August 7, 1890. J 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
exposed, here is an instance, out of several others that we might mention, 
in which a contrary method has been practised. When, on the other 
hand, it is retained in a stove, to which a moderate amount of heat is 
furnished, it assumes quite another appearance. The stems, instead of 
perishing yearly, become shrubby at the base, the lower leaves remain 
through the winter without withering, and it is the upper branches 
alone that exhibit any signs of decay. Its natural habit is, therefore, 
decidedly suifruticose, and that to which it has been reduced in our 
gardens is simply a constrained one. 
“ Miller, the celebrated author of some of our first works on garden¬ 
ing, states that the seeds were primarily introduced to Europe from 
Ternate, one of the Molucca Islands ; from which cause, it was originally 
established as a genus by Tournefort, under the name of Tcmatea. 
Linnaeus, however, thought it requisite to alter this, and apply the 
generic title it now bears. Miller again observes that there are double- 
flowered varieties of C. Ternatea, some with blue, and others with white 
blossoms, which will not ripen seeds with us, and these must conse¬ 
quently be imported from the East Indies. He adds, that seeds which 
he received in three different years invariably produced plants which 
bore double blossoms; and, as registered in the Botanical Magazine , 
‘ the same happened to Commelin in two succeeding seasons, which is 
difficult to account for, if they are only accidental varieties of the 
single-flowered kind. The leaves of the double sort, as figured in the 
* Hortus Amstelodamensis,’ are sharp-pointed, so that perhaps what w T e 
have followed others in recording as only varieties, may be two distinct 
species.’ ” 
BASKET FERNS. 
A class was provided at the recent Chiswick Fern Show and 
Conference for basket Ferns, but in the group the distinction 
between Ferns for pots and those for baskets was not made very 
clear. A few notes on the subject may be useful. 
I have tried several Adiantums, and amongst those I like best 
is Adiantum concinnum var. latum, a variety that Messrs. Veitch 
sent out some years ago. It is, however, a semi-deciduous Fern, 
losing a quantity of fronds through the winter season. It is very 
useful either for pots or baskets. The graceful manner in which 
the fronds hang over the sides of the baskets renders it a desirable 
acquisition for either the warm or cool stove. A. concinnum latum 
is a more robust plant than the type. The stipes are about 
12 inches long, shining and black. The entire fronds are between 
2 and 3 feet long, and from 12 to 15 inches broad. It grows much 
better in a compost of sandy fibry loam with a little leaf soil than 
it does in the soil generally used for Ferns. By using a stronger 
soil for Adiantums the pinnae come much finer. The typical form 
is rather widely distributed, and found growing in tropical 
America from Mexico to the West Indies southward to Peru and 
Brazil. 
A. Williamsi is better suited for baskets than pots on account 
of the rather slender arching stipes, and somewhat resembles A. 
chilense. The caudex is creeping, and soon travels to the side of 
the pots. In the event of its habit being the same in baskets, which 
in all probability it will, this will make one of the best of Adian 
turns for baskets. As soon as the rhizomes travel to the sides of 
the basket they should emit young fronds, and no doubt grow 
through the sides and bottom of the basket. The young fronds as 
they appear, and until they are fully developed, are covered with a 
yellow sulphur-like dust; as the fronds get matured they lose this 
character. This is its first season in a basket, and so far it has more 
than realised my expectation. It thrives well in a cool stove tem¬ 
perature, although it is a native of Peru, and found growing on 
mountains at an elevation of 12,000 feet. 
A. peruvianum is a noble Fern, and well adapted for baskets ; 
it is compact in habit, a very fine and well-marked species. It is 
by no means common in collections, and richly deserves to be more 
extensively grown. As the specific name implies, it is a native of 
Peru. I find it succeeds remarkably well in a cool stove tempera¬ 
ture. Asplenium cicutarium is an extremely beautiful Fern either 
for pots or baskets, and in the opinion of many is the most hand¬ 
some of the genus. It is a well-grown plant ; the fronds attain 
the length of about 15 inches, and from 4 to 6 inches broad, with 
from ten to fifteen horizontal pinnae on each side ; the texture is 
rather thin, and a very pleasing bright green colour. The fronds 
arch gracefully over the sides of the basket, and is a great acquisi¬ 
tion to the warm fernery. It is a native of tropical America, and 
delights in a warm, humid atmosphere. 
Asplenium longissimum is a very useful Fern for baskets, in 
fact that is the only way in which it can be satisfactorily grown. 
