118 FERNS AND FERNERIES. 
WHAT THE HORTICULTURAL AND OTHER PAPERS SAY. 
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“THE GARDENER’S CHRONICLE,” May 31st, says— 
“Messrs. W. 8c J. Birkenhead exhibited in that excellent manner peculiar to the firm 
whenever we are favoured with their presence in London. They staged some 500 specimens, 
embracing a fair representation of each class and also of Ferns generally. The group was arranged 
in sections as much as possible— the Adiantums together, the Aspleniums, Gymnogrammas, and 
other large genera placed conveniently for comparison ; the exotic species together and the hardy 
kinds at the end. Among the hardy we noted the elegant Athyrium f.f. plumosum elegans, and 
A. f.f. Frizellias cristatum nanum, Lastrea f.m. fimbriata cristata, elegantly fringed and crested ; 
the Scolopendriums cristulatum and grandiceps were remarkable, and the well known but pretty 
Asplenium septentrionale and A. Germanicum were among the dwarfest. Among the exotics were 
a group of all the species of Lygodium, and the allied Lygodictyon Fosterii ; a fine lot of Oheilanthes 
and Nothocloenas, some of the rare Onychium auratum, Lomaria fluviatilis, Davallia parvula, and a 
group of Filmy Ferns, including the new Todea grandipinnula.” 
“THE GARDENER’S MAGAZINE,” May 31st, says- 
“ Messrs. Birkenhead, of Sale, near Manchester, presented a wondrous collection of Ferns.” 
“Messrs. Birkenhead contributed a thoroughly representative collection, comprising good 
examples of all the finest of the British and exotic species and varieties.” 
“AMATEUR GARDENING’’ says— 
“ The Ferns shown by Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead, to the extent of five hundred kinds, were, 
it is needless to say, of great interest. The collection embraced almost every type of Ferns in 
commerce.” 
“THE GARDEN ” says— 
“Gymnogrammas were exhibited at the Temple Show in great beauty, by Messrs. Birkenhead. 
The best amongst the varieties is the form G. schizophylla gloriosa. There were also good examples 
of the Silver Fern (G. Peruviana argyrophylla). This is a very beautiful plant, having a thick coat 
of silvery powder on both sides. A plant of Platycerium Willinckii was shown in very good form 
by Messrs. Birkenhead.” 
“THE TIMES,” May 30th, says— 
“ In one of the tents were the Filmy Ferns, rarely or never seen before in such beauty and variety 
at a Flower Show. With little pearls of dew gemming every point of the cool green fronds, they 
were most agreeable to look upon, and it was difidcult to believe that, even with the protection of 
glass shades, these natives of caves and of tropical forests could be exposed without danger in a 
canvas tent. The Killarney Fern and that which is found among the rocks of Tunbridge Wells, 
with a doubtful variant called Wilson’s, are believed to be the sole indigenous examples of this 
class, and they were all represented yesterday either in Mr. Backhouse’s or Mr. Birkenhead’s 
collection. Mr. Birkenhead, of Sale, whose Ferns were not selected exclusively from the filmies, 
showed a new Todea grandipinnula, a feathery hybrid, and the garden variety Davallia tenuifolia 
Veitchiana, very light and wavy. There was also a Gymnogramma schizophylla originally from 
Jamaica, but in its improved form called gloriosa. A first-class certificate was awarded for Lastrea 
f.m. cristata fimbriata, crested and fringed with delicate embroidery of vegetable green.” 
“THE MANCHESTER GUARDIAN,” May 29th, says— 
“ On the whole the show was a brilliant one, but it is impossible to give here more than a few of 
the more prominent exhibits. Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead, of Sale, Manchester, sent a beautiful 
collection of rare Ferns. Their Davallias were particularly admired. Most deservedly they obtained 
the Silver Cup for the best collection of Ferns.” 
“THE NEW YORK HERALD,” May 29th, says— 
“ In Ferns there were numerous exhibits, the most extensive array coming from Messrs. W. & J. 
Birkenhead (Sale, near Manchester), and containing 500 yarieties, a Silver Cup being the award 
made, in addition to a first-class certificate for a new variety (Lastrea f.m. cristata fimbriata).” 
