376 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



when submitted to the influences of great heat and moisture, be induced to 

 grow more rapidly, in the case of Lomarias a temperature kept above their 

 requirements is productive of disastrous results. This is undoubtedly owing 

 to their natural dislike of having water over their fohage, and plants under 

 such conditions must be copiously syringed to counterbalance the effects of 

 the heat employed in the process of "forcing." Now, to Lomarias this mode 

 of culture cannot possibly be applied with any chance of success. First, 

 because, as soon as the temperature becomes too high, thrips make their 

 appearance ; and, secondly, if water overhead is used at all, the texture of the 

 foliage of most species is such that the fronds get spotted, and the whole 

 plants in a very short time present a wretched appearance. As these remarks 

 are applicable to nearly all the species, large and small alike, and as they 

 are of the utmost importance for the successful management of this particular 

 genus, they cannot possibly be too carefully observed. 



Besides some Japanese and Chilian species which are thoroughly hardy 

 in many parts of England, there is L. Spicant, the only member of the genus 

 having a claim to European origin. This is found in nearly all parts of 

 Europe — in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, &c. In this country it is very 

 commonly met with in Hertfordshire, Worcestershire, and many northern 

 districts, where it grows abundantly under hedges and in lanes, as well as in 

 Ireland, especially in the counties of Clare and Wicklow ; but the coldest 

 habitat to which it is indigenous with us is the Cairngorm Mountain, in 

 Aberdeenshire, where it is found at an elevation of 1200ft. 



But if the different species of Lomaria need various temperatures, one 

 kind of soil is, with very few exceptions, suitable for all of them. It 

 should consist of about equal parts of good fibrous loam, leaf-mould, and silver 

 sand. Where leaf-mould is not easily procurable, an equal proportion of peat 

 may be substituted, but leaf-mould is best. A few of the smallest-gTowing 

 kinds, such as L. aljjina, L. Germaiji/i, and L. lanceolata, are adapted for 

 growing in Fern-cases, where, on account of their distinctly- shaped fronds, 

 they contrast in a pleasing manner with the more feathery as well as with 

 the more massive kinds with which they are associated. Several species are 

 also useful for room-decoration, the principal among them being the well- 

 known and much-appreciated L. gibba, which for that purpose is very 

 extensively raised by our wholesale growers, innumerable quantities finding 



