COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION. 
[ February 5. 
CULTIVATION OF THE RLECHNUM BOREALE, 
AND OTHER HARDY FERNS UNDER GLASS. 
Being calletl upon to give a few liints as to Uie treatment 
the Bleckniim horcale requires under glass, I with pleasure 
comply with that rc(iuest. I do not consider myself capable of 
tcacliiug inaiiy, although I think there is a great deal to be 
learned by many, and 1 might not be far out were 1 to say, 
hy (ill who have taken a delight in this large and beautiful 
tribe, of plants ; a tribe not the less interesting on account 
of its immensity ; for I think whoever commences a collection 
of this family of the vegetable kingdom will have a continual 
desire fur an enlargement of his collection, and as the 
collection increases, so will the pleasure. Having obtained 
some plant that has been puffed up, what a disappointment 
occurs to find, when it llowers, that it is no better than many 
older varieties you have by you, Tliis disappointment 
occurs not so oficn with Ferns as with many other things. 
They are grown with much more certainty, so that the 
cultivaUn- may add to his collection with very little fear of 
being disappointed, as the beauty is not in a variety 
of colour and sliape of flow'er, but in the shape and 
construction of the plant itself, and with the elegant and ! 
giaceful Imbit of the various species. Although some Ferns 
very closely resemble each other in appearance, yet, when a 
close examination is resorted to, not only may be seen the 
difference, but, also, the liidden beauty of many species, 
which will amply repay the inspector for the trouble. Each 
of the species seem to prefer and inhabit different positions 
and localities. We have thereby a very good guide for the 
arrangement of them upon our rockwork. I will just 
mention a few instances to illustrate my meaning. 
d’he Osniiiiida rcijalia wo meet with in all its royalty, pro- ^ 
duciug its noble fronds from the surface of some marshy 
place, which is a clear proof that it is a lover of moisture; 
not being very shy of the rays of the sun. The Asplenium 
FHi.c-mns ive find sending forth its bold and graceful forms 
from some sandy bank, shadowed by a row of trees, or by a 
hedge. Hero is a difference—the one prefeiring moisture 
more particularly; the other, rather the shade, and not 
so much moisture. The Pnhjpod'non vuipnre gives us an 
instance of one taking its po.sition something between the 
two former, covering the base of some noble tree with its 
enlivening evergreen fronds, and feeding upon the decaying 
parts ; but oftentimes exposed to the powers of the sun. 
The Pleris nqiiUiiKi sending its piercing roots deep into 
some loamy soil, and unfolding its spreading fronds over the 
surface of an open common, or heath, exposed to the full 
power of a burning hot sun, which tells us that it prefers 
a deep, moist soil. Another example w'e may lind in the 
life of the Asplciiinin riil.a viiiniria, which we see in all its 
interesting beauty, llowering and almost covering the face 
of some old castle or sacred edifice (which itself is falling 
bit by bit to the ground), and feeding upon the mouldering 
port ions of the brick .and mortar; and, lastly, I will refer 
to that minute, deeply interesting Fern, the Hi/meiiopht/llum 
Tiiiihriili/ciisc, which, in all its cheering simplicity, is met 
with spreading over the surface of some solitary rock, where 
many would think it almost impossible for any living plant 
to survive, being exposed as it is to the rays of a mid¬ 
summer sun. 
These are a few instances of the native portions of some 
of those British Ferns which are more generally known, 
and will sullice to show the ditferent treatment or position 
they reiiuire. But if grown as greenhouse, or stove-plants, 
the treatment will differ, of course ; and, as my mode of 
treatment is the question at hand, I will here give it as 
concisely as 1 can. 1 have cultivated many other British 
species, besides tbo Blechinnn bvrmlr, in a greenhouse or j 
stove temperature. The principal difference the ditferent ' 
species require being in the compost and amount of 
moisture. 
