500 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 26. 
“ This species is certainly known to exist in a wild state 
in the United Kingdom elsewhere than in Ireland, where it 
is found sparingly in several localities attached to dripping 
rocks, and the walls of damp caves, in shaded glens, and 
in the vicinity of waterfalls. It is also found in some of the 
warmer parts of Europe, in Asia, and in South America. 
“ This Fern requires a damp, calm atmosphere, without 
which it will not thrive; hence, all attempts to cultivate it 
artifically, other than under close confinement, have failed. 
It likes warmth, and succeeds admirably under a glass in a 
shady part of a plant stove, or greenhouse. The following 
method of planting is suitable both to this and to the 
Hymenophyllum :— 
“ Trocure some porous free-stone (if in one mass, so 
much the better) large enough to fit the mouth of the pot 
or irau, which should be a good-sized one, as the plants 
should be seldom disturbed; and after filling the latter so 
full of broken crocks for drainage, as to admit of the sand¬ 
stone lying firmly on a level with, or rather above the rim, 
strew a little silver sand over the stone, and with incorrosive 
wire, fix the caudex of the plant firmly on the surface, then 
a little more sand, followed by a good watering. If neces¬ 
sary, the plant must be supported in a firm position by 
means of some small stakes, judiciously placed, with great 
care, for neither the plant nor the sand should be disturbed 
when it is once fixed. After planting, place a bell-glass 
over the plant, and remove it to a shady place, either in a 
stove or greenhouse, or sitting-room. After this, all that is 
required is careful and rather abundant watering, sufficient 
at least to maintain a constant dampness about the plant. 
Mr. Andrews, of Dublin, in September, 1841, formed a case 
purposely for cultivating this Fern. He lined the bottom 
with zinc, and covered the fi'ame-work with oiled lawn, and 
then planted the specimens in well-drained pots, in a com¬ 
post of loam and coarse sand, interspersed with pieces of 
turf. He also suspended the stems across the roof of the 
case, attached to rods, covered with moss. The plants were 
kept cool, and were well moistened daily. In October, 1843, 
the entire case was well filled with fronds of large and strong 
growth. Mr. Ward has, for many years, cultivated this 
species with entire success, even amidst the smoke of Lon¬ 
don, in hist close cases ; and fine examples of cultivated 
Trichomanes are now not rare. The most entire success, 
however, of which any record has been made public, is that 
obtained by R. Calwell, Esq., of Dublin, as stated in Mr. 
Ward’s excellent book already quoted, from which the fol¬ 
lowing is also borrowed. Mr. Calwell writes :— 
“ 1 In the spring of 1843, I received a small portion of 
rhizome, about five or six inches long, with one frond par¬ 
tially developed, and one other just appearing, which I 
placed in a bell-glass about fifteen inches in diameter. In 
December, 1840, it quite filled the glass, and in that month 
I removed it into a case three feet ten inches by two 
feet six inches, and three feet four inches in height; the 
space under this, about twelve inches in depth, was 
filled with upturned flower-pots, charcoal, cocoanut husks, 
and light earth and peat. The plant now nearly fills 
this case. It is difficult to count the fronds accurately; 
but, as nearly as I can count them, they number 230, 
or upwards, of fully-developed fronds; the length of the 
fully-opened fronds being from fourteen to twenty and 
a-half inches, taking the length from the end of the stem, 
where it starts from the rhizome, to the point of the frond. 
When removing it to the present case, in December, 1846, 
I cut away five or six fronds which had been injured by con¬ 
tact with the glass; but since that time not one of the fronds 
then existing, nor any of those since formed, have shown 
any symptoms of decay. As to the general treatment: 
having originally provided well for perfect drainage, I care¬ 
fully sprinkle the surface of the fronds with water once or 
twice a week in summer, and less frequently in winter, and 
keep the door of the case (which is very close) always shut, 
the drainage-valve underneath always open. The case stands 
in a vestibule, with nearly west aspect, quite sheltered from 
the south by the house, which is much higher than the ves¬ 
tibule. I strongly think that much of my success is due to 
the fact that the light is much subdued by shining through 
coloured glass windows (chiefly brown and orange). The 
general appearance of the plant is quite natural, the fronds 
bending down mostly. About three years ago I placed, for ex¬ 
periment, a small portion of the rhizome with one open frond, 
on a block, and hung it up in the case. It has now nineteen 
expanded fronds, varying from nine to twelve inches in 
length, the rhizome having crept all round the block, and 
throwing down abundance of roots, five or six inches long. 
