584 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



for the strongest-growing kinds. The smaller I mature, when it may be done with safety. 



Nothochlsena, Cheilanthes, Pelleas, &c, require 

 less loam and more peat. Some cultivators 

 mix crocks, charcoal, &c, with the compost. 



Potting. — This operation, so far as the general 

 collection is concerned, should be done in early 

 spring, but with odd plants, or any which it is 

 desired to repot at another time, it is only 

 necessary to ascertain that the fronds are 



Many of the larger species, and especially the 

 rhizome -bearing Davallias, Polypodiums, &c, 

 thrive for years undisturbed at the root. On 

 the other hand, if the drainage has become 

 defective, so that the soil is constantly wet, 

 it is necessary to at once either renew the 

 drainage or repot the plant. Overpotting is 

 a prolific source of evil, and much discretion 





Fig. 712.— Nephrolepis rufescens tripinnatifida. 



is necessary to ensure that no larger pot is 

 given than the rooting qualities of the plant 

 will justify. 



Insects. — Thrips and aphides are destructive 

 enemies of Ferns, and these must be carefully 

 looked for and kept under. Fumigating with 

 tobacco-paper or such-like material is dangerous, 

 often causing damage to the plants. There 

 are, however, among new inventions, one or 

 two appliances for raising nicotine vapour which 

 are effective and safe. Where the evil is not 

 very wide-spread, dipping the fronds of the 

 smaller plants and washing those of the larger 

 ones with weak tobacco-water or an infusion 

 of quassia chips will help to keep the pest 

 down. Scales also are injurious, and should 

 be removed by sponging with some insecticide. 

 Slugs, cockroaches, and woodlice should be 

 carefully kept down. 



Decorative Ferns are sorts that can be culti- 

 vated equally well either in a greenhouse or 

 in a stove. Such are Pteris serrulata and Pteris 

 cretica, in their many forms, which occupy the 



first place among market Ferns. Adiantum 

 cuneatum is grown in immense quantities; A. 

 gracillimum, and a few other compact-growing 

 species are also grown in more or less quan- 

 tity. Pteris tremula is one of the best and 

 freest. Other popular decorative Ferns are 

 Asplenium bulbiferum and its varieties; A. 

 lucidum, A. flaccidum, Aspidium falcatum, and 

 its varieties caryotideum and Fortunei, A. 

 aristatum variegatum, A. cape?ise, Gymnogramme 

 japonica, G. ochracea, Nephrodium erythrosorum t 

 and the variety prolificum, N. lepidum, Lomaria 

 gibba, L. nuda, Onychium japonicum, Polypodium 

 aureum, Pteris hastata, P. adiantoides, P. argyrcea, 

 P. longifolia, and P. semipinnata, Nephrolepis 

 davcdlioides and its vars. (fig. 712). Those who 

 have to keep up a supply for the purposes of 

 decoration will do well to grow batches of some 

 of these. 



Propagation by Spores. — Fertile fronds should 

 be cut before the spore-cases open and put in 

 their sorts in paper bags or packets, carefully 

 naming them. They should then be placed in a 



