Angu&t 11, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Ill 
Although it may be propagated from spores, this pretty species, 
like most of the others belonging to the same genus, is generally 
increased by the division of its rhizomes, which should take place 
at any time from February to April. Very elegant also for baskets 
in a warm house is Davallia tenuifolia Yeitchiana (fig. 14, kindly lent 
by Messrs. J.Veitch & Sons) ; it has slender drooping finely divided 
fronds, and much more graceful than the species. 
Next comes the charming little Pteris scaberula, in itself a real 
gem among Ferns, but related to the ordinary Pteris or Ribbon 
Fern, or to the common Bracken, Pteris aquilina, only by its fructi¬ 
fication, the disposition of which is similar to that of these well- 
known species ; but there ends all the likene33, for this lovely little 
New Zealander, of dwarf stature, which has proved perfectly hardy 
an Cornwall and Devon, where it stands without any protection, 
which extend a long way, the entire covering of a basket of small 
dimensions is a work of comparatively short time. The South 
African Adiantum venustum is a species equally well adapted for 
growing in baskets in the cool house, where its pretty, though some¬ 
what fragile-looking fronds, about 12 inches long, are particularly 
interesting on account of the contrast formed by their pale colour 
with that of most other Ferns surrounding it. Our native Maiden¬ 
hair Fern (Adiantum Capillus-Veneris) and several of its varieties, 
may also, and indeed are frequently used with great success for 
basket growing, the common species being the one most generally 
used, partly on account of its being more plentiful, but also because 
its scaly rhizomes, on which its leathery fronds are produced 
abundantly, extend more rapidly than those of any of its varieties. 
A. Capillus-Veneris magnificum, however, is a very quick grower, 
Fig. 11.—DAVALLIA TENUIFOLIA. YEITCHIANA. 
■and in other counties where it remains uninjured outside, provided 
fhat its rhizomes be protected by some litter or a few old leaves, 
is provided with fronds of a cheerful green colour, and as finely cut 
as those of the Lace Fern itself. They are lanceolate in outline, 
about 12 or 15 inches long by 5 inches wide, and produced in great 
abundance from very slender creeping rhizomes, which rapidly cover 
all the surface of the basket, and make it a most elegant mass of 
foliage. Although it may be increased from spores, that remark¬ 
able and totally distinct species is also generally propagated by the 
division of its numerous rhizomes, which are provided with roots 
either developed or rudimentary on their whole length. 
Among the species of Adiantums which are adapted for basket, 
and which succeed well in a cool house, the prettiest is undoubtedly 
A. assimile, a native of Australia and New Zealand, with small 
slender fronds which vary from 6 to 10 inches in length, and are 
particularly attractive through their bright green colour. This 
species, being provided with very small or rather slender rhizomes, 
and its fronds, when the plant is in good health, and placed under 
favourable conditions, may be compared to those of the glorious 
A. farleyense, which they resemble in size if not in beauty. 
Though a slower and more slender grower, A. Capillus-Veneris 
cornubiense also deserves to be grown in the same way, where it 
shows to great advantage its prettily laciniated fronds of a pecu¬ 
liarly bluish tint; while A. Capillus-Veneris Mariesi, being a much 
more robust grower, is more adapted for baskets of a medium size, 
as its fronds of a pale pea-green colour frequently attain 20 inches 
in length. . 
In planting baskets, the principal object to be kept in view is 
elegance. Nothing looks worse than a heavy massive grouping of 
plants, especially when these are intended to be seen from below , 
and in addition to the Ferns enumerated above, the introduction, as 
a central plant, in baskets of large dimensions, of a light Palm, 
such as a Phoenix reclinata, or of a tall, loose-growing, Pteris 
Ouvrardi, will be found a great improvement, affording a pleasant 
