238 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 29, 1894. 
in conjanctioa with the handsoms sports which it his afforded. Fore¬ 
most among these is the old and well known variety L. p.-m. cristata, 
or King of the Male Ferns, which is very heavily tasseiled at all 
terminals, and when properly treated assumes the form of a splendidly 
crested Tree Fern, forming a trunk from 1 to 2 feet high, crowned by a 
circle of somewhat erect fronds between 3 and 4 feet long. In this 
oondition it justly earns its regal title, and constitutes, indeed, one of 
the boldest and handsomest members of the Fern kingdom generally. 
In its natural habitats the Hard Male Fern forms dense clumps built up 
of numerous crowns, and does not in sueh cases form a trunk; but if 
one of these be isolated, and the lateral buds which form be constantly 
removed, not only does the concentration of energy upon one centre 
lead to the growth of much bolder fronds, but year by year the crown 
will rise out of the soil and form a trunk, upon which the tendency to 
form offsets will diminish more and more. Of course, when a trunk is 
formed, the general need of Tree Ferns, that their trunks should be 
frequently damped, asserts itself, otherwise the tiny roots which are 
constantly creeping down it from the growing top are apt to get starved, 
and loss of vigour results. Under glass it is a thorough evergreen, the 
old fronds only falling when the new ones are well advanced. Strange 
to say though myriads of plants have been raised from spores for many 
years, it has yielded few secondary varieties. L. p.-m. cristata 
angustata is, however, a worthy scion; this is of smaller growth, and 
has the fronds very much narrowed, the side divisions being quite short 
and furnished with abrupt rounded crests instead of tassels. It is a fit 
companion, and can be treated in the same way to produce a trunk. 
The most beautiful of its offipring, however, is of recent origin, and 
was raised by Mr. Cropper, to whom we are indebted for several 
charming forms. This is L. p.-m. cristata fimbriata, and is an etherealised 
edition of its parent, which it resembles in habit of growth, but in 
delicacy of texture and fineness of cutting bears no resemblance 
whatever. The fronds are quite silky, while the pinnae and fiat many- 
fingered crests are everywhere fringed with a fine serrulation, of which 
there is not the faintest trace in its progenitors. Its sporelings are 
perfectly true, and in the very first fronds show this character markedly. 
This constitutes one of the Ferns of the future, and is a remarkable 
example of how Nature can transcend at one jump the highest ideal 
of the selective cultivator, since not merely an immense advance in 
beauty of form is created, but an altogether different make and texture. 
In this respect it is the exact parallel of the “ Kalothrix ” sport in 
Athyrium filix-foemina. A ramose form of L. p.-m. cristata has been 
raised by Mr. Fitt; this is crested a la type, but the fronds branch 
repeatedly as well. This branching character is, however, best seen in 
L. p.-m. ramosissima, found in North Wales; this forms, when well 
grown, a round bush of branching and cresting fronds of great beauty. 
It is rare, for though it yields spores sparsely, these do not yield the 
type, but merely crested plants. Curiously enough North Wales has 
yielded a crested form almost identical with the “ King,” the crests, 
however, being branched instead of flatly formed. L. p.-m. polydactylum 
{Dadds) is a very beautiful lax-growing form, bold and very distinct; 
its fronds, however, drop early in the winter. Willsi is another poly- 
dactylous form of great decorative merit, and grandiceps {Ranyard) is 
a heavily tasselled one of equal value. 
The above are the best of the tasselled forms of normal size, but two 
dwarf varieties must be added—crispa cristata and Langi (crispa cristata 
angustata), densely congested dwarf counterparts of the King and his 
narrow fronded son, previously described. Other curious dwarfs are 
Schofieldi, some few inches high, slightly crested, and its singular 
offspring, L. p-m. ramulissima, a little plant all branches and crests of 
the same size. L. p.-m. crispa gracile is a little gem with curled 
pinnjc, and in another group L. p.-m. revolvens, with almost tube-like 
fronds, is a decided acquisition. 
