496 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 5. 
therefore, before I can admit the growing of Vines in 
pots in such a manner to be economical, I should like a 
clear statement of the shiftiugs, the waterings, the 
movings, the amount of space under glass which such 
plants demanded, contrasted with those planted out, and 
the result in the two cases, keeping in mind, that in 
common circumstances, planting out you get a crop every 
year, while, by the common mode of managing Vines in 
pots, you must be content to grow a year or two before you 
cau expect to be paid with fruit. It is true, that when you 
plant out young Vines to supply a house, you must wait 
a similar or longer period before you can fill the house 
and obtain a full supply, and in such circumstances, 
Vines in pots would be a useful auxiliary, as will be 
noticed by-and-by; but this waiting for years takes 
place, in such circumstances, only once in a series of 
years; while with pots, the process must be rejieated 
season after season, and you thus obtain a regular suc¬ 
cession of crops, if you follow the best growers, only by 
varying and bringing forward a succession of plants. I 
am, therefore, inclined to look upon any general whole- [ 
sale culture of Vines in pots more in the light of a 
pleasant exhibition, and as demonstrating great under¬ 
taking, and a good amount of horticultural skill, rather 
than as a mode to be recommended for its economy. I 
have had, and seen, such results, as would be very likely 
to deceive the inexperienced in this respect, but the 
r consideration of the previous year’s attention dispelled 
’ the charm. 
There are many circumstances in which Vines in pots 
will be useful, saving, and so far economical, when used 
as auxiliaries in filling a house ; but the mentioning of 
these, as well as taking into consideration the enquiry of 
a correspondent, as to whether the main shoot should be : 
stopped or not stopped when growing, to which only a 
short answer has been given ; and a short outline of the j 
mode of culture for fruiting such plants expeditiously, 
must wait for another opportunity. R. Fjsh. ! 
GREENHOUSE FERNS. 
(Continued from page 378.) 
In describing or enumerating the species of Ferns 
hardy enough to live through the winter in a greenhouse, 
I need not repeat the generic characters of such as are 
already given in the first division, namely, Stove Ferns. J 
ADIANT-UM. 
^ Amantum assimile (Assimulated).— A New Holland 
Fern, of great beauty, continuing green all the winter. 
Fronds thrice divided, or tripinnate, with the leaves of 
a rhomboid shape, and the margin slightly cut. The 
cover of the seed-cases is kidney-shaped. The rhizoma 
creeps very freely, sending up fronds all over and round 
the sides of the pots; hence it is easily increased by 
division. 
A. capillcs-veneris (Venus’s Hair). —Though this 
beautiful Fern is a native of Britain, yet it is too 
delicate to bear the open air in our gardens. It is 
identical with A. Moritzianum of some authors, who 1 
mistook it for a different species in consequence of its 1 
growing much larger in warm countries, Madeira, for 
instance. I have had large patches of it from that ; 
island, under that name, but I invariably found them, 
when treated in a similar heat, to assume the character 
of the true A. capillus veneris; and then, again, when 
transported into the stove or orchid-house, they returned 
to, or produced the large fronds of, the so-called A. 
Moritzianum. This species loves shade and moisture, 
and, therefore, a close, shady part of the greenhouse is 
necessary to grow it satisfactorily. Fronds bi tripinnate, 
that is, twice thrice divided; growing in a greenhouse 
six inches high ; pinnae, or leaves, wedge-shaped, bright 
green, and cut at the edges. Requires a light, sandy, 
fibrous soil,-intermixed freely with potsherds, or small 
pieces of sand stone. Increases freely by division. 
A. formosum (Handsome).—A New Holland Fern, 
remarkable for beauty and size. I have grown fronds 
two feet high, aud a foot-and-a-half across. Fronds four 
times divided; pinnae small, rhomboid-shaped, dented 
at the edges; stem of the fronds hairy; seed-vessels 
small and rarely seen. Creeps freely, hence, easily 
increased by division. A handsome, desirable species, 
and by no means rare. 
A. hispidux.um (Hairyish).—A pretty little Fern, from 
New Holland, remarkable for the various forms the 
fronds assume, the lower branches being bi-pinnate, and 
the upper pinnate, thickly covered with hairs, and grow¬ 
ing about six inches high, in a close, upright manner. 
A. pedatum (Bird’s-footed).—This species is a native 
of a cold country (North America), yet it will not thrive 
| well except in favoured spots in this country. I have it 
, now growing splendidly in an intermedial house, but 
in rockwork, or the open border, I have frequently lost 
it. It is a truly elegant Fern, growing a foot high 
before the branching begins, then spreading its five 
divisions almost horizontally, something like the claws 
of a bird. Fronds pedate; pinnae rather oblong, with 
a wavy edge, slightly cut. Seed-vessels oblong and 
solitary. Increased readily by division. 
A. pubescens (Downy). — This very common, yet 
pretty, Fern is from New Zealand. Fronds a foot high, 
covered with short silky wool or down, in form pedate. 
The branches long aud narrow, with the leaves closely 
packed to each other; pinnae slightly out, or crenate at 
the edges ; seed-vessels thickly placed round the margin, 
and kidney-shaped. Increases very freely by division. 
ALSOTHILA. 
Alsopiiila australis (Southern).—A Fern rare in 
cultivation, from Van Diemens Land, requiring the 
warmest part of the greenhouse. It is a tall plant, 
growing three feet high. Fronds bipinnate; pinnae 
long and narrow, with smooth edges. Stems scaly, 
growing on an upright stem or root-stock, forming a j 
little tree. Increased by seed sown on sand stones ! 
under a bell-glass in a frame. 
A. Capensis (Cape of Good Hope).—This is also a j 
tall Fern. Fronds three feet high, bipinnate ; form oval j 
lance-shapcd ; pinme, or leaves, also lance shaped, with 
wiDgs at the base; edges deeply cut; stems scaly ; seed- 
vessels small; root-stock not creeping, but forming a 
little tree, with the fronds seated on the summit. This 
is sometimes very curiously covered with short de¬ 
formed leaves. Increased by seeds only. 
ANTIGRAMMA. 
A genus of Ferns with broad leaves and regular veins 
at the back. The name means anti against, and gramma 
a line, the seed-cases being arranged opposite to each 
other on each side of the midrib. 
A. RHizopnvLLA (Leaves-rooting).—A North American 
Fern, of a dwarf, compact habit. It will live in a cold 
frame, but is safer in a good greenhouse. Fronds ; 
simple, growing nine inches high ; heart-shaped. 
ASPLENIUM. 
There are no less than twenty-two species of this 
genus that require greenhouse treatment. Some, cer¬ 
tainly, grow more freely in a stove, and others will exist 
in the open air, A. Marinum, for instance; but the more 
tender ones may be placed in the warmest part of the 
house, and the others in the coolest. 
A. appendiculatum (Appeudaged).—A Fern from 
\ an Diemens Land, of great beauty. Fronds tripinnate, 
a foot high, or more, and rooting at the extreme point; 
I 
