THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
383 
i February 1C. 
D. quercifolia (Oak-leaved).—This fine Fern lias a 
! wide geographical distribution. It is found in all the 
hottest parts of the East. Fronds various—ono variety 
has no fertile fronds, at least, not cultivated in our 
stoves. The fronds of this variety are sterile and 
pinnatifid, with deeply-cut segments, approaching to 
the form of the oak-leaf. The real well-defined species 
has both sterile and fertile fronds on the same plant, 
j The sterile fronds have no stem, aro heart-shaped, and 
i jagged, or waved, at the edges ; the fertile fronds have 
' a short stem, are pinnate with narrow segments, each 
segment having a thick binding or edge. The seed- 
vessels are circular, and are placed in groups over the 
under surface of the leaves. Both are well worthy of 
cultivation. I have grown the species on a low shelf, 
far from the light, with the pots plunged in moss, into 
which the roots ran freely, and by this moist, steady 
treatment they grew very satisfactorily. 1 found it easy 
to increase by division. 
D. vulgaris (Common).—This is the Polypodium 
phymatodes of Linnaeus. It is a handsome, broad-leaved 
Fern, from the Malay Islands and the Mauritius. The 
fronds are pinnated, and grow more than a foot long ; 
each division is almost triangular and broad. The 
root-stock creeps very much, is black and scaly. The 
seed-cases are round or oval. I once had a large plant 
of this fine Fern under my care, growing in a large 
wire basket, the creeping root-stocks grew through the 
meshes of the basket, and threw out, as they crept 
round it, their large, broad fronds. It was a noble plant, 
measuring full two feet diameter, and was much ad¬ 
mired. It will, however, grow very well in a pot, or 
amongst rockwork in the stove. The plant alluded to 
would have made (I speak within bounds) at least a 
score of plants had it been divided. This example 
shows that it is easily increased by that mode. 
Elaphaglossum. —A genus formed from Acrostichum; 
distinguished from that and other allied genera by its 
simple fronds with forked, distinct veins. 
E. callasfolium (Calla-leaved).—A Fern from Java, 
that hot country, hence it requires the warmest part of 
the stove or orchid house. It has barren and fertile 
fronds, the former rather broadly acuminate, or sharp- 
pointed, shining deep green, with wavy edges; the stems 
are of dark colour underneath. The fertile fronds are 
narrower and more erect. Both fronds grow about a foot 
high, and are jointed at the base. The root-stock creeps, 
hence it is easily increased by division. A desirable 
species for any collection. 
E. crassinerva (Thick-nerved).—This West Indian 
Fern may be distinguished from the last by its stouter 
leaves and thicker veins, and by the height of the bar¬ 
ren fronds. These attain, frequently, two feet in height, 
whilst the fertile fronds never exceed one foot. The 
barren fronds are also undulated, and of a dull green. 
Easily increased by dividing its short, creeping root-stock. 
E. confohme (Conformed).—A species nearly hardy 
enough for the greenhouse, but thrives better in a cool 
stove, through the winter. It is from the Cape of Good 
Hope, where it is found growing on shady rocks. The 
sterile fronds are very beautifully veined with almost 
perfect regularity, and of a long oval form, narrow at 
the base, and terminating in a sharp-point; growing about 
a foot high. The fertile fronds are much smaller, and 
covered throughout with seed-vessels. The root-stock 
| creeps, audis covered with scales. Increased by division. 
! It is a pretty, neat species, and worthy of general cul¬ 
tivation. 
E. Dombeyanum (Dombey’s).—A South American 
Fern, remarkable for having the sterile fronds thickly 
covered with star-like scales. The form is blunt, line- 
shaped, narrowed at the base. The fertile fronds have 
stems nearly half the length of the frond, and are of the 
i same shape, excepting they are more pointed. The 
root-stock creeps, and therefore it may bo increased by i 
division. A very distinct and well-defined species that 
ought to be in every collection. 
E. longifolium (Long-leaved).—This is the tallest I 
species of the whole genus, growing in its native country j 
(West Indies) fully two feet high. Sterile fronds, long- 
lance-shape, narrow at the base, and sharp at the ex¬ 
treme point, and rather wavy at the edges. Fertile ; 
fronds erect, and the same form, rhizoma creeping, and 
easily increased by division. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
TREES ADAPTED FOR PARK SCENERY. 
It is too often the case, that in spite of the efforts we 
make to cast off prejudice on one side we are fostering 
it on another. Indeed, so much so, that honest John 
Bull seems at all times the victim of quackery. Only 
very recently he was led to believe in the prophetic 
revelations of polished timber, when it had, by the 
carpenter’s assistance, assumed the form and exercised 
the functions of a table; while only a short time before 
that certain lecturers assured us they exercised an 
almost irresistible control over the minds and persons 
of many of their hearers. These sciences ot Table 
Turning and Electro Biology bad, in their turns, ob¬ 
tained so many disciples and believers, that it afforded 
grave doubts with our elderly worthy dames if their 
marvellous disclosures had not some connection with 
the Prince of Darkness; unfortunately for society at | 
large it did not appear that either art, for it is not just 
to call them sciences, was ever applied to any useful 
purpose, so that they seem likely to pass into oblivion 
without leaving a trace of that utility behind them 
which now-a-days forms a leading feature in every thing 
that is inquired for. However, it is not likely to be 
long ere another subject of novelty (it would be treason 
to call it quackery so soon) takes the place of the dis¬ 
carded ones, and John Bull will run as eagerly after it 
as if it were the first shadow he ever followed. For¬ 
tunately, there are sober moments, and, as it has been 
often remarked, the most sensible periods are those 
which follow in the wake of the grossest folly, we. may 
pardon our volatile nature for now aud then having a 
rambling fit; but these sudden departures from old and 
well-established rules are not the only errors we run 
into, others equally unpardonable are enacted every 
day. In our generalization system we seem to make 
too few exceptions, and a rule, if once laid down, and 
receive the stamp of society at large, is rarely with¬ 
drawn, even if it be after found to be fallacious, and 
those who are convinced of its being so, are not always 
the first to abandon the idea. Few people, now-a-days, J 
profess to believe in the prophetic notices contained in 
a weather-predicting almanack,yet Francis Moore’spub- 
lication is, perhaps, as much patronised as ever, and his 
mysterious out-pourings are annually set forth to puzzle 
those who take the trouble to read them, while in many 
other things the case is the same as in that of almanacks. 
Now, though the above may not seem to have any 
connection with the ordinary affairs of horticulture or 
agriculture, yet the same spirit now and then exhibits 
itself in these sciences. A plan—a mode—or an idea- 
put forth on the authority of some aspirer after fame, is 
received for a time, and the thing is lauded as being a 
boon to society, before which the steam-engine or printing- 
press sink into insignificance. By-and-by, however, its 
demerits are found out, and it takes its place according 
to its worth, and not uufrequently, when it has been 
publicly found out of occupying a higher place than it J 
deserved, it has received a corresponding severe degree 1 
of punishment, and been condemned with more harsh¬ 
ness than justice. Now, in accordance with this rule, j 
