•Tily 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
47 
, 1 
17 
18 
Th 
P 
Carlisle (t-svo days). Wirksworth (Boses). Newport. Louth (two days). 
19 
s 
National Bose Society, Manchester. 
20 
SUN 
6th Sunday afteii Trinity. 
21 
M 
[Carnation and Picotee Show. 
22 
Tu 
lioyal Horticultural Society’s Fruit and Floral Committees at 11 a.m. 
23 
W 
Newcastle (three days). Pelthani. 
FILMY FEKNS. 
N the Journal of Horticulture of the 19th inst. 
there is an article headed “Notes on Kew,” in 
which an account is given of a change which 
has taken place in the position of Hymeno- 
phylle®. Thinking that it might be interesting 
to your readers to know the history of the Kew 
collection of this interesting family of Ferns, I 
submit the following. 
In Hooker’s and Baker’s “Synopsis Filicum” 
160 or more species are described. They have a wide 
geographical range, being found in most countries compatible 
to vegetable life, especially where moisture abounds; in rocky 
ravines and caverns; also on trees, some growing like Lichens 
and Mosses. Three are natives of Britain, two are recorded 
in Aiton’s “ Hortus Kewensis ” as garden plants. In 1822 
I found no evidence of their having been cultivated. This 
was, no doubt, consequent on their fugacious nature re¬ 
quiring special treatment. About the year 1842 one of these 
species, Trichomanes brevisetum—now known as T. radicans 
—became a subject of interest to amateur plant-cultivators, 
and several well-grown specimens under bellglasses were to 
be seen in the neighbourhood of London. At the same time 
a specimen raised under the same conditions was to be seen 
at Kew. It was not till 1844 that the first exotic species 
were received from Jamaica, forwarded by Mr. W. Purdie, 
then botanical collector for Kew. From this time the Kew 
collection gradually increased, and in 18G4 the number of 
species had increased to thirty-six Trichomanes and twenty- 
six Hymenophylla, the names of which, synonyms, and 
native countries are recorded in “ Ferns, British and 
Foreign.” 
With the early example of Trichomanes radicans it be¬ 
came evident that the species of Hymenophylla would not 
thrive under the ordinary conditions of pot cultivation as 
practised in the hothouses at Kew, the interior of the houses 
not being adapted for forming a small imitation rockery or 
other moisture-holding surfaces congenial to these plants. 
The Wardian case principle was therefore adopted, the cases 
being about 50inches square, the framework of zinc, the sides 
and tops glazed, the latter moveable, and square shallow pans 
filled with suitable soil, in which the specimens were planted. 
The number of these cases gradually increased with the new 
species, and ultimately they numbered forty, arranged on 
the shelf on the north side of the Fern house, the roof above 
them being densely shaded. Under these conditions the 
plants flourished, filling the boxes. This mode of cultivation 
cannot, however, be considered otherwise than of an artificial 
character; but under the circumstances it was the best, as 
cultivation on a rockery or such-like moisture - retaining 
surfaces was not then practised either in hothouses or in the 
open air, all the rockery of the Aitons (of which there were 
about 100 loads of material) in the original Botanic Garden 
having been swept away. But a change of taste appears of 
late to have taken place, for within these few years a fine 
outdoor rockery has been formed, which my infirmities pre¬ 
No. 212.—VoL. IX., Thied Series. 
vent me from seeing. It is to be hoped that ere long we 
shall have a covered rockery for Ferns, epiphytal Aroids, 
Bromeliads, and similar plants. For the formation of such, 
some assistance may be obtained by consulting the article on 
natural cultivation in “ Ferns, British and Foreign.”— 
John Smith, Ex- Curator, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[In exquisite delicacy of form the Filmy Ferns surpass all 
their numerous relatives, and when growing with that fresh¬ 
ness and freedom which so clearly indicate that their 
surroundings are satisfactory they are really gems. Who 
can fail to admire the slender hair-like Trichomanes trichoi- 
deum when its delicate fronds have each point terminating 
in a diamond-like dewdrop ? or the translucent Hymeno- 
phyllum hirsutum or H. ciliatum, the fronds of which 
resemble some extremely thin membrane ? and these are 
only examples of many others equally lovely. Beautiful as 
they all are, however, when in health, they have a corre¬ 
spondingly miserable appearance when their requirements 
are not carefully studied, and this perhaps is the reason that, 
except a few species, such as the Killarney Fern, the British 
Hymenophyllum, and Todea superba, they are seldom met 
with in gardens. It is true that some ardent amateurs like 
Dr. Cooper Foster have taken them in hand and formed good 
collections, with considerable satisfaction to themselves and 
their friends; but it is surprising that so few follow the 
example of the distinguished physician named above, who 
has made a careful study of these Ferns, and has, we 
believe, the largest amateur’s collection in this country. 
Nurserymen’s collections include only the most generally 
grown species, though both Messrs. Veitch and Mr. B. S. 
Williams have many varieties; but to see Filmy Ferns in 
perfection we must go to the York Nurseries, where Messrs. 
Backhouse have an unrivalled collection as regards the 
number of species and varieties. In their cool, moist, shady 
houses, too, it is at once seen that these Ferns have what 
they need—an equable temperature, and an atmosphere 
saturated with moisture, under which conditions, being pro¬ 
tected from droughts, the plants grow most luxuriantly 
without being imprisoned in Wardian cases. The fact is that 
to preserve the plants in health they must never be subjected 
to excessive heat, and any approach to that or dryness, either 
in the air or about their roots, must be most carefully guarded 
against. Their fronds are mostly extremely fragile, and the 
slightest injury results in a disfigurement which the best 
subsequent attention cannot remove until fresh fronds have- 
been produced. 
As with many other moisture-loving plants Filmy Ferns 
do not, however, thrive when water is permitted to stagnate 
around them. For this reason they appear to succeed the 
best when grown upon the stem of a Tree Fern, the base of 
which can be plunged either in fine spar or any other material 
that will keep it firmly in position, and yet permit the water 
to escape freely. It is also an advantage if the stems are 
tilted at a slight angle, as the Ferns can be seen to better 
advantage, and seem to extend better in this way. This 
system is principally useful for the dwarf species, as the 
taller and stronger forms, and the Todeas, succeed either in 
pots or beds of good peat. 
Where only two or three specimens are grown the W^ardian 
case is undoubtedly the most suitable, but for a larger collec¬ 
tion the method now adopted at Kew, and recently described 
in this Journal, is much to be preferred. The moisture can 
then be regulated, and the larger cases, if kept closed, are 
not so readily afiected by changes in the temperature— 
advantages of no mean importance. It might also be added 
as a hint to amateur cultivators that none of the more 
delicate species should have water applied direct to their 
fronds, as it usually results in decay or injury of some kind. 
The stronger forms are not so fastidious, but it is wise to 
exercise care in regard to all Filmy Ferns in this respect, and 
if the air is well charged with moisture that is far better than 
watering the fronds. 
No. 1868.—Von. LXXL, Old Series. 
