CHAPTER X 



Ferns for Hanging-Baskets 



There is no better way of growing many Ferns than in 

 hanging-baskets suspended from the roof of the Fernery, 

 and in this manner their fullest beauty is developed. I 

 could give a long selection of varieties suitable for the 

 purpose. For those to be grown fully exposed to the 

 sun and light, the Nephrolepis are the most suitable. I can 

 only mention a few here. The most popular is exaltata, 

 known in America as " The Boston Fern." For larger 

 baskets, ensifo/ia, which will make fronds fully six feet 

 long, may be recommended. The newer varieties, such 

 as todaoides, ekgantissima, Fosteri, and Whitmanii, are all 

 suitable. For smaller baskets, pectinata is one of the best, 

 though it is not quite so hardy as Philippinensis, which 

 is also a slender form, but has not quite such a light 

 drooping habit. Davallioides is a beautiful Fern with very 

 long, drooping fronds, but only suitable for the stove. 

 Goniophkbium subauriculatum, when suspended in the stove, 

 will make fronds fully six feet long ; in fact, under genial 

 conditions, the same fronds seem to continually extend. 

 Asplenium longissimum is another which can only be grown 

 in a suspended basket. This, I may mention, should have 

 some peat or light soil. I have seen it with fronds (hang- 

 ing down) which were fully eight feet long. Asplenium 

 caudatum is a similar species, and perhaps the most desir- 

 able, as it will grow freely under cooler treatment, and 

 is one of the prettiest Ferns we have for baskets. Any 

 of the bulbiferous section do well in baskets ; the 



