February 4, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
83 
some artificial manure applied to the surface oE the soil two 
or three times during the season. Light coloured fronds that 
will last well when cut are most appreciated lu the market, and 
nothing must be given the plants that tends to impart to the 
fronds a deep shade of green. They must also be grown under the 
influence of a fair amount of air and abundance of light. Moderate 
shade is necessary during hot bright weather, and this, where 
practicable, we prefer of a moveable nature. 
The time arrives, however, when the plants in 9-inch pots must 
be repotted, and two systems practically are open to the cultivator 
if he does not decide to place the plants into 11-inch pots. This, 
for several reasons, is not advisable, and need not be entered into. 
It remains, then, to either reduce the roots which we have con¬ 
demned in the early stages of the plant’s growth, and disapprove 
of after they have received their final shift. The other is to 
•split them in two, and place each portion into 9 inch pots. By 
this method the plants quickly recover, and as soon as they 
commence growth they throw up saleable fronds at once, and 
by the end of the season they are grand plants with the pots 
fairly full of roots. When the roots are raked out to reduce the 
ball so as to place them back again in the same size pot, they are 
so seriously checked that the first fronds are small and puny. 
Too small for sale, and being close together, they often damp and 
need removing with care after the next growths commence pushing 
up. Half the season is thus gone before the plants have recovered 
from the mutilation their roots received. We do not tamper long 
with old plants ; cnee they decline in vigour they are either con¬ 
veyed to the rubbish heap or split up at once into four or five, or 
more, established in 5-iach pots, and sold in the market for what 
they will fecch. 
This Adiantum is not particular about soil, it will grow in 
almost anything. If leaf mould is plentiful it may form half of 
the soil and fibry loam the remaining half, with the addition of 
sand. They will grow well, but not so quickly in good loam and 
sand with lime rubbish added. The last they certainly like what¬ 
ever the soil may be composed of. They will grow perhaps most 
rapidly in all leaf mould, sand, and lime rubbish, but the fronds 
have not the same solidity as when grown in the first mixture. 
After potting the plants need careful watering ; if the soil is 
kept on the wet side at first they rarely do well after. If the roots 
are reduced and the soil wet about them from the first they seldom 
do satisfactorily. When they are started into growth they should 
never become dry, not even during the period that elapses between 
cutting over the plants and starting them into growth again. An 
intermediate temperature, on the whole, suits these plants best, 
and during the summer months they need little or no artificial 
heat. 
If these plants are turned out it will be observed that the active 
or growing portion of the root starts afresh from the end of each 
root. If the balls are reduced these are broken off and fresh ones 
have to be formed, thus the plant is deprived of the means of 
taking up the requisite food supplies to develop the first fronds. 
Well developed fronds need not be expected until after fresh roots 
have been formed.—O. M. A. 
TABLE PLANTS. 
(^Concluded from page 8,). 
Ferns. 
The variegated Pterises are different in their habit of growth, 
the fronds being much larger and the pinnae broader, and some 
kinds have both fertile and barren fronds. Pteris cretica albo- 
lineata is one of the most popular in this class, and when young 
and growing in a 3 or 4-inch pot a small bushy plant with its 
distinct variegation is very attractive for a table. This Fern is an 
instance of the two distinct kinds of fronds. The fertile ones, which 
rise higher and grow more erect than the barren fronds, have 
narrower and longer pinnae, the latter, however, being the most 
distinctly variegated and the most freely produced. Pteris 
cretica Mayi is a similar variety, very prettily variegated with 
green and creamy white. It is more compact and shorter in habit, 
making a very handsome and useful table plant in small pots. 
Pteris argyrea, a bold growing and beautiful Fern, having a 
broad centre of white down the centre of each pinnae, which gives 
it a very distinct appearance, is not quite so useful in a small pot 
as some of the other Pterises, but in a 5-inch pot it makes an 
exceedingly effective table plant. 
All the Pterises mentioned do well in a greenhouse, where they 
should be making new growth, accommodating them with a moist, 
partly shaded position, as in such places cultivation is easier, and 
less frequent waterings are required. When wanted for table 
decoration, however, Pterises, and not only them but other Ferns 
of the various classes as well, are rendered less susceptible to injury 
when, on growth becoming somewhat complete and partly 
matured, they are subjected to more air and light, which enables 
th.m to withstand some of the untoward influences they may 
possibly have to endure. Though good preparation for the pur¬ 
pose in question is never thrown away upon Ferns, yet many of 
the Pterises are among the best Ferns which require the least 
amount of preparation. If kept in rooms for any length of time, 
much depends upon the attention afterwards bestowed upon them. 