The Soft Male Fern has yielded over forty good forms to the hunter, 
of which the best tasselled ones are srandiceps (^Berry), cristatum, 
grandiceps ^Shns), and grandiceps (^Wills). Bollandiae is the only 
plumose variety found ; it is pretty when in good form, but very fre¬ 
quently throws defective fronds. L. p.-m. fiuctuosa is a very pretty 
crispy form, and L. p.-m. lux lunm is one of the most striking variegated 
Ferns we possess, the fronds being almost white. L. propinqua mas has 
given us some twenty-eight finds. The best are cristata {Barnes, Gott, 
Goward, Harrison), B,ndi grandiceps {Barnes). Many of the others are 
marred by irregularities. 
The Mountain or Lemon-scented Buckler Fern (L. montana or 
oreopteris) in the early days of Fern-hunting had for a long time the 
reputation of extreme constancy, few or no distinct “ finds ” being made ; 
but later on, by dint of persistent search, a few good things were found, 
and eventually it transpired that it could hold its own with any of its 
brethren in the fertility of its varietal resources. Mr, E. J. Lowe 
describes no less than seventy-seven forms of the species, all of which, 
■with the exception of some very heavily tasselled forms raised by selec¬ 
tion by Mr. J. M. Barnes, were found wild. The unusual form of this 
species is found on well-drained but damp hill slopes, lining especially 
the sides of mountain streams ; it is of pretty general dissemination, 
existing even in these daj’^s of the ubiquitous Fern Vandal in some of 
the recesses of Epping Forest. It may easily be discriminated from the 
common Male Fern by its lighter colour, and the fact that the pinnae or 
®’'‘® divisions commence as mere round lobes at the very base of 
j stalk, while in the Male Fern there is a long bare stalk, with 
pinnm, forming an abrupt base to the frond proper. In 
^ords, L, montana tapers both upwards and downwards, and 
the other upwards only. If another proof be requisite, the strong 
len.o 1 scent evoked by passing a frond lightly through the hands will 
settle the question. The Lake District has undoubtedly furnished the 
major number of beautiful abnormal forms, thanks, in the first place, to 
the late Mr. J. M. Barnes of Milnthorpe, who made a speciality of the 
species, and is, we believe, the only one who has managed to raise 
improved forms through the spores. Curiously enough, though in its native 
haunts seedlings swarm in every nook and crevice in the rough ground it 
affects, it is by no means easy to raise it culturally. In our own experience, 
though prothalli in profusion make their appearance, either from lack 
of mountain air or some occult climatic influence. Ferns proper are not 
produced. Mr. Barnes’s dictum was “ Sow on a slope with a north aspect.” 
We have, however, been successful in propagating from the old root- 
stock. If an old-established plant be lifted, it will be found to have 
a thick underground caudex formed of the old frond bases, and if this 
be severed some distanee below the growing crown no harm will accrue 
to the plant itself, while the severed portion if planted and kept close in 
a frame develops quite a batch of youngsters from dormant buds. 
It is a singular fact, as exemplifying our theory that the fertility of 
a district in varieties largely depends upon the hunter, that of the 
seventy-seven forms listed by Mr. Lowe nearly all are Lake District 
finds, Mr. Barnes setting the example, and inspiring faith in other 
local hunters by his success. This harvest is the result. On the other 
hand, the rest of England counts for three, Scotland for two, Wales and 
Ireland for one each ; and yet the species literally swarm in many parts, 
and we ourselves found two out of the three English forms (L. m. cristata 
gracile and depauperata) in three days near one village in Dartmoor. 
Ooviously, therefore, much remains to be done elsewhere. The best crested 
varieties are the following :—L. m. cristata, cristata gracile {Bruery), 
coronans and ramo-coronans {Barnes), grandiceps {Barnes), grandiceps 
Foster!, ramo-criatatum {Barnes), and grandiceps {Smithies). 
