26 
A. formosum (The Handsome).—From New Holland. 
Though this very handsome Fern will exist in a green¬ 
house, yet it grows so much finer in a moderately- 
heated stove, that I have introduced it hero as a stove 
Fern. It has the very peculiar form of being four times 
pinnated. It is a splendid Fern. I have had it three 
feet high, and several of the fronds two feet across. 
The stems are black, and rather woolly at the base or 
root-stem. 
A. lunulatum (Crescent-leaved).—An East Indian 
deciduous Fern; that is, it dies down to the root in 
winter. The fertile fronds grow upright, and the barren 
ones droop downwards, rooting at the end in the same 
way as A. caudatum. From these end-rooting leaves it 
may be propagated. Each rooted end should be cut off, 
potted, and kept in a close heat till fresh leaves are 
formed, it will then be a separate good plant. The 
leaves are crescent-shaped, and thinly placed on the 
leaf-stem. It is a truly elegant Fern, suitable for basket- 
culture, on account of its pendulous habit. Very apt to 
perish whilst in a dormant state in winter, if kept too 
wet or too dry. 
^ A. macrophyllum (Broad-leaved). — This Jamaica 
Fern is the broadest leaved of all the Adianlums, and, 
when well-grown, truly handsomo. It requires, how¬ 
ever, the warmest part of the stove to bring it to per¬ 
fection. It is of an erect habit, and the young leaves 
are of a reddish colour. The fronds are pinnate, and 
grow lrom a foot to a foot-and-a-half. An open, light 
compost suits it best. 
A. pentadactylon (Five-fingered).—A Brazil species, 
allied to A. curvatum, of which it is, probably, only a 
variety. It is a handsome Fern, lately introduced from 
the continental nurseries. Messrs. A. Henderson and 
Co. had it from Mr. Van Houtte, of the Ghent nursery. 
I had fronds of it eighteen inches high, and a foot in 
diameter. The difference between it and curvatum 
appears to consist in the more regular length of each 
pinnated leaf, and their disposition into live leaves in 
the pedate form. It requires a warm stove. 
A. reniforjie (Kiduey-shapc-leaved).—An elegant, 
dwarf, evergreen Fern, from Madeira, with simple leaves 
growing on stems from three to six inches long. It will 
exist in a good greenhouse, but I have always found it 
difficult to keep alive and in health there. The leaves 
are uncommonly beautiful, of a bright, shining green. 
The seed-vessels are placed close to the edge of the 
reniform leaves, and nearly touch each other. Every 
collection ought to have a specimen of this charming 
little Fern. 
A. setulosum (Bristly).—A New Zealand Fern. It is 
the A. affine of Wildenow. Frond bipinnate or twice- 
winged. It may be known at once by the black, 
bristle-like hairs of the upper surface of the leaves. A 
free-growing species, easily increased by division. 
T. Appleby. 
{To be continued.') 
CULTIVATION OF WHEAT ON HEAVY CLAY 
LAND. 
( Continued from J r ol. x., page 502.) 
Having concluded my first paper with a description 
of the mode of making the long fallow to the point of 
ridging-up the land in readiness for the seed, I would 
observe, that the ridging should be completed a fortnight 
or three weeks before the time of sowing, which should 
take place about the 20th of October, if the weather is 
favourable. Should it be otherwise, a week or two later, 
in ordinary seasons, would be preferable to sowing at an 
October 13. 
] earlier period, for when the land is in good condition, 
and the Wheat put in during the early part of October, 
if a mild winter succeeds the plant is sure to get too 
gay and forward (commonly called winter proud). In 
this case (particularly if a cold, backward spring follows), 
it will receive a severe check, from the effect of which, 
upon this land, it seldom recovers, but becomes yellow 
and sickly in appearance, and stunted in its growth, 
producing a small ear, and at the harvest yielding a 
moderate, if not a very small, quantity of grain. 
The quantity of seed required will be from six to 
eight pecks per acre, although I am aware that a much 
less quantity is advocated by some parties; yet it must 
be remembered, that cold clay land, seeded at the time 
above-mentioned, requires more seed than warm soils 
sown under other circumstances. The best mode of 
seeding this kind of land is by the drill, at nine inches 
space between the rows, in order that hoeing the crop 
may be effected with facility. It is the more necessary 
that the seed should be drilled at wide intervals, for, in 
some seasons, unless the crop is hoed, it must be very 
deficient, as the Gold-weed, Black Bent, and other weeds 
peculiar to most clay soils, are sure to complete strongly 
with the Wheat plant, and, in certain seasons, will gain 
the ascendency over it, unless hoed at the proper time, 
and under favourable circumstances. 
After having described the long fallow process, often 
rendered necessary on account of the foul and ill- 
conditioned state of the land, I will now refer to the 
method of management required to prepare the land for 
Wheat out of Clover lea, which is the fourth crop 
named in the rotation before alluded to, as the improved 
rotation, and advocated by myself as best suited to heavy 
clay soils. 
When this land is sown to Wheat, out of Clover lea, 
it is all-important that it should be early filled; I, there¬ 
fore, recommend, that the portion of lea ground which 
is usually fed by sheep, after the removal of the Hay 
crop, should be selected for the earliest preparation, and 
afterwards, in succession, other portions which may 
have borne a second crop of Hay or Clover seed. It 
being customary to apply yard or town manure, let it 
be carted on the land about the first week in August, or 
as soon after as the usual harvest operations will permit; 
do not allow it to remain long in heap) at this time of the 
year, but spread and pilough in as quickly as possible, 
to prevent loss by evaporation. Tho land should be 
ploughed a good depth, not less than four or live inches, 
using the skim coulter, which will bury the manure, and 
turn the sward well under the furrow. Let the wheel 
presser follow, which will consolidate the land, and 
effectually prevent any turf appearing upon the surface, 
after working with harrows. 
The above - named operations of carting manure, 
ploughing, &c., should be continued as fast as the land 
can be cleared or got ready, for it must be borne in 
mind, when Wheat is sown upon this strong land im¬ 
mediately after ploughing, that the crop will be liable to 
become root-false in the following summer, on account 
of the shrinking and contraction of the land; the young 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