The most important point is adequate moisture at the root, and 
that, too, sustained as regularly as possible. To well-prepared 
plants of Pterises, and also many other Ferns, dryness at the 
roots is more fatal than dryness in uhe atmosphere. Also the 
smaller the pot the more difficult it is to preserve the necessary 
moisture, except in cool rooms. 
The Cyrtomiums growing in 3 to 5-inch pots are pretty and 
effective for tables. C. falcatum and 0. caryotidium are both 
good. They are remarkable for the broad base and tapering point 
of each pinna, and the rich deep dark green colour of the fronds 
when in a healthy condition. 
The well-known Scolopendrium (Hart’s Tongue Fern) and its 
numerous varieties include many very suitable table plants. They 
are easily managed, requiring only ordinary soil, and plenty of 
water wherever grown. The best of the normal forms of 
S. vulgare and S. vulgare crispum are perhaps the best for table 
decoration. Pots 3 to 5 inches diameter are quite large enough for 
tables, except for special purposes. 
The greenhouse and stove Selaginellas make excellent table 
plants, nearly all being suitable for this purpose, even those of 
mossy growth. S. Martensi, S. Willdenovi, and others of similar 
habit may be used with or in the place of Ferns, while fresh 
examples of such low spreading mossy species as S. Kraussiana and 
the golden and variegated form of the same, with the still dwarfer 
mossy sorts, such as S. densa and S. Browni, and the interesting 
kind known as S. variabilis, which in the summer changes its colour 
from a dark green in the morning to a white appearance of the 
foliage towards evening, with the beautiful glaucous green variety 
S. coesia, the last four enjoying stove treatment the best, all may 
be used to add to the attractions of other plants, as well as show 
to advantage their own. 
Palms. 
Palms take an important place, and are always appreciated and 
admired when seen in good condition on a table. Naturally droop¬ 
ing and graceful in habit, few foliage plants give more pleasure 
and satisfaction either for temporary or permanent table decoration 
than these. Palms, as a rule, require some time before they 
develop their best characteristics. The first leaves are very eleinen- 
tary in form in many varieties, and it is rot until the plants get into 
5-inch pots that they assume their perfected shapes. Some, how¬ 
ever, are more beautiful than others when in a small state. ^ One of 
the most beautiful Palms from its earliest stages of growth is Cocos 
Weddelliana, but unfortunately for the great majority of people 
it requires cultivating in a stove, or at least in a higher temperature 
than that of an ordinary greenhouse. As a temporary table plant 
it has no superior among Palms either in a small or large state. 
Very similar to it, and requiring the same treatment, is Geonoma 
gracilis. Then there are the Kentias, exceedingly beautiful Palms, 
and much hardier than the preceding kinds. K. Belmoreana and 
K. Forsteriana are suitable in 5-inch pots. 
Other suitable Palms growing either in stove or_ greenhouse, 
and effective in small pots from 3 to 5 inches are Latania bprbonica, 
Phoenix reclinata, and Seaforthia elegans. Cleanliness of the 
foliage is an important point in the cultivation of Palms. Nothing 
spoils their appearance more than dirt on the leaves, except that 
small and destructive insect known as thrips, which is most trouble¬ 
some when the plants are grown in too close and high a 
temperature. . „ ,i 
Grevillea robusta, the “ Australian Oak,” growing well and freely 
in a greenhouse, makes a decidedly light and handsome table plant 
in a 4-inch pot, and particularly so when furnished well with its 
beautifully cut and divided foliage down to the rim of the pot 
It may be grown from seed, which should be sown in a little heat 
in spring, repotting as required. It is subject to thrips in too 
high a temperature, or if allowed to become very dry in a green- 
house. j £ j. m 
For the winter season no prettier plants are to be had for tables 
than good bushy plants in 5 and 6-inch pots of the berried Solanum 
or Winter Cherry. When well clothed with foliage and bright red 
berries they are handsome embellishments to any table, and with 
care in not keeping them too long in a dry parching atmosphere 
and seeing that the roots are always uniformly and healthily moist 
they will last for weeks in good condition. They do the best when 
planted out in the summer. The shoots should be pruned back 
well before they make much growth in the spring. 