Several very thorough plumose forms exist of this species ; plumosum 
{Airey) is perhaps the beat. Among the curiosities are L. m. con- 
cinnata, with the pinnae all twisted like ringlets ; L. m. Barnesi, an 
unique form with long narrow fronds, the short pinnae of whieh lie 
horizontally like steps ; L. m. truncata, found repeatedly, has all 
terminals ending squarely with a horn projecting for half an inch 
beyond. We found this three times in Scotland and in Westmoreland, 
and it is said that all beginners start by finding it. Piantg with green 
and yellow fronds are not uncommon in Westmoreland. Mr. Gott’s is 
perhaps the best; his crispatissima, too, is a splendid congested variety. 
Many others are good, but the above are the creme de la creme. When 
well grown in pots this Fern is very handsome, and when it dies down, 
as its deciduous nature dictates in the autumn, the pots can be plunged 
up to their rim in any sheltered corner, and be quite safe until the 
spring if they do not get dry. 
The Broad Buekler Fern (L. dilatata) is very different in form from 
the preceding, having broad triangular dark green succulent fronds on 
long stipes. It affects quite boggy places, and likes peat. It has not 
afforded many varieties of merit, but cristata {Oscroft), cristata gracile, 
and grandiceps {Barnes), are very fine ; while if we may add two forms 
found in the Azores—viz., L. d. folioso cristata and f. digitata, we make 
a splendid quintet. Singular to say, the last two are quite evergreen 
under glass, while our native finds invariably drop their fronds unless 
supported. Howard! is a curiosity with narrow pinnae built up of 
cruciate pinnules. 
Finally we come to L. aemula, the Hay-scented Fern, a charming 
crispy emerald green plant even in its normal form, while L. ae. cristata 
is a little gem of pretty tasselling, which should be in every collection. 
It needs close culture and peat in the soil. It is like a small curly 
form of L. dilatata, but to my mind is quite distinct.—C. T. Dstjbbt, 
F.L.S., F.R.H.S. (Jq jjg continued.) 
LENTEN ROSES. 
Most gardeners are aware that the species and varieties of Helle¬ 
bores, commonly known as Lenten Roses, are distinct from the popular 
Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger) and its forms ; but they are not so 
exteosively grown in gardens. The Lenten Roses are taller in growth, 
and in a rich soil develop into fine, bushy-like masses. There are 
numerous kinds in cultivation, these including varieties of H. orientalis 
and other species, as well as hybrids. They produce flowers ranging in 
colour from white to a deep plum purple, with the intermediary shades 
of red, rose, and pink, and many of them are beautifully spotted. 
The flowers of the type of H. orientalis appears to vary in colour, 
since some authorities give it as rose, others as ” dark,” and catalogues 
as white. Those that I have seen as H. orientalis were white tinted 
green and rosy purple. I am informed that a variety of this species, 
named Apotheken Bogren, is more beautiful than the type, and has 
large crimson purple flowers. Another form, called Olban Otto, has 
white blooms spotted crimson, while Frau Irene Heinemann produces 
rosy purple flowers with crimson spots. H. orientalis roseua and 
H. O; purpureus are also excellent varieties, worthy of a place in every 
garden. Some good hybrids, recently sent out by various firms, 
include Bismarck, deep purple ; James Atkins and W. E. Gladstone, 
rosy purple; and Sylvia, soft rosy pink. H. olympicus is a handsome 
species with greenish-white tinted purple flowers, and of this kind there 
are one or two varieties that may be included in every collection. 
These are Professor Schleicher, a good white variety ; and roseus, rosy 
pink. H. colchicus is a grand species with deep plum-coloured flowers, 
the best forms of this kind including Otto Froebel, purplish carmine. 
H. guttatus sub-punctatus is a vigorous-growing variety, with white 
flowers faintly spotted purple ; and H. g. Leichtlini is a handsome form, 
spotted crimson.—C. 
