278 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
lSOTHOCllL./E,NA-conthmed. 
surface is piale green land slightly hairy, while the under- 
side is densely coated with small, narrow, rusty-brown 
scales. The black and abundant sori are disposed along the 
edges of the leaflets, which are slightly inflexed. 
N, trichomanoides. 
One of the handsomest among the rare species met with 
in collections, and one which, when well grown, never fails 
to attract attention. The particularly decorative and 
drooping habit of its narrow fronds, 6in. to 12in. long and 
rarely more than l^in. broad, the peculiar white colour of 
their under-surface, due to a combination of white, star- 
like scales and fine mealy powder intermixed, render this 
plant one of the most striking of the whole genus. It is 
a native of Jamaica and Cuba. The fronds, produced from 
a central crown and borne on tufted, firm stalks 2in. to 4in. 
long, of a chestnut-brown colour, and slightly scaly, are 
simply pinnate. The oblong, blunt leaflets show some con- 
spicuous, blunt lobes, all of a somewhat leathery texture, 
white underneath, and belted all round the margin with 
an even and uninterrupted band of very conspicuous and 
ornamental, black spore masses. For a medium-sized hang- 
ing basket, N. tiichomanoides has few equals, as its abun- 
dant fronds are most elegantly pendulous. It requires to 
be grown in a light compost of either fibrous peat or leaf- 
mould and silver sand. It thrives best in the intermediate 
house, where its fronds are fairly enduring, provided they 
are kept perfectly dry at all seasons. 
OLEANDRA. 
Although not an extensive genus, Oleandra 
embraces some of the most interesting trailing Ferns 
in cultivation. With the exception of the Oleander- 
like 0. neriiformis, all the species make good speci- 
mens either trained upon stems of dead Tree Ferns, 
which they readily ascend and quickly cover, or 
grown on mounds of peat. None but very fibrous 
peat should, however, be used; thick turfs of it 
should be placed one above another, and tightly 
fastened together by means of wooden pegs so as 
to form a pyramid. Another way of employing 
Oleandras is to use them for covering pillars in- 
doors; but as they take possession of any genial 
surface, fastening themselves to it by means of short, 
fibry roots, it is indispensable that these should be 
provided with proper nourishment as the rhizomes 
