Clu (iarbener's llonthlj. 



present state. The best way to do with them is to 

 open their holes a little with a pen-knife, and run 

 wire in after them. Paint tlie wounds over and 

 they will soon heal. 



i t 



Tree Fern. — Dicksonia Antarctica. — Amongst 

 the curiosities of the Vegetable World, the tree 

 Ferns stand conspicuous. There are not many re- 

 markable ones nn this continent, although in Brazil 

 some kinds of Blechnum have stems often two or 

 more feet high; Australia and New Zealand have 

 them from six to ten feet high, and with, stems 

 averaging <-hree feet in circumference. The rate of 

 growth is slow not more than two inches on the 

 average per year. They are*very easy grown, a tem- 

 perature just safe from freezing keeps them well 



through the winter, and they are well worth cultiva- 

 ting in pots and tubs for the summer adornment 

 of our grounds, as they do well in shady places. 

 Like Oranges and Camellias they are good as an 

 "investment" — a man may buy them at alow figure, 

 and watch them growing in beauty and interest year 

 by year, and "when he dies" he will get a very 

 handsome amount for them, for the benefit of his 

 family or friends. 



We give a sketch of the Dicksonia Antarctica., 

 of which we saw nice young plants last year in the 

 fine collection of Mr. Robert Buist. Some of his 

 greenhouses burning up last year, we do not know 

 whether he has them now, but if not, with his usual 

 energy he soon will. Amongst the tree ferns besides 

 Dicksonia and Blechnum, we may name Alsophila 

 Balantinum, Ilemetilia, Cyathea., which can be had 

 in first class collections, and some others not intro- 

 duced to Europe. 



