524 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
grown in, but to make doubly sure the one as well as the other 
ought to be duly attended to.—J. 
FLOWER CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 
Maidenhair Fern. 
Wherever cut flowers are used there is inevitably a good 
demand for Fern fronds, and especially those of Adiantum 
cuneatum, and in a lesser degree of forms that have sprung from 
or are nearly allied to that good old favourite. Various substi¬ 
tutes have been tried, including the elegant and very durable 
South African Asparaguses, but it is the common Maidenhair that 
is still principally relied upon for filling vases, fringing bouquets, 
and working into wreaths. Adiantum gracillimum is sometimes 
asked for, this being very effectively interspersed among flowers 
in hand bouquets and wreaths, while A. mundulum is peihaps the 
best for backing buttonhole bouquets. For the latter purpose 
A. Paccotti is also suitable, this having more dense or tufted 
fronds which last well. In addition to being the best in a cut 
state and very effective as plants, these Adiantums are also 
among the most easily cultivated of Ferns generally, and the 
mistake most often made is in unduly coddling them. 
We prefer to work up a stock of seedling plants, these growing 
more freely than do those obtained by freely splitting up old 
plants just as they are commencing active growth in March. 
Where the fronds are kept very closely cut, few if any arriving at 
full maturity, no seed spores are formed, and it follows no seed¬ 
lings are ever raised. When, however, a few strong plants are not 
cut from, these being kept in somewhat moist and not overheated 
houses, abundance of seedlings will spring up in all directions, 
notably on damp walls, the surfaces of the soil in undisturbed pot 
plants, floors and such like. Thousands of plants might also be 
raised by shaking the matured spore-bearing fronds over or laying 
them on the surface of well drained pots or pans filled with peaty 
compost previously baked to destroy the spores of other common 
Ferns that it may contain, and then thoroughly moistened, 
covering with squares of glass only. No overhead waterings 
must be given, but if pots or pans are set in other water-holding 
pans in which an inch or rather more of water is always kept, 
sufficient moisture will constantly ascend to the soil. A shady 
position in a house kept at from 55° to 65° will answer well, and 
germination ought to take place in a few weeks. The surface of 
the soil will first be covered with small, green lichen-like growths, 
technically termed the prothallus state of the seedlings, and not 
till the first formed fronds are well advanced should the tiny seed¬ 
lings be carefully pricked out in pans of fine peaty soil ; shade, 
heat and moisture in moderate quantities being needed for them. 
When large enough to handle somewhat freely these pricked out 
•seedlings and any self-sown may be potted off singly into thumb 
pots, and if not exposed to much sunshine or dry heat will be fit 
to shift into 4-inch or rather larger pots in the following spring. 
Then if strong plants are needed, or a good autumn supply of 
fronds desired, yet another shift may be given with advantage 
directly the pots are well filled with roots. Seedling plants can 
also be purchased in large numbers at a cheap rate, though the 
trade are naturally somewhat chary in offering these to private 
growers. 
As most gardeners are well aware, Adiantums may be freely and 
roughly split up early in the spring, the divisions going into 5-inch 
pots or larger sizes. The bulk of ours are either shifted into or 
returned, after the soil about the roots has been considerably 
reduced or combed away with the aid of strong-pointed stakes, into 
clean well-drained 7-inch pots, but there is no reason why much 
larger pots should not be used providing the plants are large 
enough to require them. A compost consisting of two parts of 
roughly broken up turfy loam to one of either peat or leaf soil, 
with a little charcoal and sharp sand added, suits these Adiantums 
well, but if only clayey or very heavy loam is available then ought 
much less of this and more fibrous peat to be used. This class of 
Ferns when strongly rooted ought to have weak liquid manure 
occasionally, and that is one reason why loam if good is to be 
preferred to peat, the latter being most liable to become sour under 
the influence of liquid manure. 
