1837 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
667 
Ferns far the Huuse. 
A. R. B., Dutchess County , N. Y.—l want some 
ferns suited for the house during winter; some 
sufficiently hardy to bear furnace heat and some 
variation of temperature. What varieties may 
be advised ? What soils do ferns require, and is 
there any special difficulty in potting them ? 
Ans —Furnace heat is trying to ferns, 
and to many other house plants ; for 
this reason, it would be unwise to at¬ 
tempt any delicate species, unless a War¬ 
dian case is provided. We would not ad¬ 
vise any of the Maidenhairs. Although 
they are sometimes seen doing well in the 
house, especially Adiautum cuneatum, 
they are very susceptible to dry air, 
draughts, irregular watering, and the 
other ills likely to attack them under 
such circumstances. 
The tropical American Sword ferns 
(Nephrolepis) are some of the most satis¬ 
factory members of the family as house 
plants. They are handsome, hardy, and 
ornamental. The most familiar is N. 
exaltata, with long, upright fronds, and 
the Boston variety, in which the fronds 
arch over and droop to the ground. 
This is very handsome in a large speci¬ 
men ; if placed upon a pedestal, its 
drooping fronds, three feet or more in 
length, with tht younger growth rising 
above in the center, make a beautiful 
spectacle. At present, it is not so fre¬ 
quently seen around New York as in 
the vicinity of Boston. Another excel¬ 
lent variety of comparatively recent in¬ 
troduction is N. cordata compacta; it is, 
as its name implies, compact in growth, 
and excellent in the house. N. daval- 
lioides furcans, a variety from Poly¬ 
nesia, is remarkable for the way in 
which the fronds are forked and divided. 
These ferns are all large, and suited for 
positions where a handsome decorative 
plant is desired. 
Among smaller ferns, Onychium Jap- 
onicum, sometimes called the Holly fern, 
is one of the most desirable in the house. 
It has stiff, boldly-cut fronds of deep 
shining green. Pteris serrulata and 
P. Cretica albo-lineata are very useful 
and attractive. Microlepia hirta cris- 
tata, in spite af its burdensome name, 
is a beautiful and useful variety. 
A very odd and interesting genus 
adaptable as house ferns, but rarely 
grown in that way, comprises the Stag’s- 
horn or Elk’s-horn ferns, in which the 
stiff, broad fertile fronds are divided 
like a stag’s horn. These ferns are 
epiphytes ; that is, they naturally grow 
upon trees and, in cultivation, they are 
usually suspended upon a block of wood. 
They give a very odd effect when thus 
s jspended. 
In growing the Sword ferns, care 
must be observed that they do not be¬ 
come infested with scale insects or 
Mealy bugs. If kept with a mixed col¬ 
lection of other plants, there is always 
some likelihood of their being thus in¬ 
fested and, if the pests be allowed to 
spread, it is very difficult to dislodge 
them. Keep a sharp lookout on the 
under side of the fronds, and when any 
insects appear, remove them with a 
pointed stick. They usually appear on 
the lower part of the fronds, and towards 
the center of the plant. 
The best soil for ferns, except in some 
special cases, is a compost similar to 
that used for roses, consisting of rotted 
sod and cow manure, stacked for a year 
before using, with the addition of one- 
fourth leaf mold. See that the pot used 
is perfectly clean, and put in plenty of 
t '%) drainage, broken pots or cinders, with 
a piece of green moss over it to prevent 
the soil from choking it up. In potting, 
see that the earth is put in firmly around 
the old ball of roots, else in watering, 
the moisture will run through the less 
compacted soil without touching the 
inner roots. The ferns recommended 
will bear watering overhead, but it is 
well to be chary of this, especially in 
winter. If moisture be applied to the 
fronds, it should be done only in clear 
weather, and in the morning, that it 
may dry off before night. Furnace 
heat, being so dry, there is scarcely as 
much reason for precautions against 
overhead watering as in a cool green¬ 
house. The more delicate Maidenhairs, 
and other fine foliaged ferns, must not 
be watered overhead. Ferns that require 
repotting, may be attended to in the 
early part of the year, before active 
spring growth begins. 
Seasonable Notes. 
