December 15. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
205 
ashes thick enough to prevent the worms from penetra¬ 
ting through it into the pots. Bet them quite level and 
close together. Then work in between the pots more 
coal-ashes, or some spent tanner’s hark, and cover the 
pot, just two inches deep, with the same material. The 
first batch should be marked so as to he known or 
distinguished from the second or third lot. I use a stick 
tall enough to stand four or five iuches above the covering. 
This stick is cut to a smooth face, large enough to hold 
the names and date when the hatch was potted. There 
is then no difficulty in knowing which to begin forcing. 
Bulbous plants are similar to all others in this respect, | 
that they must make new roots before they ought to 
start into growth to produce leaves and flowers. All 
other plants, such as Roses, Jasmines, Honeysuckles, 
Lilacs, &c., intended for forcing, should always be potted 
some months before they are brought into heat to be 
forced into (earlier than is natural) bloom. Narcissi, 
intended to bloom at Christmas, should be brought in 
and placed in a heat of from 55° to 60°, about the 
middle of November. Take the batch up out of the 
bark, rub oft' the bark from the surface of the soil in the 
pots, and if there are any dirty let them be clean washed. 
Place them near the glass, to prevent the leaves drawing 
up weak ; give very gentle waterings at first, increasing 
the quantity as the foliage is more developed, and use 
the syringe occasionally, to cleanse the leaves and keep 
down red spider. 
As soon as the flower-stems have advanced above 
the foliage, then, without further delay, place a stick in 
each pot, and tie each stem separately to it; but do not 
tie them too tight, because, if you do, the stem will be 
contracted, and, perhaps, broken, if neglected too long. 
If this tying i6 judiciously and tastefully managed, the 
heads of flowers will, at a short distance, appear like 
a large single head, and have a much finer effect. 
Like the Hyacinth, and other bulbs thus forced, the 
Narcisssus does not force well more than once, or, at 
least, without an interval of two or three years’ rest, 
and good management whilst in that state. 
T. Appleby. 
STOVE FERNS. 
(Continued from page 163.) 
Diplazium striatum (Striated).—A Jamaica Fern of 
considerable magnitude. The fronds are twice pinnated, 
and grow frequently five feet long, and each wing, or 
pinnae, a foot long. The leaves are sound and dentated. 
The stems and ribs of the leaves are covered with fine 
hairs. The root-stock is erect, not creeping, and, there¬ 
fore, the plant must be increased by seeds. 
D. subalatum (Half-winged).—This is a rare Fern in 
cultivation; native of the warmest parts of South 
America. The fronds are thrice pinnated at the base, 
and twice pinnated above; growing four feet high ; 
and the root-stock is a single stem two feet high. The 
stems are channeled, or winged, hence the specific name. 
It is a remarkable, distinct, handsome Fern, requiring a 
large stove to grow it well. Increased by seeds only. 
D. sylvaticum (Wood). — A Fern, from Ceylon, of 
great beauty. The fronds are pinnate ; the lower pinnee 
being long and spreading, and gradually shorter as they 
approach the end of the frond ; they grow from two to 
three feet long; leaves almost round, and cut at the 
edges. The stem is covered with dark brown scales, 
and the rbizoma has several heads of fronds upon it; 
by these it may be increased. 
Doodia. —A commemorative name in honour of Mr. 
S. Doody, an early student of Ferns and Mosses. It is 
a genus of small-growing Ferns, with the fronds very 
rough to the touch. Allied to Woodward'ui. 
D. aspera (File-like, or Rough).—A very neat, hand¬ 
some Fern, from New Holland. It will live in a good 
greenhouse, hut thrives much better in a moderate 
stove. The fronds grow upright, very rigid, from eight 
to ten inches high, and are of a dark green. Leaves 
sickle-shaped, the edge sharply cut, so as almost to be 
like spines. A suitable species for small collections, 
and easily increased by division. 
D. bleohnoides (Bleclinum - like).—An Australian i 
Fern, very similar to the last species, but may be dis- | 
tinguished from it by its greater size, and having its 
stems densely covered with black scales. May be in¬ 
creased by its bundled rhizoma. 
D. media (Intermediate).—This is the D. lunulata of 
R. Brown, from New Zealand. It is a graceful, elegant 
Fern, and very remarkable by its fronds being red when 
young. They are, when full grown, a foot-and-a-half 
long, very slender, and drooping gracefully. The leaves 
are crescent shaped, and spiny at the edges. Root-stock 
creeping. Increased by division. 
Doryopteius.—A small genus of Ferns, separated 
from Pteris by Mr. J. Smith. Derived from dory, a 
spear, and pteris, a fern: one of the species has leaves 
in that form. The genus maybe known by the seed- 
cases being narrow, placed on the margin, and in a con¬ 
tinued line, and by the reticulation oi the veins. The 
species are all of a dwarf habit, and are, therefore, proper 
to cultivate in small collections. 
D. collina (Hill).—A Brazillian Fern, growing not 
more than ten inches high, with leathery, palmate, bright 
green fronds. The sterile ones are sometimes thrice, 
and sometimes five times parted; the fertile ones are 
always five, parted or spread-out in five divisions, like 
a man’s hand. It is an elegant species, and may be 
easily increased by dividing the creeping rhizoma. 
D. palmata (Hand-shaped).—Differs from the pre¬ 
ceding species hy being taller, and by the lobes ot each 
leaf having more divisions, so as to be almost pinnated. 
The sterile fronds, also, are almost simple when young. 
It is very beautiful, easily grown, and increased by 
division. 
D. saggitifolia (Arrow-headed).—A Brazilian Fern 
of great beauty. The fronds are simple, acute, nearly a 
foot high, almost all seed, bearing stems black and 
smooth. Increases readily by division. This species is 
very distinct, very elegant, and ought to be in every 
collection, however small. 
Drymoglossum. —A genus of low, creeping, curious 
Ferns, established by M. Presl. The essential charac¬ 
ters by which it may be known are an irregular com¬ 
pound of the veins, and the position of the seed-cases, 
which are placed on each margin in a continuous line 
on the upper part of the fertile fronds. 
D. laxceolatum (Lance-shaped).—A Jamaica Fern 
of considerable beauty. Fronds from ten inches to a 
foot long, simple, and narrower towards the end, where 
the contraction takes place. The seed-cases commence 
and are continued nearly to the apex, or end, in a con¬ 
tinuous line, very near the edge, but not quite close to 
it. The irregularly-running veins are inside the leaf—a 
curious and rare case iu foliage. Increases readily by 
dividing the creeping rhizoma. 
D. pilosilloides (Mouse-ear-like).—Probably the 
smallest of all Ferns, growing only about two inches 
high. The sterile fronds are oval and narrow at the 
base, the fertile are very narrow, and, iu consequence 
of being so, the continuous line of seed cases almost 
cover them entirely. The leaves are simple, and placed 
on each side of a slender creeping rhizoma, by dividing 
which it may be increased. This small Fern grows best 
on a moss-covered block of wood, hung up in a shady 
part of the stove. It is very rare. 
Drynaria.— A rather large genus; name derived 
from dryinos, the oak, iu allusion to the form ot the 
leaf of the species upon which the genus was formed. 
Distinguished hy the seed-cases being naked—that is, 
