FERNS AND FERNERIES. 113 
as many other kinds, but it does not impose a very heavy tax upon the skill of the cultivator. Chief 
among the host of Adiantums that have a place in the collection are A. lunulatum, a handsome species 
of free growth ; A. Peruvianum, a graceful-growing species of the most distinct character ; A. rhodo- 
phyllum, a compact-growing species with medium-sized fronds, the pinnules very large, and of a 
bright brown hue when young, changing with age to deep green ; A. Seemanni, a distinct and beauti- 
ful species not much grown ; A. Victoria, a charming species of dwarf growth, remarkable for the 
large size of the pinnae ; A. Collisi, a new species well deserving the attention of the cultivator. 
Asplenium formosum is a pleasing little species with elegant light green fronds. Davallia Fijiensis 
and its plumose variety are two of the most meritorious of the ferns requiring a stove temperature, 
for they are both robust in growth and unsurpassed for elegance of habit. Both make effective 
specimens. Davallia parvula will not be regarded with much favour by those who have a decided 
preference for strong-growing ferns, for when in the most robust state of health its fronds do not 
exceed an inch in height. It is, nevertheless, a sweet little thing that should not be overlooked. The 
diminutive fronds are finely divided, and of a bright emerald-green hue. Drymoglossum piloselloides 
is a capital companion to the species immediately preceding it, and a gem among ferns of small growth. 
Drynaria mussefolia and Goniophlebium glaucophyllum are two beautiful ferns, valuable both for 
their handsome appearance and distinct character. The first of the two has fronds between two and 
three feet in length, and with the veins so strongly marked as to give the fronds a very pleasing 
appearance. Lygodium dichotomum and L. volubile are two rare species, with large handsome 
fronds that will in due course take a leading position amongst the comparatively few ferns of scandent 
habit. Niphobolus heteractis, in the way of the well-known N. lingua, is a rare and handsome species, 
and desirable for the contrast its large leathery fronds present to the elegant and finely-divided fronds 
( f the majority of the ferns having a place in the stove. Onychium auratum must be mentioned for 
its great beauty, and Pleopeltis Xiphias and Ehipidopteris peltata must not be overlooked. The last 
mentioned attains a height of about three inches, and has small fan-shaped fronds. Platycerium 
grande, the best of the Elk’s Horn ferns, is strongly represented, and it may perhaps be useful to 
mention the fact that Messrs. Birkenhead grow it in large numbers, and with much success, on pieces 
of virgin cork. 
North- American Perns are so largely grown as to constitute of themselves a feature of great 
interest. They are all well adapted for both greenhouse and outdoor culture, and for associating with 
the British species and their varieties, they are exceedingly useful because of the pleasing variety 
they afibrd. The following comprise some of the best in the section : Adiantum pedatum, one of 
the most lovely of the hardy ferns, forming under favourable conditions large masses of the most 
delicious verdure ; Lastrea Goldiana, a bold-growing species, the fronds attaining a length ranging 
from two feet to thirty inches, and of a peculiar metallic hue ; Osmunda cinnamomea, a distinct and 
handsome species ; 0. Claytoniana, a fine species with ample velvety green fronds ; 0. gracilis, in the 
way of the Boyal Fern, but more slender in growth and graceful in appearance ; Pelleea atropurpurea, 
a small-growing fern well worthy of a cool, shady nook in the fern garden ; Polystichum acrostichoides 
grandiceps is the first of the known crested varieties of the North- American ferns, and so bea'utiful 
that it is impossible to repress a wish that we had more of them— it is rather dwarfer than the type, 
and the fronds are beautifully crested ; P. munitum, of Californian origin, is one of the most hand- 
some of the hardy exotics. It may be likened to the Holly Fern, but the fronds attain a length of 
four or five feet and a breadth of between four and five inches. 
British Ferns occupy much space and evidently a large share of attention, and as the collection 
contains all the varieties of the several species that are worth growing, the houses and pits devoted to 
them are especially interesting. It was satisfactory to hear that, although the British ferns are not 
so well represented at the public exhibitions as they were from ten to twenty years ago, there is a 
brisk demand for them, especially for the more distinct varieties. To enumerate all the forms in the 
collection that deserve attention would occupy much space, and it must suffice to mention a few only 
of the most distinct. The varieties of the Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-foemina, of special excellence, 
include ; acrocladon, apicale, curtum cristatum, Frisellise, ramo-cristatum, gemmatum, grandiceps, 
Kalothrix ; a delicate and exquisitely-beautiful variety, requiring more care than the majority of the 
forms ; plumosum Axminster variety, plumosum elegans, rheticum deflexum, and Yictorise, a variety, 
one of the most beautiful of the group. The Hard Fern, Blechnum spicant, has fifteen or sixteen 
varieties, and from these concinnum and trinervo-coronans have been selected as of special excellence. 
From the varieties of the Male Fern, Lastrea filix-mas, may be selected a large number that will not 
fail to give satisfaction to the cultivator ; but those who can only afford space for a few should first 
give their attention to crispa cristata, crispa polydactyla, cristata Barnesi, grandiceps, Pinderi, and 
ramulosissima. The Mountain Fern, Lastrea montana, includes two extremely beautiful varieties, 
namely : coronans and ramo-coronans. The varieties of the common polypody. Polypodium vulgare, 
of exceptional merit, are Cambricum Prestoni, multifid o-cristatum, and trichomanoides, the last- 
mentioned being of great beauty. Two varieties of Polystichum angulare claim special attention, 
namely ; Pateyi and venustum ; and from the numerous forms of the Hart’s Tongue may be selected 
crispum and ramo-marginatum, both of which are distinct in character and decidedly handsome. 
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