THE FLORAL MAGAZINE. 



PTERIS SERRULATA LEYII. 



Op the numerous forms of this useful and much-admired 

 species, the variety now illustrated is without doubt the 

 most remarkable and distinct. 



In place of the usual portions of the frond is an ex- 

 tremely fine caudal or cornute extension of the midrib, 

 which grows erect and stiff with a perfect curl at the apex. 

 These prolongations are quite barren of spores, and being 

 of a very light green and very freely produced, bave a 

 most beautiful and novel appearance. 



It has been raised by Mr. G. H. Ley, from a depau- 

 pex'ate frond produced on a plant of very varying nature, 

 no two fronds being alike. It will probably be much in 

 demand for bouquet work and decoration generally. 



HYBRID NARCISSI. 



Beautiful as are nearly all the wild species and varieties 

 of Narcissus they have been considerably improved by Mr. 

 Leeds, of Manchester, and other hybridisers. Among Mr. 

 Leeds' seedlings are hybrids between N. Pseudo-Narcissus 

 and N. incomparabilis, others between the last species and 

 the purple-rimmed N. Poeticus, while the last-named again 

 lias been made the progenitor of a race in company with 

 N. Macleai. Another very delicate tinted race of hybrids 



has been bred from seed of N. incomparabilis fertilised with 

 the pollen of N. (montanus) poculiformis, most of these 

 being white with sulphur-coloured cups. The readiness 

 with which hybrid and cross-bred Narcissi are produced 

 even in a state of nature, and the extreme variability of the 

 seedlings has led to much difference of opinion as to the 

 specific limits and classification of these beautiful hardy 

 bulbs. Dean Herbert was one of the first to hybridise 

 Narcissus in this country, and one of his seedlings from N. 

 Pseudo-Narcissus fertilised with pollen from N. Poeticus 

 bore a great resemblance to N. incomparabilis, and by cross- 

 ing this again with the pollen of N. Poeticus plants were 

 obtained which differed but little from the last-named 

 species. 



A NEW ORCHID POT. 



Any invention which promises to simplify or extend the 

 successful culture of orchids is sure to meet with approval 

 from the ever-increasing body of amateurs who make a 

 speciality of these lovely plants in their gardens. Such an 

 innovation was recently exhibited in London by Mr. Mat- 

 thews of Weston-super-Mare in the shape of an improved 

 orchid pot which, by the courtesy of the Editor of the 

 ' Garden,' we are enabled to figure. It is a well-known 

 fact that epiphytal orchids require very little pot-room, hence 

 the pots in which they are grown have hitherto been partially 

 filled with crocks (a safe refuge for cockroaches and a snug 

 harbour for ants and woodlice) over which the compost has 

 been placed. This plan has answered well in the hands of 

 careful cultivators, but in course of time the soil is washed 

 down among the drainage in watering, and stagnant moisture 

 has been the result. In order to obviate this stagnation 

 and the consequent loss of root-power Mr. Matthews has in- 

 vented an orchid pot of which the accompanying illustration 



is a section, and in which a 

 circular disc of earthen- 

 ware is made to replace 

 the mass of broken crocks 

 formerly placed below the 

 compost. The simple ad- 

 dition of the disc secures 

 perfect drainage and due 

 aeration of the compost, 

 while at the same time it 

 obviates the danger from 

 overwatering or superflu- 

 ous moisture remaining 

 stagnant in the compost. 

 The joint advantages of a 

 pot and a pan are here com- 

 bined without the defects of either, and we are glad to 

 know that such a simple cultural apparatus has already 

 been used with excellent results in many good collec- 

 tions. 



