388 MY GARDEN. 



running through the house and expanding into a little lake, so that 

 an ample supply of aqueous vapour is supplied to the atmosphere. 



Although a moist atmosphere is requisite for the growth of ferns, 

 a constantly wet atmosphere is not to be commended, for after ferns 

 have made their growth they are improved by having more air, more 

 light, and a drier air to ripen the fronds. It is desirable to give ferns a 

 thorough rest in November and December, when the weather is dark, 

 by lowering the temperature, by diminishing the aqueous vapour in 

 the atmosphere, and by lessening the supply of water to the roots. 



The ferns which we cultivate in our ferneries, taking them in the 

 order described in the valuable manual of Sir W. J. Hooker and 

 Mr. Baker, illustrate many species and a considerable number of 

 genera. Perhaps this valuable and learned contribution to botanical 

 science would be more convenient, were the genera further divided. 



We have grown Gleichenias, but the atmosphere of my house has 

 proved too close for them, as they require plenty of light and air. 

 They are very elegant ferns, and attain a large size. We have also 

 grown the G. Speluncce, the G. microphylla, and the G.flabellata. They 

 are difiScult to propagate, as they do not bear interference with the 

 root, and are consequently rather expensive to purchase. 



The great family of Poiypodiaceae supplies us with many species. 

 Of the Cyatheas, we have had the C. arborea, a noble tree fern from 

 Jamaica, but my fernery proved too cold, and it died. Wonderful 

 specimens of this fern exist at Kew. The next beautiful tree fern, 

 the C. dealbata from New Zealand, is almost hardy, and delights to 

 be out of doors in summer. It is an exquisite fern, and is the most 

 desirable of all the tree ferns, as the silvery colour on the under side 

 of the fronds is particularly beautiful. The finest specimen I have 

 seen is at Backhouse's, in York, but other large plants are occasionally 

 imported. The C. medullaris (fig. 888) is another noble fern, from 

 the Pacific Islands, with fronds from ten to fifteen feet long. Seedlin>Ts 

 of this fern attain a large size, and, as I have, before mentioned, we 

 can sit under one plant of this species which was taken to the garden 

 a few years ago in my pocket. The Cyathea princeps, from Mexico, 