Fancy Caladiums may be stored for 
winter like Gloxinias, remaining in their 
pots, or removed from the pots and put 
in clean sand. 
Crape myrtle, Cape jasmine and Ole¬ 
anders may be taken in and stored in 
the cellar. A temperature suitable for 
keeping potatoes is just right but, while 
the potatoes prefer darkness, these 
shrubs must have some light. While 
they should be kept reasonably dry, 
they must receive a little water at times, 
that the soil does not become dust 
dry. 
If some small flowering shrubs are 
desired for forcing under glass, they 
may be dug now, and planted in boxes 
or any convenient receptacle, being 
placed aside, not necessarily in a frost¬ 
proof place, until it is desired to bring 
them into gentle heat. 
It will soon be wise to protect Chrys¬ 
anthemums left outside. A convenient 
shelter may be made by erecting a tem¬ 
porary frame of woodwork against a 
wall with an eastern or southern expos¬ 
ure, this to be covered either with spare 
sashes, or with canvas or muslin. If 
sashes are accessible, it is not at all 
difficult to build such a temporary erec¬ 
tion, but the sashes must be held firmly 
in place, that there is no risk of their 
being upset by the wind. In such a 
shelter as this, the plants may be kept 
in condition quite late Liquid manure 
must now be given the Chrysanthemums; 
it may be made by putting one bushel 
of manure in a large sack, tying it up, 
and dropping the sack into a barrel 
nearly filled with water. Work the sack 
up and down in the water with a stick, 
and use the liquid when it is the color of 
strong tea. By inclosing the manure in 
the sack, the liquid is kept clear. 
Early Cinerarias are now ready for 
their last shift into the pot in which 
they will flower, usually a five or six- 
inch. They do not want a fine soil; it 
should be rather lumpy, with about one- 
fourth well - rotted manure. These 
plants need a cool place, but they will 
not bear a touch of frost, and need 
plenty of light. They must be watered 
very carefully ; although, if too dry, 
they begin to droop, they suffer far 
more from excess of water. They must 
be well drained and, in dull weather, 
see that no drops of water remain stand¬ 
ing on their broad leaves. They must 
MOTHERS. —Be sure to use “Mrs. Wins¬ 
low’s Soothing Syrup ” for your children 
while Teething. It is the Best.— Adv. 
not be crowded too closely together, as 
they need lots of room, and there should 
be, at all times, tobacco stems laid upon 
the benches and pots, to discourage the 
aphis. Cinerarias, when well grown, 
are extremely showy plants for early 
spring greenhouse decoration. 
given to the ball of earth surrounding 
the roots. If this is not done, future 
waterings are likely to be ineffectual. 
Azaleas must always be potted very 
firmly. 
The Index to lamps and the 
Fancy Pelargoniums, commonly called 
Lady Washington Geraniums, which 
were propagated last August, are now 
ready for a four-inch pot. They will not 
grow much during the winter, but must 
be in a very light, cool place. A tem¬ 
perature of 40 to 45 degrees at night 
will suit them. They do not need much 
water until rapid growth begins next 
February. These Pelargoniums cannot 
be recommended for bedding in this 
country, but they will make a brilliant 
show in greenhouse or window. 
Dahlias will continue to give their 
bright flowers in sheltered positions 
after a good many other plants have 
been cut by frost. The tubers must not 
be exposed to frost after being taken 
up ; they should be stored in wooden 
trays, and kept in the cellar. 
Azaleas, which have spent the summer 
outside, are now brought in. If they 
are not expected to flower until to¬ 
wards spring they may be kept in any 
cool place, so long as it is above freez¬ 
ing. If winter flowering is desired, they 
should be brought into a night tempera¬ 
ture of 60 degrees, about November 1 
When grown in a high temperature, 
Azaleas are quite likely to be affected 
by thrips, tiny slender active insects in¬ 
festing the under side of the leaves, 
which cause a brownish appearance of 
the leaf. They are rarely noticed until 
their presence has affected the leaves. 
The best remedy is hard syringing with 
cold water directed against the under 
side of the leaf. If freshly imported 
Azaleas are purchased (they usually ar¬ 
rive about October), a necessary prelim¬ 
inary to potting is a thorough soaking 
chimneys for them will save 
you money and trouble. 
We want you to have it. 
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