326 



BEST EFFECTS WITH RHODODENDRONS. 



Sarcos creek that would rank with choice specimens 

 from foreign lands. The frond is ample and delicate, 

 from two to four feet high ; the pinnae are from four to 

 eight inches long ; sori short. They make splendid 

 plants for the house and have a silent though expressive 

 language all their own. 



The sword-fern, Aspidium miinitum, is one of our 

 hardiest varieties, and is popular for decorative purposes. 

 The stalks are often a foot long ; pinnae numerous, three 

 to four inches long. It is one of the handsomest Ameri- 

 can ferns, and like many others, subject to considerable 

 variation. Sometimes it is called shield-fern. A. Calif or- 

 tiicum has fronds long and narrow, and is quite common. 



Lace-Ferns. — At this season of the year may also be 

 found the delicate Cheilaiithcs g7-acillimn, appropriately 

 called the " Lace-Fern." This fern grows in crevices of 

 rocks or cliffs where there is considerable moisture, and 

 is found in many portions of California. C. Calif ornica 

 resembles the above and may readily be taken for it. 

 This variety is found in shady ravines of the Coast Range. 



One naturally seeks for ferns in moist shady places, 

 but the home of the genus pellaea seems to be on rocky 

 mountain-sides. P. ornithopus is often called the bird- 

 foot fern. Its fronds are very rigid, from a few inches 

 to a foot long, the lower pinnae bearing from a few up to 

 fifteen or sixteen pairs of trifoliate pinnules. This is an 

 odd kind of fern, devoid of gracefulness, but having an 

 individuality all its own. It is common throughout Cali- 

 fornia, growing mostly on dry hillsides in tufts among 

 rocks exposed to a long summer sun. The pinnae, when 

 trifoliate, as they are in a state of nature, strangely resem- 

 ble the claws of a bird's foot, hence the specific name. 



FcUu-a ornithopus belongs to the family of cliff-brakes, 

 and is a cousin of P. Andromcdap'oUa , which although 

 often found among dry rocks, loves moisture more than 

 does the former. It is sometimes called the ' ' coffee-fern, " 

 as the pinnae when well fruited resemble the coffee-bean 

 in shape and color. The stalks growing in a clump are 

 from two to twelve inches long, about equaling the ovate, 

 usually tripinnate fronds. It makes a very pretty pot- 

 fern. P. densa is also said to be found in the Coast 

 Range. 



Br.\cken. — Everybody that has ever strolled along the 

 foot-hills or on the sides of our mountains is well ac- 

 quainted with Pteris aquiiina (Linnaeus), the common 

 brake or " eagle-fern." It is too coarse for bouquets or 

 for nice decoration. It is to be found throughout this 

 state and northward to Sitka. In one form or another 

 the common brake occurs in almost every region of the 

 earth. In northern California and Oregon it often forms 

 dense thickets higher than a man's head, and many 

 acres in extent. In some localities the young fronds are 

 boiled and eaten as a substitute for asparagus. 



There are to be found in Napa Valley a few other 

 species of ferns, the most of which are small, delicate 

 and fragile, but quite attractive. The principal species 

 have been named. 



No more attractive plants can be obtained for the 

 house or conservatory than some of these wonderful 

 creations, and all, or nearly all will grow in moist, shaded 

 nooks in the flower-garden. No plants of our fields or 

 canons will afford, for so little care, more pleasure or 

 satisfaction than these ferns. 



California. A. Warren Robinson. 



BEST EFFECTS WITH RHODODENDRONS. 



HOW TO PLANT AND CARE FOR THEM. 



IE RHODODENDRON always makes 

 satisfactory returns for care and at- 

 tention bestowed upon it. There is a 

 vast difference between a fine, well- 

 grown plant, furnished with leaves 

 almost to the ground and plump 

 flower-buds terminating every branch, 

 the specimens we too often see, looking in winter 

 I small catalpa, with a half-dozen leaves at the tips 

 of its branches. When well grown no plant can exceed 

 the rhododendron in richness and beauty. It rivals the 

 rose in the loveliness of its flowers, and when they are 



and 

 like : 



gone its large and handsome leaves of shining green give 

 an effect ever pleasing to the eye. 



I have seen fine effects produced by the proper group- 

 ing and massing of different colored rhododendrons. 

 The effect of such groups is greatly enhanced by care- 

 ful selection in the colors of flowers and sizes of plants ; 

 and also by planting other shrubs, both evergreen and 

 deciduous, in conjunction w'ith them. 



In planting the rhododendron select plants of different 

 sizes ; their lack of uniformity will give your mass an ir- 

 regular and unconventional air much more pleasing than 

 if the plants were all of the same size. The different 



