286 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GAEDENING. 



that the aspect of his window is east, it continues 

 to hloom until December. It will grow in ordinary 

 potting soil, and requires shifting into a larger pot 

 from time to time, as the growth of its roots renders 

 this necessary. A little manure sprinkled over the 

 soil and washed in helps it during the growing sea- 

 son. It clings to wires arranged for it to climb upon, 

 and can be removed from these wires without much 

 difficulty when it is wished to move the plant. The 

 wires in the window had better be fixed there, in- 

 deed a single stout wire is sufficient for the purpose, 

 and it would be desirable to have this wire looped at 

 intervals of eight or ten inches, in order to be able to 

 tie the branches up firmly. It requires to be regu- 

 larly watered, inattention to this causing the leaves 

 to flag and the plant to become sickly. It is much 

 benefited by being laid out on the grass once or 

 twice during the year on mild days and well syringed 

 with water, taking care that the water is not colder 

 than the atmosphere. 



Palms, or at least such of them as do not need a 

 high temperature, are x^axticularly suitable for cul- 

 ture in rooms, since their roots are contented with 

 pots of a smaller size proportionately than most 

 plants, and their foliage is easily kept clean. They 

 may for general purposes be divided into two groups, 

 those which have fan-shaped leaves, and those which 

 have plume-like or feathery leaves. The former 

 group contains many kinds which will grow in rooms, 

 but as a rule they take up too much space. The 

 latter group are free from this di-awback, and occu];>y 

 very little space in proportion to the effect which 

 they produce. 



Where there is room for Fan Pahns, a selection 

 from the following- list should be made : — • 



CLamagrops excelsa. 

 Chamfserops Fortunei. 

 Chamserops limiiilis. 

 Coryplia atistralis. 



The best amongst 

 s:rowino- in rooms are- 



Latania borbonica. 

 Sabal Adansonii. 

 Sabal Palmetto. 



the pinnate-leaved Palms for 



Areca Baueri. 

 Areca sapida. 

 Chamsedorea elatior. 

 Chamsedorea lunata. 

 Chamsedorea Schiediana. 

 Iriartea andicola. 



Jubsea spectabilis. 

 Plicenix dactylifera. 

 Phoenix recliuata. 

 Plioenix sylvestris. 

 Seaforthia elegans. 



Ferns generally are not suitable for room cul- 

 ture, unless covered with a glass shade, which is a 

 mode of cultivation that will be treated of separately. 

 There are nevertheless numerous exceptions to this 

 rule, and among them may be mentioned some very 

 curious and beautiful forms. 



Among foreign species the following may be re- 

 commended : — 



Cyrtomiiim caryotideum. 

 Davaliia canariensis. 

 Davallia pyxidata. 

 Doodia aspera. 

 Uoodia caudata. 

 Doodia luuulata. 

 Lastrea opaca. 



Nephrodium molle. 

 PJatycerium alcicorne. 

 Polystichum capense. 

 Pteris arguta. 

 Pteris cretica. 

 Pteris serrulata. 

 Pteris tremula. 



If space can be found for such large-growing forms 

 as the follo^dng, they are well worth attention : — 



Pblebodium aureum. 

 PMebodium sporodocar- 

 pum. 



Woodwardia radicaus. 

 Woodwardia orientalis. 



Amongst British Ferns there are not many that 

 will grow well in a room, the atmosphere being too 

 dry for them. Yet there are some that can be grown 

 if the pots in which they are planted are more than 

 half full of drainage, and are kept standing in shal- 

 low pans of water. By tliis arrangement the roots 

 do not get down into the water, but are always in a 

 moist atmosphere. In this way it would be well to 

 trv 



Aspleuium lanceolatum. 

 Asp]eiiiiim marinum. 

 Athyrium filix-foemina. 

 C3"stopteris fragilis. 

 Lastrea cristata. 

 Lastrea dilitata. 

 Lastrea Foenisecii. 



Lastrea Oreopteris. 

 Lastrea spinulosa. 

 Lastrea Tlielypteris. 

 Lastrea iiligiuosa. 

 Osmunda regalis. 

 Polypodium Phegopteris. 



The following British Ferns should be planted 

 ■iimilarly, but should not stand in pans of water : — 



Polypodium Pober tianum . 

 Polypodium cambricum. 

 Polystichum aculeatum. 

 Polystichtim angulare. 

 Polystichum lobatum. 

 Scolopendrium vulgare. 



Asplenium Adiantiim 



nigrum. 

 Asplenium fontanum. 

 Asplenium Tricliomanes. 

 Ceterach oiScinarum. 

 Lastrea filix-mas. 

 Polypodium Dryopteris. 



Adiantum cuneatum. 

 Adiantum 2>edatum. 



Asplenium bulbiferum. 

 Cyrtomium falcatum. 



The soil in which Ferns generally delight is peat 

 with a little loam, leaf-moiald, and silver sand ; if the 

 peat is sandy, it may not be necessary to add any 

 silver sand ; but if the peat is fibrous, sand must be 

 added to keep the mixture open and allow a certain 

 amount of air to get to the roots. 



Although most Ferns like a damp atmosphere to 

 grow in, yet there arc many (like the Wall Eue Fem, 

 which is common uj)on old walls, and the hay-scented 

 Chcilanthes fragraiis, which grows in the cracks of 

 hot rocks) which will do well if theii' little roots can 

 get down between pieces of porous stone, where 

 there is always a slight and uniform moisture. If 

 they can get this, they will piit up Avith very varied 

 conditions of the atmosphere in which their fronds 

 happen to be. 



Those who have a green-house which they can use 

 principally for Ferns, would find it a good plan 

 to grow one or more small groups of Ferns mixed in 

 a box, which may be ornamented round the outsides 

 in various ways, and w^hich is then available for 

 moving into sitting-rooms, halls, or staircases for 

 temporary decoration. The annexed engraving 