For lofty situations this is one of the few Ferns that is really 
suitable. The fronds droop immediately over the sides of the 
112 
basket, and hang down to a length of G or 7 feet. This is one of 
the proliferous species, forming young plants at the end of each 
frond. After the young plants are formed the stock can readily 
be increased by taking them off with a small portion of the frond,, 
and pegging them down on a pot filled with sandy soil. It is a. 
native of Java, Borneo, Malacca and Mauritius, and grows best in. 
a cool stove temperature, although I have a plant in the greenhouse- 
doing fairly well, but not so free-growing as the plants in a higher* 
temperature. 
A. furcatum answers well for a large basket. This is a well- 
known species, and common in collections ; it is a rather strong¬ 
growing species. The fronds grow to a length of between 
18 inches and 2 feet long, and from 4 to G inches broad. It is a' 
very accommodating Fern, and answers well either in a cool stove 
or greenhouse temperature. A. flaccidum is another well-known, 
species, and a very useful Fern ; for basket work it is amongst 
the best natives of Australia and New Zealand, and seems quite 
at home in a cool temperature. In a well-grown plant the fronds 
grow to a length of between 2 and 3 feet, and from 4 to 8 inches- 
broad. 
Davallias are numerous, many of which answer better in baskets’ 
than pots. Amongst the number I have grown, and which do 
remarkably well, are the following :—The first, which is a great 
favourite with most people, and which is commonly known as the 
Hare’s-foot Fern, D. canariensis, is too well known to need much 
said in its favour. The stout creeping rhizomes, which are densely 
covered with pale brown linear scales, are very suggestive of a hare’s 
foot, from which character it has its local name. The rhizomes 
creep over the surface, sides and bottom of the basket, sending: 
out at intervals its quadripinnatifid fronds, which are nearly 
18 inches long and a foot broad. It is a native of the Canary 
Islands, N. Africa, and Madeira, and always thrives in a rather cool 
temperature. 
D. ciliata is a most valuable plant for baskets, and should find a. 
place in every collection. The rhizomes are much the same as’ 
D. canariensis, but not so thick, and densely covered w T ith sharp- 
pointed ferruginous scales. The deeply cut lanceolate fronds grow 
nearly 2 feet long and from 6 to 8 inches broad. The rhizomes 
travel over the surface, bottom and sides of the basket ; as they 
extend they should be pegged in close to the basket. At intervals 
they send out fronds w'hich look exceedingly pretty growing in 
different directions. Being a native of the Philippine Islands, it 
requires a stove temperature. 
D. immersa is a handsome Fern for a basket or pot work. 
Before the young fronds are perfectly developed they have a. 
peculiar brown tint, and to a stranger look as though they have 
suffered some injury. The tripinnate fronds measure from 12 to- 
18 inches long and 6 to 9 inches broad, and are very useful for 
cutting purposes. The rhizome is wide, creeping, and peculiar in 
developing underneath the surface of the soil. There are several 
other Davallias that are well adapted for basket work, such as- 
D. chaerophylla, D. dissecta elegans, D. hirta cristata, D. Mooreana,. 
and D. repens. 
For large mixed baskets the Nephrolepis are exceedingly useful ; 
N. exaltata, N. acuta, N. cordifolia, and N. davallioides are alii 
worth growing. N. davallioides var. furcans is a valuable Fern, and 
well deserves to be grown in a basket ; the large drooping fronds 
furnished with pinnae of great size and substance renders it a., 
desirable plant in any collection. 
Polypodium pectinatum var. Paradiseae makes a splendid basket 
Fern, and well suited for a position where a spreading plant is 
required. In pots it appears out of its element, for the fronds with 
me grow about 4 feet long, slender, and gracefully arched ; the. 
frond is cut down to the rachis into close blunt horizontal pinnae. 
This variety is a much more handsome Fern than the type ; it is a 
native of the West Indies and Mexico, and grows well in a stove- 
temperature. 
Polypodium (Goniophlebium) subauriculatum is amongst the. 
most suitable of all Ferns for baskets. It requires to be suspended 
in a rather lofty position on account of the long pendulous fronds,, 
which attain the length of nearly 8 feet in a w ell-established plant. 
It is a rapid-growing Fern, and when once thoroughly established 
soon makes a handsome specimen. It has a wide creeping rhizome/ 
covered with dull brown scales. The rhizomes often grow through 
the sides of the basket, in lime sending out fronds. The pinnae are 
about 4 inches long and three-quarters of an inch broad. It is a.- 
native of the East Indies, and widely distributed, therefore enjoys, 
a warm stove temperature. 
Woodwardia radicans is a well-known species, and well suited 
for pots or baskets. It is a strong-growing Fern, and when growing 
likes copious supplies of water. For the conservatory or green¬ 
house it is invaluable. The fronds grow from 4 to G feet long, 
and from 12 to 18 inches broad. The old fronds are proliferous, 
I producing young plants at the points. If grown in a basket it 
