PARK AND CEMETERY. 
2 36 
proximate* 75 species. They are natives of the tropics 
and south and north temperate zones of both hemi- 
spheres 
Two, though rare are found in the United States; 
Jamaica possesses some of the choicest and perhaps the 
largest representation of species of any country of equal 
area. 
Todeas are the coarsest of all, and ruperba the spec- 
ies which luxuriates in tne open air in Cornwall and the 
south of Ireland is the best known and most deserving 
of general cultivatio I . Fraseri and its variety Wil- 
kesi are naturally prettier than superba but their diffi- 
cult management is the cause of their being ill favored 
in cultivation and always having a bad appearance. 
T. Moorei (grandipinula) of Lord Howes Island 
grows equally poor although a species presumably pretty 
in its native home. T. hy menophylloides (pellucida) is 
still more or less of a probationer in cultivation. Speci- 
mens of Todea superba three to four feet in diameter 
are among the Kew collection. 
Tropical species among Trichomanes; T. Kaulfussi; 
T. Prienrii; T. spicatum and T. pinnatum are the most 
easily cultivated and tractable species. 
Ilymenophyllum polyanthes which inhabits the trop- 
ics everywhere is a very free grower. 
Trichomanes radicans, the Ivillarney Fern, is rather 
cosmopolitan and inhabits principally temperate and 
sub tropical regions. In the United States it is found 
in Kentucky and southwards. It’s varieties are many. 
Trichomanes reniforme — the “New Zealand lidney 
fern” has a distinct aspect. The large, broad, kidney- 
shaped fronds usually held erect on the short stipes are 
decidedly in contrast to all other filmies. It is one of 
the easiest to manage. 
Difficult to cultivate are Trichomanes Colensoi of 
New Zealand and especially membranaceum which is 
also very slow growing. Both do best on stone. 
Prettiest of all the easier growers is Hymenophyllum 
demissum, an inhab tant of various Polynesian Islands. 
The beauty of the dense but thin and narrow segments 
of its divided fronds growing as they do, compact, low 
and even, it is truly charming. This more than any 
other carries a dense array of glistening dew on the light 
green fronds. With age the fronds turn a dark glossy 
green and grow from three to twelve inches long and 
two and one half to fou- inches wide. 
Among those difficult to grow are Ilymenophyllum 
rarum; II. aeruginosum from the Isle of Tristan; Tricho- 
manes rigidum and its varieties: Hymenophyllum hir- 
sutum and H. sericeum, both with hirsute foliage that 
demand absolute freedom from water on the fronds. H. 
dichotomum groups itself here. 
Hymenophyllum venosum thrives well on either fern 
stems or planted on a rock. H. multifidum grows very 
well. 
Trichomanes auriculatum does fairly well if grown 
on stone. 
Hymenophyllum cruentum from Chili is remarkable 
in having red tinted foliage in autumn, when growing 
where it is indigenous. 
For length of fronds, the variety prolonguin of Tric- 
homanes Luschnathianum, itself probably a variety of 
radicans, most likely takes thel-ead with its sessile fronds 
from eighteen inches to two feet long. 
A set very difficult to establish is, that to which 
Trichomanes cuspidatum of Mauritius belongs and in 
fact all those from Mauritius are hard, Trichomanes 
Barclayana; Trichomanes Bojeri, etc. 
Inhabiting the tropics but cool growing under culti- 
vation, that choice little Trichomanes pyxidiferum is in- 
teresting. 
Among the smaller species that bend well under arti- 
ficial treatment and deport themselves creditably, Tric- 
homanes parvulum, we believe first introduced by Veitch 
of Chelsea, is noteworthy. 
Species such as alatum, pyxidiferum and that set 
thrive on either fern stems with attached sphagnum moss 
or in pans mounded with sphagnum. The famous Hy- 
men. Tunbridgense, once so common around Tunbridge 
Wells and still found in Eastern and Southern Europe 
does well under this treatment. Trichomanes Petersii 
another dwarf gem is an American but it has not been 
recently found in its natural home. It has been found 
in Winston County, Alabama. 
Though not a Filmy, Asplenium resectum calls at- 
tention here as requiring filmy fern conditions for suc- 
cessful cultivation. 
Plants offered for sale by the European nurserymen 
are usually imported. They can be propagated by di- 
viding the roorstalks after establishing themselves on 
new pieces of fern stems. So rarely is growth from 
spores successful that it is beyond hope of a novice to 
start thus, the most experienced fern growers fail repeat- 
edly in it and usually rely on imported plants. 
Todeas and some of the coarser Trichomanes do 
grow from spores under cultivation but the choicer sorts 
and all the Hymenopyllums do not. 
Insects and filmies are not divorced. In the cool 
and hot cases the green Aphis occasionally appear. 
Should the plants be growing in pans or on tree trunks 
that are easily movable, immersing the entire foliage in 
soft rain water for a day will free them. If planted out 
they may be fum'gated lightly with tobacco allowing as 
little heat to enter with the smoke as possible. Syring- 
ing with diluted tob icco water and in the course of two 
or three hours rinsing them with clean water is also ef- 
fective. Best of all, when possible, keep up a tobacco 
tainted atmosphere bv strewing tobacco stems about the 
cases. More difficult to eradicate is the principal and 
practically the only other insect preying on them, the 
black thrip. Various forms of tobacco are effectual but 
probably the best method is to remove them with a soft 
sponge dipped in soap water. 
If red spider occurs, sponging with cool, clear rain 
water or syringing is necessary but when this or thrip 
appears in quantity the cultivator has been negligent, in- 
efficient, or the climate is too hot, changeable or other- 
wise severe to permit their cultivation. 
At Kew the filmies are grown in a span-roofed house 
50 ft. long, 14 ft. wide, 9 ft. high to ridge and 5 ft. 9 in. 
to gutters. A central walk divides it into two. From the 
stage level 2 ft. 9 in. above the ground, the face of the 
