FERNERIES. 



391 



and H. Wilsoni, in the fernery under the protection of glass. Mr. 

 Backhouse, of York, has one of the finest collections of filmy ferns, 

 and is most successful in their culture; his plants are so fine that 

 they are worth a journey to York to see. He grows many of them 

 in a cave lighted from the top with glass. At Kew there is a splendid 

 collection ; and the Rev. A. Johnson and Mr. Cooper Forster are also 

 cultivators of these truly fairy-like beauties in London itself 



Fig. 895. — T. reniforme. 



Fig. 894. — Trichomanes 

 Luschnatianum. 



Fig. 8g6. — Hypolepis repens . 



Like the Hymenophyllum in the transparent character of the mem- 

 brane of the leaf, and requiring similar cultivation, we grow the Tri- 

 chomanes speciosum (fig. 864), or Irish Bristle Fern, in the glass fernery. 

 It has been recently found in Wales, but I am assured that the spot 

 has been rifled. I have likewise a plant of the T. Luschnatianum 

 (fig. 894), from the Organ mountains of Brazil, given to me by Mr. 

 Backhouse, who grows this fern, climbing on earthen tubes, in the 

 highest perfection. This beautiful fern is considered by Dr. Hooker 

 to be a variety of T. radicans. I also grow the T. pyxidiferum, from 

 South America. We have tried unsuccessfully the beautiful T. reni- 

 forme (fig. 895), from New Zealand, probably from not having a suffi- 

 ciently strong plant with which to commence. These filmy ferns are 

 expensive to purchase and very difficult to grow ; nevertheless their 

 exquisite beauty, which surpasses that of all other ferns, renders 



