492 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
June 21,1394. 
numerous root hairs to the soil as it proceeds, until in a few weeks we 
have a mass of small heart-shaped green scales densely overlapping each 
other all over the pan. These scales are the “ prothalli,” and so far 
present no resemblance at all to B'erns, resembling rather very closely 
the Marchantia or Liverwort. At this stage, however, the Fern, 
wonderful to relate, is producing its flowers, the equivalents of which are 
formed on the under side of the prothalius, those of the pollen grains in 
small round bodies which are very numerous among the root hairs at the 
pointed end of the “ heart,” and those of the stigma and ovary in a small 
cluster on its indentation. 
In another week or two, fertilisation having taken place, the tiny 
first fronds will be seen pushing up through the indentation of each 
prothalius until quite a crowd appears. At this stage, or even earlier, 
it is well to prepare other pans in precisely similar fashion, and prick 
out small patches of the prothalli an inch apart into them by making 
a small indentation in the soil to fi" each patch. Thus aided, each patch 
spreads out considerably, and the young Ferns develop their second and 
third fronds before they need to be isolated and treated as individuals. 
If, notwithstanding all precautions, damping off sets in, which is one of 
the chief risks of sowing too thickly, this pricking out operation should 
be done at once, and is quite safe at any stage of prothalius life. 
SELECTiNa Choice Forms. 
In selective culture we have now arrived at that interesting period 
when new characters begin to show themselves, and of course when 
anything well marked makes its appearance it is well to transfer it to 
a special pan. It very often happens that notwithstanding every care 
the crop, especially at the outset, is a puzzling one. We may have sown, 
for instance, some special Hart’s-tongue, and Fern after Fern as it rises 
turns out to be an Athyrium or Lastrea, which to our knowledge we 
have not sown at all. This arises from two facts, firstly that the frond 
we started with was probably well peppered with the shed spores from its 
neighbours of other species, which of course became mingled at the 
sowing, and secondly, that some species develop much more quickly 
than others. In such cases, if the sowing be very special these strays 
must be carefully removed as they appear, and later on the real ones 
will duly assert themselves. 
I remember on the occasion of my raising Lastrea aemula cristata 
for the first time I mowed down and cut out no less than three profuse 
crops of all sorts of Lady Fern before L. mmula showed itself, which it 
then did in such profusion as if nothing had happened. Yet, indu¬ 
bitably, had I not persevered all would have been choked out by their 
stronger growing companions. Colonel A. M. Jones at Clifton made a like 
sowing at same time, and reported to me that he had nothing but a crop 
of Pteris cretica, due as ascertained to the sowing being made in heat in 
a greenhouse, where doubtless spores of that Fern were introduced either 
by air or water. Selection now, as I have said, comes in, and all inferior 
or imperfect forms should be ruthlessly weeded out and destroyed. This 
is the more essentia,!, as the crop from a single successful sowing taxes 
severely the accommodation of the ordinary grower ; indeed years ago, 
when I was new to the cult, the late Mr. J. M. Barnes, of Lake District 
renown, told me that one oJE the painful elements in spore-raising was 
the feeling that many ” good things ” originate only to be lost in the 
crowd, that cannot possibly be reared. One point, however, he impressed 
upon me, and my own experience has confirmed it, that is that the best 
forms are often the latest in appearing, so that the after crop, as it were, 
of a special sowing should not be lightly thrown away. While Ferns 
are in the prothalius stage they must never become dry. If drought is 
threatened the pots or pans should be stood in tepid water until it just 
glistens on the surface. If, however, the pans be in a truly congenial 
place they will not become dry until the pricking-out period arrives. 
Propagation by Bulbils and Division. 
So much for spore propagation and selective culture, apart from 
which Ferns can be multiplied on a less extensive scale by bulbils and 
by division. Bulbils are found on the fronds of some of the varieties of 
Polystichum angulare, and also on the Hart’s-tongue, especially such 
conglomerate forms as Kelwayi, Coolingi, and Wardi. O’Kelly’s S. vivi¬ 
parous cristatum has a power of throwing little clusters of plants on 
the face of its fronds, as also has S. v. proliferum. The Polystichums 
in many cases bear bulbils sparely in the axils of the basal pinnrn, and 
in the proliferous section produce them in great numbers all the way up 
the fronds. These soon take root if the fronds be layered in open com¬ 
post. The Hart’s-tongue bulbils should be cut off with a half-inch 
tongue of the frond itself, the said tongue being inserted in the soil so 
that the bulbil is just level with the surface ; they then speedily 
develop roots and establish themselves. 
Such Ferns as the Polypodies and others whose rhizomes ramble 
and produce^ the fronds singly, are very easily propagated, every piece 
of root bearing a frond and growing tip being practically an inde¬ 
pendent individual, and only requires separation and installation to 
assert itself as such. The Shuttlecock order of Ferns, such as 
Athyrium filix foemina, the Lastreas and Shield Ferns, not only produce 
tffiets more or less freely by external growth but also frequently 
divide centrally, their crowns forming two axes of growth, which in 
time spread apart and can then be severed asunder with a sharp knife, 
each coming away with its own roots as a full grown specimen. The 
fund of vitality in Ferns is indeed inexhaustible, and it often happens 
that when the centre is accidentally destroyed latent buds develop all 
around it from the frond bases, and instead of one we have a crowd. As 
an astonishing instance of persistent vitality I may mention one case in 
my own experience which seems incredible, but for which we can vouch. 