All this is very well understood by most private gardeners, and 
where these err principally is in growing the Maidenhair Ferns too 
rankly, the fronds being too soft to be serviceable. Kept in a 
much shaded moisture-laden stove or fernery the plants grow 
strongly and present a very healthy appearance, but the fronds 
quickly wither when exposed to a dry and it may be gas-laden 
atmosphere. Moreover, those dense deep green fronds are not 
what is wanted nowadays, the preference being given to those less 
coarse and of yellowish green colour. Nor is this to be wondered at, 
[ June K, I * 
the contrast between the two being most marked in favour of the- 
more delicate looking fronds. It is a simple matter to have the 
fronds of the desired colour and substance and yet hard and 
durable, but not if the plants are kept in a strong heat and mucb 
shaded house and a moist atmosphere. They ought to be kept 
clear of all other Ferns, and on benches, stages, and shelves where 
plenty of light and a moderate amount of sunshine will reach them» 
At this season of the year, or any time after they have become well 
established in their pots, a greenhouse rather than a stove tempera¬ 
ture best suits them, no currents of cold air, however, being allowed 
to reach them. They start well in vineries, but should go into 
lighter quarters directly the foliage of the Vines affords a heavy 
shade to anything underneath. It is almost needless to add these 
Ferns should not become very dry at the roots during the growing, 
season, nor should water long be withheld while they are resting. 
In the autumn and winter the fronds retain their freshness longer 
in an equable temperature of about 50°, a somewhat dry atmosphere^ 
also being maintained. A winter supply may also be had by shift¬ 
ing strong plants that have not been much cut from, and which 
have been kept in a greenhouse during the summer, into slightly 
larger sizes, and placing them into a fairly brisk heat early irt 
September, The old fronds should be removed before they injure 
the young ones that are soon pushed up strongly, and if the supply 
obtained in this way is not particularly serviceable as far as- 
durability is concerned, they are yet fairly profitable. The less 
these or any other Ferns that are grown principally to cut from 
are treated to overhead syringing the more durable will be the- 
fronds. 
Whatever may be the methods adopted by market growers 
generally, we prefer not to clear off the fronds from plants whole¬ 
sale, but rather to thin them out freely. It should be remem¬ 
bered that the fronds perform much the same functions as 
leaves, that is to say they lay the foundation of future buds or 
crowns. Cut all off at one time early in the season, and a very 
weakly growth must follow ; leave a moderate number to mature,, 
and successional fronds during the same and following season 
usually result. They are sold in bunches of thirteen fronds to 
the dozen, the prices for the best varying from 6d. per dozen 
to 8d., the latter price rarely being obtained. Even if lower 
prices on an average are returned, it will yet be very evident 
that the culture of the Maidenhair Fern is decidedly profitable^ 
I ought, perhaps, to add we have never tried the London mar¬ 
kets, no difficulty being experienced of getting rid of all we 
grow locally.—M. H. 
MR. JAMES CLARK. 
The death occurred, at bis home in Denmark Place, Christchurch,. 
Hampshire, on the evening of the 5th inst., of Mr. James Clark, the 
well-known raiser of a number of valuable varieties of Potatoes. Mr. 
Clark, who was in his sixty-fifth year, was a native of Tuckwell, near 
Christchurch, and attained considerable skill as a gardener in the 
neighbourhood. In later years he gave much attention to the art of 
hybridising, being successful in introducing several good sorts of 
Potatoes into the market. His chief success was the Magnum Bonum, 
which gained a world-wide fame through Messrs. Sutton & Sons of 
Beading. A few years ago he was the recipient of a small testimonial 
in consideration of his skill in this branch of horticulture. Mr. Clark 
had been in failing health for nearly twenty years, and from time to- 
time had undergone painful operations. He bore his last illness—whicli 
extended throughout ten weeks—with great resignation and patience, 
and his last moments were very peaceful. He had gained much esteem, 
locally as a Sunday school teacher and an active and earnest worker in 
Christian and temperance movements, and he will be much missed 
by the congregation at Cranemoor, the little village where he spent 
the last twenty years of his life. The funeral, which was 
numerously attended, took place in Christchurch Cemetery on the 
9th inst., and was very impressive. The coffin was borne by four of his 
fellow church members. Memorial services have been held at 
Christchurch and Cranemoor. The Revs. W. T. Moreton and H. W, 
Jenkins spoke in high terms of the Christian devotedness and the 
upright and noble character of the deceased. A public subscription 
list has been opened to raise a memorial stone over Mr. Clarke’s 
grave, and any sums towards this object will be received by Mr, 
G. Herbert Marshall at the office of the Christchurch Times, West 
End, Christchurch, H.ant3. Any surplus proceeds that may result from 
this subscription it is intended to hand to the widow and child of 
the deceased. 
We do not call to mind any gardener who has done more for his 
country during recent years than Mr. Clark has by the raising of the 
