CASSELL'S POPULAR GAEDEXIXG. 



sliould be used freely, and will then add quite a 

 chami. The Xew Zealand Flax, Phorm'uon totax, 

 and the several variegated forms, are likewise very 

 desirahle plants for associating- with palms and 

 fems, as they have long, hroad, flag-like leaves, and 

 are just the thing for grouping near water, a rugged- 

 edged pool of which should be arranged somewhere, 

 to be constantly rex)lenished and kept fresh by drip- 

 pings or rij)plings from the rocks above, the sight 

 and sound of which also impart a sense of refresh- 

 ment and a feeling of coolness on the hottest 

 summer days. 



Begonias, of the Rex type, seem to have gone 

 almost out of cultivation, and yet they are among 

 the very best plants for growing in masses, either 

 on the floor-level or high up in large pockets 

 on the rock, in which positions they :^lio\v most 

 conspicuously, and at once attract notice from 

 even the most casual observer. AVhcn first sent out 

 these Begonias were thought to require stove-heat, 

 but it has since been found that they will flourish in 

 any house from which frost is excluded, and, what 

 is more, they will stand the constant . drip or splash- 

 ing from a waterfall, which continuous wetting their 

 leaves seem to like. So telling are these Begonias, 

 that those who have ferneries sliould not fail to plant 

 a few groups, as their beautiful foliage is so bright 

 that it quite lights up a place. 



Another eti'ective plant for associating with ferns 

 is l-atsia Japunlca, better known under its garden 

 name of Aralia Sicboldl, having large ornamental 

 foliage, deeply cut or lobed, with a clear polished 

 surface. AsjJidistra hirida variegata is likewise 

 highly ornamental, having leaves about three inches 

 wide, and from eighteen inches to two feet long, 

 broadly veined throughout with rich creamy-white, 

 which shows up in contrast with the bright green. 



Coming to ferns, one of the first deserving notice 

 is Woodicardia radicals, which has stout stalks, rising 

 from a massive slow-creeping crown, and bearing- 

 wide - spreading, gracefully - arching, magnificent 

 fronds, running to a length of from four feet to 

 six feet ; each frond, when they attain age, form- 

 ing a voung plant at the point, by taking which 

 oif and potting or planting the same, an increase 

 is readily eft'ected. The proper situation for 

 JVoodivardia radicans, when grown in the natural 

 fernery, is well up in a large pocket, where there is 

 jutting rock, as then its grand fronds can droop 

 over and down, and be seen to the greatest advan- 

 tage. 



Another fine plant for placing in a similarly 

 lofty position is the Lyrjodinm scandens, which, if it 

 cannot find anything to fasten itself to and climb 

 on, trails and depends in the most light, easy man- 

 ner, and has a very pleasing appearance. Xvphro- 



hpls exalt at a and X, tahcrosa are also very effective 

 fei-ns, the fiist-named being the larger and stronger 

 of the two, although both are distinct and desii-able, 

 and of great value for baskets or clothing project- 

 ing portions of rock, over which they run quickly, 

 and cover with their wiry, fast-creeping stolons, 

 that send out numerous gi-acefully-arching, narrow, 

 elegant fronds. It is sufficient to name the Adian- 

 tums to commend them to notice, as they are 

 general favourites ; A. cnneatum being most exten- 

 sively grown, and to be found in every house ; but 

 besides this well-known species there are others of 

 fine form that attain large size and are just at 

 home in a green-house tcmj)erature, where, if planted 

 o-at, they creep underground by means of fleshy, 

 tuberous-like roots, and send up numerous tall, 

 out- spreading fronds with black stems that have a 

 sti iking appearance. Among the Aspleniums there 

 are many specially adapted for planting out in the 

 natui-al fernery, as most of them are bold and 

 effective, and several of gracefully pendulous habit, the 

 finest in this respect being A. serratu))!, which bears 

 arching, nine-inch wide, smooth, deep gi-een fronds, 

 ranging from two feet to three feet in length. A. 

 hnlb'fcrum, likewise a valuable kind, is interest- 

 ing- owing to its bearing small bulbous plants on 

 the upper sui-face of its fi-onds, which vi^iparous 

 habit is common to the Aspleniums, and renders 

 their propagation easy and quick. A. htcidnm, A. 

 prrcj)ior^a;t>, A. diversifoliam, A. Jfaccidum, A. hiforme, 

 and A. Canancnse are all soils to grow, and besides 

 these large showy varieties there are others smaller, 

 A. appoidhulatain being very distinct. Davallia ea- 

 nariijisc, known as the Hare's-foot Pern, is well 

 adapted for planting on rock- work, and so are B. 

 ptjxldata and B. dissccta, which are the best of the 

 green-house Davallias. Lomarias magellanica, gihha, 

 and chllcn.sis are two noble ferns suitable for con- 

 spicuous places, and there are several of the Pteris, 

 such as F. cretica albo Uneata, F. scahenda, F. serru- 

 lata, and P. longifolia, that should also be gro-^-n. 

 Flatycerium akicorne, the Stag's-hom Pera, must 

 not be left out, as it is a most remarkable kind, re- 

 quiring ver}' little or no soil, for it will live and do 

 well on. the face of moist rock. Por covering the 

 bare ground under the fems the Lycopodiums and 

 Selaginellas come in, L. denticidatiim being most 

 useful, as it spreads at a rapid rate and is of a most 

 beautiful green. 



Planting and After-treatment The chief 



points to command success are firm planting, a 

 copious watering of the roots, and a moist atmosphere 

 till the roots get a good hold of the fresh soil. The 

 treatment requisite after that is to sji-inge heavily 

 daily diu-ing the summer, as humidity is essential in 



