78 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



(jjellucida) and T. superba, or even any of the reputed hybrids or seedlings 

 raised in this country, such as T. plumosa and T. grandipinnula, thrive 

 in the same temperature, and under precisely the same treatment, as the 

 Trichomanes and Hymenophyllums above named ■ so that the objection 

 to growing them on account of the heat they require is much more 

 imaginary than real. 



Another cause of the scarcity of Filmy Ferns in collections is the 

 erroneous idea which is prevalent amongst Fern-growers that, being found 

 growing mostly in shady ravines and naturally damp places on mountains, 

 where the air is constantly charged with moisture, it is indispensable for 

 them to be kept permanently moistened overhead. The sooner that notion 

 is disposed of, the easier the culture of these plants will become. It is true 

 they all enjoy having their fronds laden with condensed moisture ; but 

 although a few of them, such as Trichomanes radicans and its varieties, 

 Hymenophyllum demissum, H. pulcherrimum, and a few others, do not mind 

 being wetted over, the majority of them are averse to it. Mechanical 

 watering over the fronds should, whenever possible, be carefully avoided, 

 for it is certain destruction to all the hairy or downy species, such as 

 Hymenophyllum, ceruginosum, II. chiloense, H. ciliatum, H. hirsutum, and 

 H. scabrum ; as also to the Trichomanes with foliage of similar nature, such as 

 T. alatum, T. apiifolium (meifolium), T. cri?iitum, and T. trichoideum ; and even 

 those species which are not actually injured by watering overhead do better 

 without it. Such watering is all the more injurious when rain-water 

 is not procurable, as it has been abundantly proved that a Trichomanes or 

 a Hymenophyllum that is frequently moistened with hard water soon loses its 

 vigour. It sometimes happens during the hot weather, when great difficulty 

 is experienced in keeping the temperature sufficiently cool, that, the atmosphere 

 being very dry, a slight syringing is thought necessary in the Fern- 

 case ; even then the hairy species should be carefully avoided. Only rain- 

 water at the temperature of the case, or nearly so, should be used for the 

 purpose, and then very sparingly. If the case, frame, house, or whatever the 

 structure devoted to Filmy Ferns may be, is sufficiently well drained, so as 

 to allow for frequent waterings of stones, walls, walks, &c, that will be found 

 sufficient, and even on the hottest days it will not be at all necessary to have 

 recourse to syringing. 



