110 



EXOTIC FEENS. 



As an appendix to this little book we have venturea to 

 give a list of exotic ferns which may be cultivated with 

 advantage. Some of these are sufficiently hardy to be 

 grown out of doors, some require to be protected from 

 the extremes of our climate by cultivation in a greenhouse, 

 whilst others are best adapted for growing in closed cases. 

 We have given the average length of the fronds to serve 

 as a guide to the quantity of room required for their suc- 

 cessful cultivation, and in each instance it is stated under 

 what conditions the respective plants should be grown. 

 It is no less strange than true that a large number of exotic 

 species have from time to time been introduced into this 

 country which are easy of cultivation and do not require 

 artificial heat ; yet very few are ever seen in garden, green- 

 house, or fern-case, except in large establishments where 

 a gardener is kept, who is supposed to know everything, 

 and grow everything, capable of producing a green leaf. 



Eed Scale Peen {Nothocldoena Marantoe). This is a 

 most interesting species for a "case" or greenhouse, and 

 is easy of cultivation. The fronds but little exceed 6 

 or 7 inches in length, narrow, with blunt oblong leaf- 

 lets on each side of the leaf-stalk. The under side of 

 the leaflets covered with reddish scales. It is a native 

 of the south of Europe, &c. 



AVooLLY Cloak Eern {Notliochlodna lanuginosa). This 

 delicate and elegant little fern is scarcely more than 6 

 inches in height. The whole plant is woolly with hairs, 

 and the under surface is of a brownish colour. The 

 leaflets are snail and three-lobed. It is a native of 

 Northern Africa, Southern Europe, &c.,and very tender, 

 but with care might be cultivated in a Wardian case. 



EuDDT Cloak 'FiE.iBi^ {NothocJiloena vestita) , This is also 

 a woolly species, with a delicate habit, striking appear- 

 ance, and suitable for a " case." The fronds are little 

 above 6 inches in length, of a ruddy tint, in form re- 



