188 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ August, 
with coarse scales; from this arise the stout stipes, a span to fourteen inches 
high, furnished thickly with large broad ovate acuminate brown scales, intermixed 
with smaller ones, which are continued up the rachis. The fronds are ample, 
broad ovate, of herbaceous texture, glabrous on the upper, downy on the lower 
surface, pinnated below, pinnatifid above; the pinnae broad, horizontal; the 
pinnules or segments large, half an inch to an inch long, ovate or oblong, more or 
less obtuse, with the margins entire or serrated. The sori are rather irregularly 
scattered. The fronds are spreading, and the whole plant has a bold pictorial 
effect. It will make a fine ornamental fern for large houses, and for exhibition 
purposes.—T. Moore. 
'(V w 
SELECT DOUBLE PYKETHKUMS. 
a few years ago, M. Themisterri, of Belgium, who for some time 
had been trying experiments with a view to improve several kinds of wild 
flowers, sent to the late Mr. John Salter, of Hammersmith, a large 
single-flowered Pyrethrum, marking a certain stage of improvement up 
to that point, I dare say that neither imagined the wonderful advance which 
has since occurred on M. Themisterri’s work. Mr. Salter, with that spirit of 
enterprise which enabled him to accomplish such great results with the Chry¬ 
santhemum and other flowers, set to work with the Pyrethrum. Then it was of 
a distinct shade of bright rose in colour, and having the yellow centre common 
to most other composite flowers. M. Themisterri had laboured to get depth of 
colour intO' the Pyrethrum, and had succeeded. Mr. Salter continued this work, 
but was also led to think that a race of double flowers might result; for it was 
observed that immediate generations of flowers showed a tendency on the part of 
the small yellow florets in the centre of the flower to lengthen and become quilled, 
as in the case of the German Aster, and seed saved from these produced flowers 
showing a still greater tendency towards the double form ; and Mr. Salter lived 
to produce a race of double flowers of great size, fullness, and beauty. Mean¬ 
while, the Continental florists had been pushing on the work of improvement, 
and they also have succeeded in raising flowers characterised by massive beauty 
and rich colouring ; and indeed, our newest and best flowers are now, to a great 
extent, obtained from the Continent. 
The Double Pyrethrum is a plant of a very hardy character, remaining 
unharmed through a severely cold, as well as an unduly wet, winter. The 
plants then can stand out all the year round, but the slugs regard them as a 
delicious morsel, and feed upon them in autumn and spring. If there is any 
convenient shelter near, the slugs avail themselves of it, and when requiring food 
sally forth with the true instinct of the marauder, and eagerly devour the leaves. 
The cultivator must therefore turn his attention to warding off the attacks of 
the enemy, and thinning its ranks by capture. The Pyrethrum will thrive in 
a good loam, enriched with manure and leaf-soil; at the time a plantation is 
made the soil should be well dug, and the fertilising material deeply dug into it. 
