182 
THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
When grown in houses, it is desirable to have a flat stage or 
table on each, or one side of the walk, with a layer of shingly gravel 
or cocoa-nut fibre refuse for the plants to stand upon, as the moisture 
arising therefrom will be highly conducive to a healthy growth. The 
w'ater which drains from the soil will help to keep the material 
damp, and, if necessary, water can be poured over it occasionally. 
When in frames the plants can be placed upon a layer of coal- 
ashes. 
In commencing the culture of British ferns in pots, the best 
course will be to procure a sufficient number to partly fill the house 
or pit, or as many as may be afforded, in three or five-inch pots. If 
they are strong and well established, they should at once be shifted 
into pots two sizes larger, and then no further repotting will be 
required until next spring. When newly repotted, due care must 
be taken to avoid over-watering, but when well established, liberal 
supplies of water will be required. In warm weather a gentle 
sprinkle overhead in the evening will also be beneficial, but at the 
same time a moderate degree of atmospheric humidity must be main- 
tained by pouring water on the floors and stages. 
After the first year an annual shift, using pots two sizes larger 
each time, will suffice to maintain a steady growth throughout the 
season. The pots must be properly drained, and a compost con- 
sisting of about two parts fibrous peat, one part turfy loam, and a 
liberal proportion of silver-sand employed. During the winter the 
plants must be kept rather dry, especially the deciduous species and 
varieties, but the soil must not be kept dust dry, or the roots will 
perish, and the plants suffer in consequence. 
For a beginner the following will form a very good collection, 
and they may be obtained at a comparatively cheap rate : — 
As^lcnium adiantum-nigrum, A. a.-n. acutum,A. marinum, Athyrium 
(Lady Yevvi) Jilix-foemina apuoeforme, A. f.-f. corynibiferum, A.f.-f. 
Elworthi, A. f -f. Fieldice, A. f.-f. Frizellice, A. f.-f. grandiceps, 
A.f.-f. mult f dim., A.f.-f. plumosum, A.f.-f. ramo-cristatum, A. f.-f. 
Vernonics, A. f-f. Victories, Gystopteris fragilis DieJeeana, Lastrea 
filix-mas Barnesi, L. f.-m. Bollandice, L.f.-m. crispa, L. f.-m. cristata, 
L. f.-m. furcans, L. f.-m. Ingrami, L. f.-m. polydactijla, Osmunda 
regalis cristata, Polypodium vulgare camhricum, P. v. midtifido-cris- 
tatum, Polystichum angulare hrachiatum, P. a. cristatum, P- a. 
Flicorthi, P. a. grandiceps, P. a. plumosum, P. a. prAiferum Wol- 
lastoni, Scolopendrium vulgare crispum, 8. v. laceratum, 8. v. macro- 
sorum, S. v. marginato-coronatum, 8. v. ramo-cristatum, 8. v. ramo- 
marginatmn, 8. v. undulato-lohatum. 
The following hardy exotics are in every way desirable for asso- 
ciating with the British species : — 
Adiantum pedatum, Asplenium consimile, Cyrtomium falcatum, 
Lastrea decurrens, L. opaca, L. Sieboldi, Polystichum, setosum. 