I have not known any other Fern to thrive, or even to live, 
in this case, except Asplenimn marimim, which seems to like 
the situation tolerably. I have even tried Hymenophyllum 
tunbridgense, and II. Wilsoni; neither of which lived past 
one year. The plant has never shown the least approach 
towards producing seeds, although I have seen many plants 
taken from the same locality (Turk’s Waterfall, co. Kerry,) 
which have fructified profusely.’ ” 
“ This instance of success (Mr. Ward goes on to state) 
is suggestive of one or two reflections of practical applica¬ 
tion :—‘ We see, first, how possible it is to grow some plants 
in closed cases in even m6re than their native luxuriance. 
I believe it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to find 
such a patch of Trichomanes as is above described, either in 
Ireland or in any part of the world. The next reflection is, 
that, in obedience to well-known physiological laws, when¬ 
ever the foliage of a plant is developed to a greater extent 
than usual, the tendency to produce fruit becomes propor¬ 
tionally diminished, and sometimes, as in the above instance, 
ceases altogether—not one frond out of the 230 fructifying. 
It would be interesting to watch the effect of exposure to 
stronger light, and of a diminished supply of water. We 
further learn that Ferns, like other plants, vary much as to 
their natural states, and that, in order to grow even the 
British Ferns in one case, it will be necessary to pay atten¬ 
tion to their respective wants. 
“ In order to grow all our Ferns under one roof, it would’ 
of course, be necessary to fulfil their varying conditions o^ 
growth ; and this might be easily effected by building a 
model of some antique ruin, or by imitating some moun¬ 
tainous ravine, or other bit of natural scenery, with water 
trickling down from the elevated portion of the rock, and 
flowing out of the house in a continuous stream at the bot¬ 
tom. In such a house, without any artificial heat, our Ferns 
would attain a luxuriant, growth, unimaginable by those who 
know them only under ordinary circumstances. Each Fern 
could be supplied with a proper base of earth or rock, and 
eacli could have the amount of light most suited to its fullest 
development. The Trichomanes might there revel on its [ 
Turk rook, and gladden the eyes of the beholder with its 
lovely fronds spangled with iridescent rain-drops. At the 
base of the rock, and extending to the margins of the j 
central brook, the two species of Hymenophyllum, with ! 
Blechnum boreale, Lastrea Thelypteris, and the lovely Lady 
Fern would luxuriate; whilst on the borders of the little 
brook or in the centre of the water, the royal Osmunda would \ 
raise itself to the height of ten or twelve feet, as if conscious 
of its sovereignty, and worthy of the admiration elicited from 
Sir Walter Scott when visiting the Lakes of Ivillarney. One 
or two.chalk or sand-stone caves might internally be lined 1 
with the Aspicnium marinvm, its massive dark green and j 
glossy leaves beautifully contrasting with the light and : 
elegant foliage of the Maidenhair grqwing on the top. In 
the more elevated portions, and fully exposed to light, 
Allosorits crispus, Cystopteris frayilis and the other species j 
and varieties would thrive (with the exception of the rare 
Cystopteris montana, which should be planted within reach of 
the spray j; as would Asplcnium septenlrionnle and the 
Woodsias; whilst every chink and crevice might be occupied 
with Polypodium JDryopleris, P. calcareum , P. Phegopteris, 
Asplenium Trichomanes, A. Adianliim-iligrum. A. lanceolatum, 
Ac. Such a house might be made very useful in deter¬ 
mining those varieties of Ferns which depend upon varying 
climatal differences, and in limiting the multiplication of 
species, which now appears to be increasing rather too 
rapidly. A great number of the more beautiful or rare 
British flowering plants might be intermixed with the Ferns, 
and would add greatly to the effect of the whole, taking 
especial care that each should have the amount of light and 
moisture which it obtains in its natural state, So much for 
Biitish Ferns and Plants ; but the time will most assuredly 
come when those citizens of London who now recreate and 
refresh their souls with such a house as is above described, 
will raise their desires to the possession of equally beautiful 
