334 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



from tropical lands they grow in moun- 

 tain forests or in deep shady ravines often 

 at a great height, and thus do not require 

 the heat that one might suppose. Atthe 

 same time there are kinds which will not 

 thrive without brisk stove heat. Though 

 Filmy Ferns are not difficult to grow 

 they will not suffer neglect, but must 

 be cared for, and the conditions of at- 

 mosphere and temperature constantly 

 watched. Moist air, a subdued light, and 

 even temperature are the three essen- 

 tials to their well-being. With a few ex- 

 ceptions, they dislike heavy gloom, yet 

 should never be exposed to the sun's 

 rays. Somegrowers sprinkle their plants 

 overhead, and I am aware that a few are 

 sufficiently robust to stand this treat- 

 ment, but if continued it causes many 

 to lose the delicate green of their fronds, 

 whilst syringing is fatal to the woolly- 

 haired species. The syringe may, how- 

 ever, be used amongst Filmy Ferns to 

 damp the floors, stages, or walls, which, 

 with some pans of water for evapora- 

 tion, will be found sufficient to charge 

 the air with moisture, and produce a 

 dew-like mist on the foliage such as they 

 enjoy; for, although theirfronds should 

 never be allowed to curl, it is not well 

 to keep them in a drenched state, and 

 those who preserve the happy medium 

 will secure the greatest success. For 

 growing Filmy Ferns upon a large scale, 

 a house should be given up to them, but 

 in such a house many other Ferns would 

 grow better than in an ordinary stove or 

 greenhouse. For such a house I would 

 choose if possible a natural, narrow ra- 

 vine, roof it with glass, and glaze the 

 ends; such a house would be inexpen- 



sive to build and to heat. In its fitting 

 up, blocks of sandstone should be pro- 

 vided for the Ferns to cling to, and to 

 hold the moisture so necessary to their 

 fine roots. Where this is impossible the 

 next plan is to have a few large Wardian 

 cases, fitted up with sandstone in minia- 

 ture rocks and valleys to give surface 

 and foothold ; or the walls of a plant 

 house may be covered with glass doors, 

 and nooks made for Filmy Ferns, which, 

 for convenience sake, may be divided 

 into two sections — those with erect 

 stems, and those with creeping root- 

 stocks. Thoseof thefirst section should 

 be planted in the usual way in good 

 rough peat, a little loam, plenty of sharp 

 sand, and live Sphagnum Moss; always 

 bearing in mind that good drainage 

 for the roots is essential. Those of the 

 second section, with creeping stems, 

 usually produce aerial roots, which cling 

 to any moist surface ; blocks of sand- 

 stone suit them admirably and will soon 

 be clothed with delicate drapery. There 

 are a few kinds outside either of these 

 sections, with climbing stems but no 

 aerial roots; these should be planted in 

 hanging baskets or in a rocky niche 

 from which they can trail downwards. 

 Many of the Filmy Ferns are rare and 

 expensive, but some are within the reach 

 of moderate means; moreover, all those 

 here quoted as thriving in a greenhouse 

 may be grown in a Fern-case in the 

 drawing-room and enjoyed to fuller per- 

 fection than in their native glens. Many 

 of these Ferns have been introduced by 

 Messrs. Backhouse, of York, by whom 

 they are well grown, and a number of 

 kinds may be seen at Kew, but many 



