242 



Ferns. 



There are several methods of 

 propagating Ferns — bv spores, the 

 counterpart of seeds, being the 

 most general. Davallias, Poly- 

 podiums and others with creeping 

 rhizomes are propagated bv divi- 

 sion. Asplenium bulbiferum is in- 

 creased rapidlv by nveans of the 

 voung plants on the fronds. 

 Pteris and Maidenhair Ferns are 

 propagated by division of the 

 rootstocks. Most of the Ferns 

 mentioned below can be grown in 

 soil consisting of two parts fibrous 

 loam and one part leaf-mould, add- 

 ing plcntv of coarse sand. 



— Hare's Foot Fern. — 



This/ Fern, Davallia canariensis, 

 is found wild in the warmer parts 

 of Rurope. The rhizomes as they 

 hang over the side of a pot are 

 verv suggestive of the name 

 Hare's-foot ' Fern. There is a 

 smaller-growing plant from Japan 

 to which the name of the Squir' 

 rel'.s-foot Fern is sometimes ap- 

 plied. This is the plant which the 

 Japanese tunst and grow into all 

 manner of queer shapes. 



— Maidenhair Ferns. — 



These include some of the most 

 popular Ferns, the fronds of 

 Adiantum cuneatum, the best- 

 known sort, being especially valu- 



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able for cutting and arranging 

 with cut flowers. They are readi-. 

 ly pro])agated by division of the 

 roots, preferablv in spring. They 

 may also be easilv grown from 

 spores, but it is not often neces- 

 sary to sow any, suiTicient voung 

 plants being foimd in the crevices 

 of the bricks, under the stages, 

 or on the surface of the pots of 

 other plants .growing in the house. 



— The Holly Fern. — 



This is a very distinct Fern. 

 The dark, shining green fronds be- 

 ing somewhat leathery in texture, 

 the plants stand the varying con- 

 ditions of a room' better ' than 

 most Ferns. Aspidium or Cyr- 

 tomium falcatum is the Latin 

 name of this Fern. It is a native 

 of South Africa and some' parts of 

 Asia, being especially abimdant in 

 Japan. Young plants are readily 

 raised from spores, but it is sel- 

 dom necessary to do this, spor- 

 lings coming up under the stage 

 or elsewhere in the shade house. 



— Polvpodiums. — 



These Ferns are very widely dis- 

 tributed throughout the world. 

 The Golden Polypody (Polvpodium 

 aureum) is one of the best. The 

 plant obtains the name from the 

 creeping rhizomes, which are cov- 

 ered with golden yellow scales. 

 The arching fronds are bluish 

 green in color, 2 feet or more in 

 height. During winter the plants 

 may lose one or two of the older 

 fronds, but plenty of young ones 

 will be produced in spring to re- 

 replace them. Propagation in a 

 small way can be most readily 

 carried out by division of the rhiz- 

 omes. Spores germinate freely 

 when large quantities are required. 

 In addition to beinjr grown as pot 

 plants, thev are high "ornamental 

 when cultivated in baskets and sus- 

 pended from the roof of the shade- 

 house. 



— Spleen worts. — 



There are quite a nuniber of 

 A.spleniums or Spleenworts, of 

 which A. Bulbiferum and its vari- 

 eties are the best known. The 

 vonnp- plants develop from the 

 bulbils produced on the fronds. 

 These, if .severed from the parent 

 plant and pegged on pans of sandv 

 soil, soon make sturdy little 

 ])lants. 



— Ladder Ferns. — 



During the last few vcars the 

 Nephrolepsis or Ladder Ferns have 

 developed a large number of in- 

 teresting crested and tasselled 

 varieties. Most of them are very 

 suitable for hanging ba.skets sus- 

 pended from the roof of the shade- 



housie or in the bay window. An- 

 other suitable position for them is 

 the top of a bamboo stand, where 

 the long, slender fronds will hang 

 down and show to advantage. 

 Larw^e plants of NephroL'pis can be 

 grown in comparatively small 

 pots, provided they receive plenty, 

 of moisture. They are readily 

 propagated by division of the 

 crowns, by buds produced on 

 the wiry stolons or runners, which 

 develop into young plants, and by 

 spores. Nephrolepis should be 

 potted in a lumpj' fibrous soil in 

 preference to a fine compost. 



# 



Clematis. 



The Clematis has not met with 

 any great degree of popularity', 

 considering the variety, both of 

 character and colour, which it af- 

 fords. For climbing up stumps 

 of old trees, .training to a tellis, 

 plant'ing to droop over rock-work, 

 for festooning or covering arbours 

 they have a distinct value. There 

 is many a house front which would 

 be improved by a plant or two 

 being trained up and left to hang 

 loosely over. S. Jackmanii, laden 

 with its purple bloom ; C. mon- 

 tana adding its contribution of 

 white .starry blossom. C. flam- 

 mula, the Virgin's Bower, also a 

 billowy mass of fragrant flower. 

 Then there are the Scarlet Flower- 

 'ed Clematis, C. Fortunei, a beau- 

 tifully-scented double, and many 

 others are well worth, if not a 

 leading place in the garden, at 

 least some neglected comer which 

 they may make beautiful in their 

 own graceful generous way. 



They are usually grafted but can 

 be grown by layering. For this 

 purpo.se a leader should be pinned 

 to the ground at intervals. To aid 

 in rooting scrape the bark a little 

 below the ioints which are to be 

 pinned down, and if the.se are kept 

 moivst they will W found to emit 

 roots. In the sprinrr, before 

 growth commences, the layers 

 should be rut apart and planted. 

 Success in flowerinpr depends a 

 great deal on the treatment to 

 which they a*re subjected. Thev 

 .should be planted in a o^ood depth 

 of rich loamv soil, with decayed 

 manure added. If criven TOod soak- 

 ings of linuid manure from time 

 to time the plants will be found 

 to greatly benefit. Tf the plants 

 are required for .some nart of the 

 garden where the soil is heavy, 

 take out 2Vft. square, and the 

 same in depth, and with some of 

 the soil mix some light rich ma- 

 terial, such as road scrapings, leaf 

 mould, or refuse. 



