ADIANTUM. 



245 



watering or syringing overhead, unless it be in a very airy, light, and warm 

 house, is injurious to most of them. 



The propagation of all kinds of Adiantum provided with running 

 rhizomes (underground stems) may with advantage be effected by the 

 division of the same, an operation which is best performed from February 

 to April. Species with tufted crowns may also be increased by division, but 

 in their case, and especially when quantities of plants are required, it is safer 

 and more advantageous to depend on spores (seeds), which germinate freely, 

 and which usually produce stronger and more shapely plants than those 

 resulting from the division of the crowns. The spores may be sown with 

 perfect safety at all times of the year, although the most favourable season 

 is from January to April, as in that case the young seedlings have ample 

 time to produce crowns sufficiently strong to withstand the effects of the 

 following winter. 



So many of the most popular names in this very extensive genus have 

 been for such a long time in constant use, that — with the general public — they 

 have entirely superseded the botanical ones. For instance, A. cardiochlcena, 

 A. decorum, A. Farleyense, A. amabile, A. scutum, and A. setulosum, are much 

 better known by these appellations than by their botanical names of A. poly- 

 phyllum, A. Wagneri, A. tenerum Farleyense, A. Moorei, A. Ghiesbreghti, and 

 A. diaplianum, of which the public knows but very little, but to which it 

 should be educated. It has therefore appeared to us necessary, in a book of 

 reference such as the present one is intended to be, not only to enter any of 

 the said plants having a recognised popular name in their proper places, 

 but at the same time to give them a place in the general nomenclature, so 

 as to simplify the task of identification, which frequently is an arduous one 

 when the synonyms are not given. 



Principal Species and Varieties. 



A. cemulum — rcm'-ul-um (rivalling), Moore. 



This Brazilian species, which thrives under either stove or greenhouse 

 treatment, though not attaining very large dimensions, is one of the most 

 useful of the numerous kinds with small foliage for decoration. Its fronds, of 



