferns there are not many that 

 ■mO. grow well in a room, the atmosphere being too 

 dry for them. Yet there are some that can be grown 

 if the pots in which they are planted are more than 

 half fuU of drainage, and are kept standing in shal- 

 low pans of water. By this arrangement the roots 

 do not get down into the water, but are always in a 

 moist atmosphere. In this vray it would be well to 

 try: — 



Ferns generally are not suitable for room cul- 

 ture, unless covered with a glass shade, which is a 

 mode of cultivation that will be treated of separately. 

 There are nevertheless numerous exceptions to this 

 rule, and among them may be mentioned some very 

 curious and beautifiil forms. 



Among foreign species the following may be re- 

 ■joramended ; — 



Aspleuium lanceolatuih. 

 Asplenium marinum. 

 Athyrlum filix-f oemina. 

 Cystopteris fragiJis. 

 Ijastrea cristata. 

 Lasrtrea dilitata. 

 Ijastrea Fcenisecii. 



Lastrea Oreopteris. 

 Lastrea ffpini^osa. 

 Lastrea Thelypteiis. 

 IJastrea uHginosa. 

 Osmunda regalia. 

 Polypodiom Fhegopteris. 



The following British Ferns should be planted 

 similarly, but should not stand in pans of water : — • 



Asplenium Adiantum 



nigrum. 

 Asplenium f ontanum. 

 Asplenium Trichomanes. 

 Ceterach officinarum. 

 Lastrea filix-mas. 

 Polypodium Dryopteris. 



PolypodiumKobertianum. 

 Polypodium cambricutn. 

 Polystichum aculeatnm. 

 Polystichum angnlaxe. 

 Polystichum lobatum. 

 Scolopendrium vulgare. 



Adiantum cuneatum. 

 Adiantum pedatum. 



Aspleuium bulbifemm. 

 Gyrtomium falcatum. 



The soil in which Ferns generally delight is peat 

 with a little loam, leaf-mould, and silver sand ; if the 

 peat is sandy, it may not be necessary to add any 

 silver sand ; but if the peat is fibrous, sand must be 

 added to keep the mixture open and allow a certain 

 amount of air to get to the roots. 



Although most Ferns like a damp atmosphere to 

 grow in, yet there are many (like the Wall Hue Fern, 

 which is common upon old walls, and the hay-scented 

 Cheilanthes fragrans, which grows in the cracks of 

 hot rocks) which will do well if their little roots can 

 get down between pieces of porous stone, where 

 there is always a slight and uniform moisture. If 

 they can get this, they will put up with very varied 

 conditions of the atmosphere in which their fronds 

 happen to be. 



Those who have a green-house which they can use 

 principally for Ferns, would find it a good plan 

 to grow one or more small groups of Ferns mixed in 

 a box, whicb. may be ornamented round the outsides 

 in various ways, and which is then available for 

 moving into sitting-rooms, halls, or staircases for 

 temporary decoration. The annexed engraving 



