lxXXU PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



It lias long, graceful, drooping fronds cut into exceedingly narrow 

 segments, which give it a very light and feathery appearance. 

 G. peruviana argyrophylla (fig. 59) is one of the best Silver 

 Ferns, having heavily powdered fronds, which must not, however, 

 be too freely wetted, or their beauty will be much spoiled. 



There were many other Stove Ferns exhibited, such as the 

 Climbing Lygodiums, Nephrolepis, &c. ; but, perhaps, what at- 

 tracted most attention were the plants of the remarkable Stag 



Fig. 60.— Platycerium alcicorne. 



or Elk's-horn Ferns, Platycerium grande and P. alcicorne 

 (fig. 60). These plants may be grown on blocks of wood, on 

 walls, or stones, to which the " sterile " fronds — those at the 

 base, rounded and shield-like — tightly adhere, while the fertile 

 fronds grow erect and branch into the curious forms which have 

 suggested the horns of the animal after which they are called. 



Among the Greenhouse Ferns — that is, those plants which 

 may be grown in a winter temperature of 40° to 55° Fahr, — many 

 genera were extensively represented, e.g., Adiantum, 28 species; 

 Asplenium, 12 ; Davallia, 6 ; Nephrodium (Lastrea), 12 ; 

 Lomaria, 12 ; Polystichum, 8 ; Pteris, 14 ; and so on, there being 



