FILMY FERNS AND THEIR CULTIVATION. 



81 



Ferns. Moreover, when we find that of the species and named 

 varieties under cultivation about two-thirds require cool or 

 temperate treatment, it will be readily seen that, as these gems 

 become better known, special attention will be given to the class. 

 Possibly even, at some no very distant date, instead of an Orchid, 

 Daffodil, or Primula conference, our Society will see its way to 

 hold one on Filmy Ferns ; and I venture to predict that, should 

 such an event take place in London, the fashion would by no 

 means stop there ! 



Formerly it was thought necessary to grow all Filmy Ferns 

 in an atmosphere densely charged with moisture, whereas recent 

 investigations and trials go to prove that several of the most 

 beautiful species may be grown in comparatively dry situations ; 

 so that we now see Trichomanes radicans and its varieties, 

 Hymenophyllum caudiculatum and H. demissum, with its 

 varieties, growing, and not only growing, but luxuriating, among 

 artificial rockwork under the stage of an ordinary greenhouse in 

 shady positions. The probabilities are that many of the very 

 rare, valuable species from elevated regions in New Zealand, 

 Peru, &c. might also flourish in similar positions if someone 

 could be found courageous enough to make the attempt. 



To give some idea of the mode of culture for these choice 

 Ferns, let us refer for a moment to a house at York which is 

 some 100 feet long. It is a lean-to, with the glass sloping to 

 the north, and is supplied with a stage on either side of the 

 centre path, having hot-water pipes running under the front one, 

 and is divided into three pretty nearly equal compartments by 

 wooden partitions. Valves are so placed in the pipes that the 

 heat may be regulated in each of the three at will. The tempera- 

 ture of the first compartment averages 60° to 70° in the daytime, 

 and 55° to 65° at night, both in summer and winter. The 

 second one, roughly speaking, is 10° cooler, according to time 

 and season ; whilst the third compartment is never heated, but 

 borrows its heat from the door of the adjoining house being left 

 open. This house not unfrequently falls to 32° Fahr. 



In this range of compartments, where the water is constantly 

 allowed to stand upon the paths, most of the species of Filmy 

 Ferns known to cultivation grow and thrive in a greater or less 

 degree of perfection, the only exceptions being a few of the 

 species from very hot regions. Of the species cultivated in this 