Some pieces of a special Polystichum angulare, a variegated form, were 
severed and inserted in sandy soil and then forgotten or neglected for 
three years and a half. The pot then came into my possession, and 
incipient buds being observed by a lens the pieces were repotted, and in 
a few weeks fifteen plants came up, most of them pure white, two alone 
eventually surviving. Half-inch cuttings of the bases of Hart’s-tongue 
fronds just inserted in sandy soil in a month or two develop several 
plants apiece, but in all these cases of mere division further variation 
is too rare to be looked for, and hence one of the most fascinating 
features of Fern reproduction is practically non-existent.— Chas. T. 
Druery, F.L.S., F.R.H.S. 
(To be concluded.) 
Rose Show Fixtures in 1894. 
June 26th (Tuesday)—Westminster (R.H.S.). 
,, 27th (Wednesday).—Windsor (N.R.S.) and Richmond (Surrey). 
„ 28th (Thursday).—Canterbury, Bltham, and Sutton. 
„ 30th (Saturday).—Sittingbourne and Brockham. 
July 3rd (Tuesday).—Farningham, Bagshot, and Diss. 
„ 4th (Wednesday).—Croydon, Reigate, Tunbridge Wells, Ealing, 
Ipswich, and Lee.f 
,, 5th (Thursday).—Hereford, Norwich, and Bedford. 
„ 7th (Saturday).—Crystal Palace (N.R.S.) 
„ 10th (Tuesday).—(Houcester and Wolverhampton.* 
„ 11th (Wednesday).—Hitchin and Ulverston. 
„ 12ih (Thursday).—Bath, Harleston, Woodbridge, and Worksop. 
„ 14th (Saturday).—New Brighton. 
„ 17ch (Tuesday).—Helensburgh. 
„ 18th (Wednesday).—King’s Lynn. 
„ 19th (Thursday).—Halifax (N.R.S.)., Halesworth, and Trentham. 
„ 21st (Saturday).—Manchester. 
„ 24th (Tuesday^—Tibshelf. 
,, 26th (Thursday).—Southwell. 
,, 28th (Saturday).—Bedale. 
Aug. Ist (Wednesday) —Chesterfield. 
* A Show lasting three days. f A Show lasting two days. 
Any date of Rose shows, or of other horticultural exhibitions where 
Roses form a leading feature, not named above, I shall be glad to receive 
as soon as fixed, for insertion in future lists. — Edward Mawley, 
BoseianTt, Berkhamsted, Herts. 
Isle of Wight Rose Show. 
An Exhibition of Roses was held under the auspices of the Isle of 
Wight Rose Society at Shanklin, yesterday (Wednesday), and the 
following are the results of the competition in the principal classes. 
For twenty-four blooms, distinct varieties, Mr. Ben. Cant was first, 
Mr. Frank Cant second, and Messrs. Paul & Son third. In the class for 
twelve reds, Mr. Frank Cant was first, Mr. B. Cant second, Mr. R. B. 
West and Dr. Seaton equal third. Trebles : Mr. Ben Cant first, Mr. 
Frank Cant second, and Messrs. Paul & Son third. For twelve blooms, 
one variety, Mr. Frank Cant was first, and Mr. Ben. Cant second. In 
the class for garden Roses Messrs. Paul & Son were first, Mr. C. E. 
Cuthell second, and Mr. Frank Cant third. 
The medal for the best Rose in the Show led to a very close contest. 
Mr. Frank Cant won with Comtesse de Nadaillac ; Mr. B. Cant following 
very closely with a splendid bloom of Madame Cusin. The Rev. G. E. 
Jeans won the championship of the island and the cup for thirty-six 
Roses. Mr. Jeans also won the medal for the best amateur’s Rose, staging 
a bloom of Madame Bravy. 
Rose Show in Dublin. 
The Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland will hold a Rose Show 
on July 6th in the pretty grounds attached to Lord Iveagh’s Dublin 
residence. The principal trophy, to be competed for by amateurs, is 
a challenge cup valued at £24, presented by the horticultural seed trade 
of Dublin, for the best thirty-six blooms in not less than eighteen 
varieties. 
National Rose Society at Windsor. 
As mentioned last week, page 469, through the kind intervention of 
the President of the Society, the Very Rev. the Dean of Rochester, Her 
Most Gracious Majesty the Queen has been pleased to give permission 
for the members of the Society to visit the Royal Gardens at Frogmore 
on Wednesday, June 27th, when the Society will hold its Southern 
Exhibition at Windsor under Her patronage. We also believe that Mr. 
Owen Thomas will conduct the members through the gardens. Particulars 
will be posted in the tent on the m rning of the Show, 
