FERNERIES. 393 



but common fern from China, P. serrulata, which stands the winter at 

 my garden. Although one of the commonest of all ferns, and so easily- 

 multiplied by spores, it is beautiful, and is useful for decoration, or to 

 fill up gaps. There are crested varieties of this species, which are 

 pretty. P. tremula is a large fern from Australia, which thrives well 

 out of doors in summer, and is easily propagated. P. aquilina, which 

 grows all over the world, will live in the fernery as well as outside ; 

 if it were scarce, it would be esteemed a beautiful fern. The P scabe- 

 rula, from New Zealand, is a lovely one when finely grown; it likes 

 to be out of doors during the summer. 



The P. argyrcsa, with a band of white over the frond, and P. tricolor 

 (fig. 899) — varieties, according tO' Hooker, of P. qnadrianrita — are 

 very desirable and beautiful, and are easily 

 grown. The P- vesperiilionis, also called 

 P. incisa or Litobrochia vesperiilionis, is 

 a very elegant fern, which attains a large 

 size, and will flourish out of doors during 

 the summer. P. longifolia is a distinct 

 fine fern with fronds three feet long. P. 

 umbrosa is a magnificent fern from Austra- 

 lia. The colour of the fronds is fine, and 

 it is grand in appearance. The fertile fronds ^'°' ^ss- ^'^ns tricolor. 



are four feet high, and are more slender than the barren, which 

 are about two feet high. The P. pahnata, or Doryopteris nobilis, 

 from tropical America, is a fine bold fern, but is apt to die off if 

 it does not have careful treatment. The P. sagittifolia, from Rio 

 Janeiro, is another curious plant. 



The Davallias are a beautiful genus of ferns, of which we grow 

 many species. Of these D. canariensis is said to have been cultivated 

 for upwards of a century and a half. It will not bear our winters out 

 of doors, but likes plenty of light and air, and even some sun. The 

 D. NovcB Zelandim is another beautiful species, which barely lives out 

 of doors, but delights in air and full exposure in the summer months. 

 D. pyxidata is a stiff-fronded species, from Australia. Some of the 