For the (hninmla rci/idls I use throe parts turfy-peat and 
one of sandy-loam, with a free admixture of s.and. For 
Asph'iiiiim on the contraiw, 1 use three parts of 
the sandy-loam with one part peat, with sand, because it 
requires less water than the first. For the Ftei is aquilUui 
three parts loam, and one of coarse leaf-mould, with sand; 
and when growm in this compost it makes a very interesting 
pot plant. For the Pohjpudlum vnhjare three parts leaf- 
mould, with one part sandy-loam, .and a free admixture of I 
sand. Fov i\\G Aaplciuum ntta murarla one part leaf mould, ! 
one part sandy-loam, and two parts soft brick and mortar 1 
broken very tine. The Hijmi'iiophijUum Taiil/ridijeii.se re j 
quires moi'e care in potting than any of the preceding j 
siiecies. The pot being half tilled with very tine crocks, 
the remaining surface is tilled within half-an-inch of the | 
top with powdered sand-stone, upon which the root of the | 
Fern (being in cakes) is very carefully imbedded in an , 
equal mixture of powdered sand stone and loam, being 
pressed firmly to the surface, a little dry sand is .s]uinkled j 
over the whole, to till up any crevice that may remain, 
when, if the pot is set in a pan of water, enough moisture 
will ascend to supply the plant with what it receives from 
the moist temiierature. 
The (question still remains to be answered in favour of 
the B/echiiiim Boreale, which I procured from its native 
abode early in the spring, potting it firmly in a compost 
of three parts peat, two parts of loam (each very fibry), 
and one part of leaf-mould, with a free admixture of sand, 
using plenty of drainage. When done, the plants receive a 
watering to settle the whole, and are then removed into a 
close temperature of from 4.-)° to bO'-’. As soon as a free 
exposui’e of the fronds is observed, they may be either re¬ 
moved into a little warmer or a little cooler temperature, 
accordingly as convenience (>r taste may be, but not to be 
over supplied with 'water. In the morning of clear days in 
the spring, and in the evening during the summer months, 
syringing will be generally sufficient. When the tempera 
ture becomes very much increased during the syn-ing months 
air must be. given according to judgment, giving a little for 
an hour or two in the middle of fine days; but all external 
air being excluded, as far as possible, during dull, heavy 
weather. During the summer months, fires being discon¬ 
tinued, air must be given during the day, but shut up early 
in tlie evening, if in a warm house or stove; if in a cold 
greenhouse, air must be left ou all night. In either case, 
wliether in a stove, or greenhouse, I have always found a 
shading eff'ecteil hy a coat of (/recii colouring inside the 
glass (juite sufficient, and, in fact, they do better under this 
shade than under any other. 
At the decline of the st'ason 1 gradually dry off the de¬ 
ciduous species, ami give them a rest (not, of course, allow¬ 
ing them to become quite dry) by removing them to a 
I cooler place. Many of the evergreen species are greatly 
benefited by a similar treatment.—W. Beeves, Hifihijale. 
THE FORM OF HOTHOUSES. | 
, I’ekjiit me to offer a few observations on the extract 
you have taken from “ The Britisli Year Book for the 
Country, by C. McIntosh, Es([., and T. Bindley Kemp, M.D." 
As to the construction of hothouses on the old plan of ' 
strong rafters, sliding lights, Ac., being the very worst that 
could lie adopted, no one will attempt, perhaps, to deny; 
but under former circumstances, when glass was very dear, 
that plan served its purpose, and has had its day ; though no 
rational man would lliink of putting up a house of that 
description, and glazing it with squares six inches by four ! 
inches, in the present day. But lo say that a lean-to house 
is the worst possible for either the admission of the greatest 
amount of light, or the eipializalion of solar heat, will admit 
of a little diffei'ence of opinion. 
Wliat objection can there be to a lean Io roof against a 
wall facing south, or a point or two to the east of south, 
witli a j)lane surface, the principal rafters three inches b\ i 
two inches, three feet six inches between, sash-bars three | 
inches by one inch, eleven inches between, ventilation in , 
front, and at the top glazed cuds, the stoke pit, sheds, &c., ! 
directly behind? | 
Suppose such a house erected, and nothing to obstruct i 
the sun’s rays from striking it directly on his emerging from 
the eastern horizon, in what direction, and on what part cd' 
the house would the first rays stiike ? Would they not 
strike the end of the house horizontally till he was rpiite 
above tlie horizon, and then obliquely, till, attaining his 
meridian height, the rays would fall direct ou the surface, 
be that surface at any angle whatever? The gnomon of a 
sun dial would prove that to demonstration. Then, how 
