106 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



only have one mixed house, than to suggest the 

 general growth of Orchids in Vineries, Peach- 

 houses, or others devoted to fruit-cultm^e. 



But no douht quantities of Orchids may be well 

 grown in plant- stoves, cither suspended from the 

 roof or in other places on the stage or shelves, in- 

 termixed with foliage or other flowering plants. 

 Doubtless at times a compromise must be struck 

 batween the different classes of plants ; in all such 

 cases the more valuable, and that w'ill generally be 

 the Orchids, should have the preference. But really 

 the compromises will be fewer than might be 

 expected. Take for example the vital factor of 

 temperature, there is but little dilference between 

 the plant-stove and the Indian or tropical Orchid- 

 house. And so also of moisture when the plants 

 are all in growing condition. 



Most of the cool Orchids will agree equally well 

 with the main treatment accorded to not a few 

 flowering plants in the conservatory, and to the 

 somewhat close, rather warmer, and semi-saturation 

 system adopted with such plants as Azaleas and 

 Camellias after blooming. And thus it comes to 

 pass that it is often possible to grow cool Orchids in 

 the warm conservatory, and tropical Orchids in the 

 plant-stove, almost, if not equally, as well as in 

 houses specially devoted to either. 



Hence, w^hile those with large collections will 

 doubtless continue to separate stove-plants and 

 Orchids into separate and distinct houses, there is 

 nothing to hinder amateurs, or others, with only one 

 cool, and another tropical plant-house, growing very 

 good - mixed collections of both stove-plants and 

 Orchids in one or, at most, two houses. A\'Tiatever 

 specialists may think of those mixed collections, 

 there can be no doubt that the system brings Orchids 

 within reach of many who otherwise could have 

 never cultivated nor enjoyed them. 



By the use of Wardian cases, or simply partition- 

 ing off small portions of common conservatories, and 

 heating the enclosed areas with some of the many 

 forms of gas-stoves, or a coil of hot- water pipes from 

 the kitchen or other fire, a compartment for Orchids 

 may even be introduced with rather startling effect 

 among cool ferns or a general collection of conserva- 

 tory plants. In arranging such pleasing sui-prises, it 

 is by no means needful to exhibit the pipes or other 

 means of warming; they may be hidden in so 

 many and such obvious ways as need no mention 

 here. Tastefully posted, and well filled, few arrange- 

 ments are more satisfactory to their owners or more 

 gratifying to \isitors. The coil grates of various 

 makers, which are just like others in external ap- 

 pearance, but are provided with a coil of pipes at 

 the back of the grate, enable this to be done at a 

 very trifling cost. 



ROCK, ALPINE, FEEN, AND WILD 

 GARDENING. 



THE HARDY FERNERY. 

 By James SHEiTARD. 



SINCE the publication of the " Fern Paradise," 

 now some years ago, the desire for hardy 

 ferneries has become almost universal. Fortu- 

 nately there is nothing to prevent this growing- 

 demand from being met. Ferns are almost innu- 

 merable in a state of natm-e, and few plants can bo 

 multiplied so rapidly by art. Mr. Britten's series 

 of papers must have made this plain to every reader. 

 The same excellent authority also points out how- 

 most of the more popular ferns may be propagated 

 and cultivated. But fortunately in many parts of 

 this country even this trouble is unnecessary. A 

 day's leisure, and a fern-hunt of an hour or two's 

 duration, will be rewarded with sufficient finds to 

 furnish a small hardy fernery. 



Nor will the plants prove the only or chief prizes 

 in such hunts. Invaluable lessons will be taught 

 concei-ning the habits, wants, and natural beauties of 

 the plants. Besides, it is impossible to go fern- 

 hunting in hedge-rows, coppices, or woods without 

 ha\dng our love of nature in general, and of ferns in 

 particular, vastly increased and intensified. 



Fortunately for fern-hunters, the plants cling very 

 much to roadsides and hedge-rows, and are thus 

 ex^Dosed to the view, and become the common 

 property of all observers. Permission may also be 

 obtained at certain seasons of the year— after the 

 pheasant-shooting is over — to have a fem-hunt in 

 most woods and coppices. Fortunately, too, there are 

 still a few^ commons and open spaces left on which 

 the wild ferns grow, and to scamper over these, 

 basket and trowel in hand, no man daring to make 

 the fern-hunter afraid, is a high and satisfying plea- 

 sure. Wandering down the lanes, and by the banks 

 of fiowing streams, ferns of many sorts, and all sizes, 

 may be found. In some districts the common 

 Golden Polypody almost overmasters the Ivj in 

 draping the trees, while the Bracken, the Hart's 

 Tongue, the Male, Lady, Royal, Buckler, and Shield 

 Ferns monopolise the land, even to the destruction 

 of rushes and grass. 



A few fem-hunts over such grounds — and thoy 

 abound in Devonshire and many other counties, 

 not excluding the arid clime of East Anglia — 

 convert the hunter into a fer\id admirer of ferns 

 as long as life lasts. It fosters an enthusiasm and a 

 love for these green childi-en of nature which will 

 never die out. Fern-hunts are also the best teachers 

 of all about ferns. More may be learned of their 

 forms, character, habits, cultm-e, and beauty in one 



