40 



THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 



group of Ferns which has yet "been seen in a state of cultivation ; though, after a long voyage 

 which they have to undergo before reaching our shores, many of the species of this group 

 are found difficult to establish ; yet, once this difficulty is overcome, they grow freely , enough 

 in a favourable atmosphere. A catalogue of these Film Ferns has just been issued by 

 Messrs. Backhouse, and in it they describe the conditions they find favourable to cultivation 

 in these terms : — "In a low span-roo.fed house, heated by warm water, circulating in open 

 brick tanks and slightly shaded, the tropical species thrive well without any glass shades, 

 bell-glasses, or other means of protection. Even when just received from abroad and not at 

 all established, they answer perfectly with this treatment, the only care being to moisten the 

 fronds twice a-day from a fine rose with tepid water, and to keep the whole atmosphere of 

 the house as humid as possible ; if sufficiently humid the fronds ought to be covered with 

 minute dew-like drops every morning, from the slight condensation during the night. All 

 the New Zealand, Chilian, and Tasmanian species succeed well in our ordinary (cool) fernery 

 without any glass and shades, the glass roof being externally covered with a thin coating of 

 white paint, and the atmosphere kept constantly humid. The idea largely prevails that unless 

 kept under close glass shades these Ferns cannot be grown : this is only true when the 

 atmosphere of the house is dry or only occasionally humid, and when the plants are not esta- 

 blished." In support of this experience of Messrs. Backhouse we may mention as an illus- 

 tration a mass of the Killarney Fern, Trichomanes radicans, nearly or quite a yard across, in Mr. 

 Yeitch's cool greenhouse, where it is growing freely, its rhizomes raining over the end of the 

 earthenware basket in which it is planted, and young fronds coming up in abundance, but 

 which has not had any special covering for several months. It is truly observed of these Film 

 Ferns, that ''very few species are, as yet, developed to the point of full vigour, as nearly the 

 whole have been introduced within the last three years ; but where they are seen in character 

 no one can fail to recognise their surpassing elegance and delicate beauty. Both in form and 

 texture they are the gems of the Fern tribe." The catalogue of Messrs. Backhouse's collec- 

 tion, in which these remarks occur, describes in a popular manner twenty-seven species of 

 Hymenophyllum, and forty -three of Trichomanes, all of which they state are in their possession 

 " as living plants." Among the former are H. fuciforme, a magnificent species from South 

 Chili, with broad erect tri-pinnatifid bluish-green smooih fronds, 1-| to 1\ feet high, on rigid 

 winged stalks ; H. caudiculatum, another handsome Chilian species, with erect, smooth, tri- 

 pinnatifid translucent fronds, 9 to 18 inches high, on a broadly- winged stem ; II. omentum, 

 also from Chili, with broad undivided seaweed-like curving-pendant fronds, 6 to 12 inches long, 

 of a brownish-rose colour when young ; H. sericeum, a fine Av'est Indian species, which clothes 

 the face of the rocks with sheets of bi-pinnate, tawny, silky, pendant fronds, 1 to 2 feet long 

 and 2 to 3 inches wide ; and H. pulcherrimum, an erect handsome New Zealand species with 

 three or four-times-pinnatifid smooth fronds, 10 to 15 inches high, of a pale green colour. Of 

 the latter genus the collection contains T. achdttecefolium, a tufted species from the Phillippine 

 Islands, with very finely fonr-times-divided smooth fronds 1 to 1| foot high; T. elegans, a 

 truly elegant West Indian plant with pinnatifid sterile fronds, and very narrow, undivided, 

 erect, central fertile ones ; T. p 7 uma, a very charming Bornean plant, having, erect, rigid, 

 narrow, three-or-four-times-drvided fronds, 9 to 15 inches high, with all the divisions hair- 

 like ; as well as T. fimbriatum from the West Indies, and T. setigerum and T. superbum from 

 Borneo, which are regarded as altogether new. — M. 



REVIEW. 



The Hose Annual for 1861-62. By William Paul, F.R.H.S., Cheshunt Nurseries, Waltham 

 Cross. London : Sent Sf Co. 



Mr. William Paul's Bose Annual is looked for each year with increasing interest ; for 

 since he commenced these useful and very elegant annual series his fame both as a Bose- 

 grower and very agreeable author has steadily progressed, and we congratulate him on the 

 position he has so deservedly won for himself. That Mr. Wm. Paul is not merely a commercial 

 Bose-grower is evident on perusing his writings, which carry the conviction with them that 

 they are undertaken con amore, and hence the value of his opinions on the merits and demerits 

 of new flowers is greatly enhanced. The present work contains admirable plates of Beauty 

 of Waltham, a seedling (H.P.) of the author's oavu raising, a rich rosy crimson, of fine 

 properties, and decidedly a first-class Bose. Marquis de Foucault (Tea), a delicate-looking 

 Tea Bose, very distinct in colour, which is creamy white with fawn centre, and very sweet. 

 Souvenir de Comte Cavour, of the General Jacqueminot class, of a rich velvet crimson, 

 shaded with a deeper maroon, and to all appearance a great acquisition to this already rich 

 section. Next is a hybrid Bourbon (we thank the author for making this class), Catherine 

 Guillot, a lovely flower of the well-known Louis Odier class. There are a page or two of 

 very useful notes on the current year, and an admirable resume cf the favourites of 1861 

 which should be read by every Bose-grower. — S. 



