8 
JjlNTARY 18 !K> 
OR GH RR D 
GARDE 
Aa\a/w s aAA/AaAa^7 
Ferns in the Honse. 
It is to be regretted that Ferns are so little 
grown by the average amateur, whose 
“glass’’ is confined to the parlor or sitting- 
room window. The general absence from 
window culture of these beautiful and in- 
teresting plants is owing, in no small meas- 
ure, to a misapprehension that they are 
very difficult to grow, and are not suited to 
this ruodo of culture. It must be admitted 
that some are not; but others are, and 
among tho latter may be found some cf the 
most beautiful of this charming family. 
With tho aid of a Wardian ease and a ccol 
room even the lovely Filmy Ferns may bo 
grown very successfully. While we have 
found it very difficult to grow Adiantuu i 
Fcrlcycr.se in a satisfactory manner in a 
room, wc have experienced little trouble in 
growing tho scarcely less 
beautiful -4. grccillimum 
and A. continuum into 
very handsome s p e c i- 
mens. These two Adian- 
tums are much hardier 
plants than they get cre- 
dit for. Tho accompany- 
ing illustration (Fig. 894) 
shows a finely grown 
plant of A. graciliimum. 
The amateur, particu- 
larly if he or she be one 
cf little experience, is of- 
ten confused with a long 
list of names to choose 
from. The amateur 
should at first be fed 
somewhat like an infant, 
a spoonful at a time. He 
is starting off, it is to be 
hoped, on a long and 
pleasant journey, and 
should not be burdened 
with more than ho can carry. There are 
plenty of pretty things that he can pick 
up by the way as he becomes accustomed 
to the gait. For a beginning he may select 
from the following list: Adiantum gracil- 
iimum, A. continuum, A. affine, Pteris ser- 
rulata, P. serrulata cristata, P. argyreia, Da- 
V'lllia Tyermani, D. elegans, D. Mooreana, 
Polypodium efusum, P. plumosum, Asplc- 
nium bulbiferum, A. luxum pumilum, Platy- 
cerium alcicorr.c, P. Wallinckii (both may bo 
grown on cork cr in a basket,) Lamaria gibba. 
Add Selaginellas to the selection for a ground 
work or filling in and one will have a beau- 
tiful window garden without regard to flow- 
ering plants. 
A good soil for Ferns may be made from 
leaf mould, garden soil, and sand, about 
equal part3 of each. If leaf mould cannot 
be had, add 6and enough to the garden soil 
to make it light and porus. The pots should 
be well drained, preferably with broken 
charcoal. Ferns like plenty of water, and 
the drainage will prevent the soil from be- 
coming soddened and sour. Under favor- 
able conditions of heat and moisture it is 
easy to grew large Ferns by giving them 
plenty of pot room ; but for window garden- 
ing large plants are not desirable. Begin, 
therefore, with small plants, and let the pots 
get well root bound before repotting, and 
then shift into pots just large enough to 
get one inch more of soil all around the ball 
of earth. As the plants and pots increase 
in size, the necessity for repotting will grow 
less. In this way Ferns may be grown for 
a number of years without becoming bur- 
dense me to lift; an important matter where 
women grow the plants in rooms, as they 
usually do. It is important that watering 
be attended to faithfully; and an occasional 
sprinkling overhead with an atomizer, a 
brush, cr something of that kind, will be 
very helpful in keeping the plants clean, 
bright and healthy. 
Ferns will thrive in the shade better than 
most flowering plants; still, as grown in 
rooms, they are better and brighter for two 
will be no great labor; for who that loves 
plants does not like to “fuss” among them 
occasionally? — P. B. Mead. 
Floral Notes. 
Large numbers of the so-called “Chinese 
Sacred Lily” are being grown this win- 
ter, and we are glad to know it, for one 
can not help finding them interesting. In 
a barber’s window a bulb was seen lying 
flat on its aide in a small teacup saucer, with 
about half an inch cf water in it ; a case that 
deserves success, even though it should not 
attain it. In the windows cf seme of the 
Chinese laundries two or three large glass 
bowls may be seen filled with them. The 
Chinese, it would seem, do not grow the 
bulbs singly, but use a large bowl, and cram 
it full of them, thus securing a larger mass 
of bloom. This is worth remembering. We 
arc trying anew way of growing these bulbs 
in water, which, so far, is very promising. 
ADIANTUM GRACILLMUM. Elg. 894. 
i or three hours of sunshine daily. An east- 
ern or western window, therefore, will suit 
them very well; and some will do well even 
in a northern window, provided tho room is 
i kept only moderately warm. No one, how- 
ever, need hesitate to place them in a win- 
dow' facing the south. 
As to insects, some very destructive ones 
arc particularly fond of Ferns, such as red 
spider and thrips. The place to look for 
the latter is on the under side of the leaf, at 
least till he gets wings. The thrips is a 
good deal like Paddy’s flea; you put your 
finger on him, and he isn’t there. Tobacco 
smoke and similar remedies do not seem to 
annoy' him iu the least. The only thing wc 
have found successful is a moderately strong 
solution of carbolic soap. This should be 
applied to the under side of the leaf with a 
soft sponge, and allowed to dry cn. If, 
however, tho foliage be examined carefully 
from time to time, the thumb and finger 
will make other remedies unnecessary. This 
As evidence that the popularity of the 
Chrysanthemum is still spreading, it may 
be stated that Chrysan- 
themum shows are no 
longer confined to our 
large cities. County 
Horticultural Societies 
now have their Crysan- 
themum shows, and some 
of them are very credita- 
ble ones too. The splen- 
did exhibitions held at 
Orange, N. J., are al- 
ready famous, and are 
not likely soon to be sur- 
passed anywhere. Let us 
take, however, an exam- 
ple of what may be term- 
ed a country or county 
show, such as that given 
by the Hampden County 0 
Horticultural So c i e t y, 
(Massachusetts,) where 
the love of flowers seems 
to be indigenous. This 
enterprising society held 
| its Chrysanthemum show at the City Hall 
in Springfield during the week cf Nov. 11-16, 
in the midst of a prolonged rain storm. The 
room is large, about the size of the Orange 
Rink, but a much better room for a flower 
show’; better, in fact, than any to be found 
about New York city. The light is about 
everything that could be desired, and the 
floor can be quickly cleared of seats for any 
arrangement. It is a pity there are not 
more such rooms. This large room was 
packed full cf plants, and there was not a 
poor specimen among them. The arrange- 
ment was excellent, allowung visitors to 
walk among the groups, largo and small, 
much as they would in a garden. 
The exhibit of Mr. Meillez was something^ 
phenomenal for size and quality. He ex- 
celled not only iu pot plants, but in cut 
flowers. Other professionals made fine dis- 
plays, but in a smaller way. The amateurs 
also made a fine show, particularly in spe- 
cimen plants. Cut flowers were abundant, 
