138 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER 
May 25. 
worth patronising, and that a growing taste for such 
matters is boing fostered among our hard-working 
brethren, which it behoves us to make some little 
sacrifice to promote and foster. R. Eisn. 
STOVE FERNS. 
( Continued from page 78.) 
NOTHOCHLENA. 
We have now arrived at a genus of Ferns possessing 
as much delicate beauty as any I have already noticed. 
The only drawback on their general cultivation is the 
difficulty of keeping them in a state of health amongst 
other Ferns that require a moist atmosphere. The 
leaves of most of the species are covered with a fine 
down, or woolley scales. These retain moisture, and, in 
long-continued dark weather, in consequence of the 
wet being retained on the fronds, they perish, and the 
plants perish also. To guard against this evil, it is 
necessary to place the plants in the driest and least 
shady part of the house, and never to net the leaves, 
either with the watering-pot or the syringe. With these 
few warning remarks on their culture, I shall briefly 
notice a few of the most interesting species, though 
every one of the genus is worthy of cultivation. 
N. akgentea (Silvery).—A Fern, from South America, 
of the greatest beauty, growing only about six inches 
high. Fronds bipinnate, the lowest leaflets spreading 
out the longest, and gradually shortening to the apex, 
and covered with a silvery-white powder. Stems, both 
of the pinnae and main stem, shining black. Increased 
slowly by dividing tbe creeping rhizoma. 
N. crassifolta (Thick-leaved).—This fine Fern is also 
from South America. Fronds pinnate, that is, once 
divided, about a foot long ; leaflets covered beneath with 
overlapping, fringed white scales, turning brown with 
age. On tbe upper surface it has very short hairs set 
in circles or stars. The seed-cases aro placed on the 
margins of the leaflets, and form a black border round 
them. This is a very well-defined and beautiful species, 
and increases freely by dividing the white scaly root- 
stock. 
N. Eckloniana (Ecklon’s).—Though from the Cape 
of Good Hope, this elegant Fern requires a moderate 
stove, but the conditions of culture mentioned above 
must be strictly complied with. Fronds tripinnate, 
growing a foot high, leaflets oblong and blunt at tbe 
extremities, deeply cut, and the edges rising; they are 
covered with narrow scales of a white colour, giving it 
a woolley character. I once got up a fine batch of 
seedlings of this elegant Fern by sowing the seeds on 
some pieoes of rough peat, placing the pot containing 
them in a pan of water, and covering the whole with a 
large bell-glass. The moisture arising from the water 
kept the soil moist enough for the seeds to germinate, 
which, as 6oon as I observed, I propped up the bell- 
glass with a small stone, gradually increasing the 
aperture till the plants made their third loaf, then the 
glass was entirely removed, and after a few days the 
plants were potted off, placed in a shady spot, and 
inured by degrees to bear the full light. I am pretty 
certain most Ferns would grow (if the seed was good), 
treated in a similar manner. It may, however, be pro¬ 
pagated by dividing the creeping rhizoma. 
N. squamata (Scaly).—A Mexican, dwarf Fern, of 
great beauty. Fronds pinnate, growing only about six 
inches high ; leaflets dark green on the upper side, and 
white beneath. I once had a nice plant of this rare 
species, but one day, during my absence, it was parted 
with for a trifle. It is, I believe, at present only in the 
collection at Kew. 
The rest of the stove species are— N. nivea (white); 
N. tenera (slender) ; N. trichomanioides; N. rufa (rusty); 
N. sinuata (sinuated); and N. tomentosa (woolly). 
OLFERSIA CEPATNA. 
The only species in cultivation. The first, or generic, 
name is commemorative of Olfers, a German. Tho 
second means stag-horned, in allusion to tho appear¬ 
ance of the fertile fronds. Both sterile and fertile fronds 
arc pinnated; the former is beautifully veined, and the 
latter .are covered with seed-cases. It is a fine Fern, 
and grows about two feet long. I have increased it 
readily by dividing the creeping rhizoma, preserving 
a leaf and incipient bud to each division. 
ONYCIIIUM. 
O. lucidum (Shining).—The only species in cul¬ 
tivation. A very elegant Fern, from Nepaul. It 
is a stove Fern, and will grow in shady places. It 
has existed with me in a warm greenhouse, but the 
fronds turned brown at the edges. It may be described 
as a branching Fern, for the fronds are frequently 
divided four or five times. They arc of two kinds, 
barren, and seed-bearing ; the sterile being shorter than 
the other. It is a beautiful shining green Fern, and is 
rather common, being easily increased by its freely 
creeping rhizoma. 
PHLEBODIUM. 
A genus of Ferns, divided from Polypoditiju, by the 
late Mr. R. Brown. They may be distinguished by the 
situation of the seed-vessels, which are placed distinctly 
in rows, between the midrib and the margin, and by the 
veins being irregularly branched and very conspicuous. 
P. aureum (Golden).—This is tbe well-known Poly- 
podium aureum, and a noble, beautiful Fern it is. 
Fronds pinnate, and drooping, growing three feet high ; 
seed-vessels very prominent, and of a golden colour; 
lienee its specific name; easily increased by dividing off 
segments with leaves attached of the thick creeping 
root-stock. 
P. i.ycoi’odioides (Lycopodium-like).—A small, creep¬ 
ing, West Indian Fern, worthy of cultivating in tiuy 
ornamental baskets, or on rockwork in the stove. 
Fronds simple, three inches long, wavy, blunt at the 
point, and slender at the base. Readily increased by 
division. 
I’, nttidtjm (Shining).—Another small Fern from 
Honduras, remarkable for its shining, small, simple 
fronds, which are also thick and leathery; increased by 
division. 
The rest of the species are— P. decumanum, P. glau- 
cum, P. percussum, P. sporadocarpum (a beautiful 
species), P. squamulosum, and P. venosum. 
T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
(Continued from page 110.) 
THE STOCK. 
There are few flowers that ornament the parterre j 
more than the Stock in all its varieties, yet it is not a 
fashionable flower. Wo generally sec the finest blooms | 
in some cottage-garden by the way-side. When I 
was a young man, it was thought worthy of prizes at 
Flower Shows, and many a beautiful stand of scarlet, 
purple, and white Stocks, have I seen exhibited, and 
much admired by the visitors. What can bo the cause 
of this flower being banished almost from the flower- ; 
gardens of the wealthy? I suppose it must be because 
they bloom at a time when the gentry are from home, in 
London, or at the watering places ; and, perhaps, another ! 
reason is the passion for novelties in the shape of new 
