October 10. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
23 
borders. When done flowering, 1 placed them in a cold 
frame till May, and then plunged the pots in. a border 
lacing the east, and they have bloomed hotter the fol¬ 
lowing year, and even for the two succeeding ones. 
After that time they should bo turned out of the pots, 
and planted into the open border for two years to recover 
strength. Fresh roots should bo taken up to succeed 
them. They were always greatly admired so treated. 
HESPERIS—ROCKET. 
From Hesperos, the evening star. The flowers scent 
the evening air. 
H. aprica (Exposed).—A rare species from Siberia. 
Flowers in May, growing only six inches high, with 
purple flowers. Increased by cuttings and division. 
H. excelsa (Lofty).—From Siberia, growing two feet 
high, with white flowers in May. Increased by division. 
H matron a lis (Matronly). — The Dame's Flower 
The Double White Rocket is well known, though the 
original varioty is almost lost. Near large towns it is 
destroyed by the smoke. There is a Double White Rocket 
that was brought from France about twenty years ago, 
that is much hardier and more easily propagated, but it 
is not so dense a spike, nor so pure a white, as the 
English oue, and, besides, that grows much taller and 
always branches, which detracts from its beauty, com¬ 
pared with the more dense spike of the original variety; 
the spiko of which has been likened to the cockade that 
foot soldiers wore in their caps. Cultivators that possess 
it would do a service to the lovers of beautiful white j 
flowers if they would propagate it freely, and make it I 
known that they have a stock to dispose of. 
There is also the Double Purple Rocket; and three 
years ago Messrs. Henderson, of St. John’s Wood, sent 
out one they called the Scarlet Rocket, which is a beau¬ 
tiful variety, with reddish-purple flowers. 1 saw all the 
four varieties in flower last May, in the garden of the 
Mayor of Macclesfield, John Smith, Esq. They were 
planted in beds sheltered by a low hedge, and made a 
splendid appearance ; but 1 thought the best were the 
original white and the scarlet varieties. All may be 
increased by cuttings of the flower-stems, planted in 
sand, on a shady border, or by slips, when they make 
any close to the root, slipped off, and planted in a similar 
way and place. 
H.repanda (Spread).—A distinct species, from Spain, 
growing two feet high, with pale purple flowers, in June. 
Increased by division. 
H. steciosa (Showy). — From the cold country of 
Siberia, growing six inches high, with rosy-purple I 
flowers appearing in April. Introduced about twenty 
years ago, but is yet very raro in gardens, which is a 
pity, for it is a little gem in early spring. Increases 
slowly by dividing the roots as soon as the flower fades. 
A small stock should always be kept in a cold frame 
through our changeable winters. These changes destroy 
this and many other plants from much colder latitudes, 
where the winter is constant and unremitting in cold, 
frost, aud snow. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued .) 
GREENHOUSE FERNS. 
(Continued from Pol. XII., page 400.) 
HYPOLEPIS. 
A genus of Ferns separated from Polypodium and 
Cheilanthes, by Mr Bernhardi. Name derived from 
hypo under, and lepia a scale, the seeds being partly 
covered by a scale. The genus may be distinguished 
by that character, and by the situation of the seed- 
vessels which are placed in the hollow, or sinus of the 
leaf. There is only one species in the genus in cultiva¬ 
tion that will thrive in the greenhouse. 
H. rugulosa (Rather rough).—From Van Dieman’s 
Laud. Fronds two feet high, thrice cut; pinnte lance¬ 
shaped ; seed-vessels round and covered with a scale. 
Rootstock very rough, with scales much lengthened 
and creeping. Increased readily by division. 
LITOBROCKIA. 
This is a remarkable genus of these elegant plants, 
the Ferns allied to P ter is, from having the seed-vessels 
in a line close to the margin of the leaf; for the deriva¬ 
tion, see Stove Ferns. 
L. VESPERTtLioNis (Bat-winged).—A handsome, fast¬ 
growing, New Holland Fern, of a bright, lively green. 
Fronds two feet high, green on the upper surface, and 
grey underneath, aud thrieo cut, with the pinnae of 
unequal lengths ; seed-vessels marginal, long aud 
narrow. Rbizoma creeps very fast, and by dividing it 
many plants may be made of an oldish plant. 
LOMARIA. 
This is a genus containing many species, aud they 
are chiefly suitable for the greenhouse; aud besides 
that, are generally of a moderate size, aud easy to 
cultivate. The name is derived from loma, a border; 
from the position of the seed-vessels. Here, again, is 
an affinity with Pteris ; the difference consists in the 
fertile frond being contracted, or turned up at the edges; 
this character distinguishes it also from Blcchnum. 
L. Alpina (Alpine).—From New Holland, and nearly 
hardy. Fronds of two kinds ; the fertile, or seed¬ 
bearing, grow six inches high ; the barren only four 
inches; hence the fertile ones are very conspicuous; 
they are of a lively green, aud both pinnated, it is a 
desirable species, and easily increased by dividing the 
rbizoma. I have grown this neat little Fern well in a 
Wardian case, aud also in a cold frame. 
L. alta (Tall).—Found plentifully in New Zeuland. 
Barren fronds two feet high, pale green, aud pinnated, 
or once cut, or divided; pinnae heart-shaped, with short 
stems. Fertile fronds also pinnate, two feet high; 
pinntB contracted, long and narrow. Stems covered 
with chaffy scales. Root-stock creeps slowly, hence it is 
slow to increase by division; but ii may be raised from 
seeds, or spores. 
L. attenuata (Attenuated, or Thiu).—A rather tender 
greenhouse species, from the Mauritius. It should have 
hut little water in winter, or it will perish. Fronds of 
both kinds pinnated; fertile ones a foot high; barren 
ones six inches taller; both slender - growing, or 
attenuated. The rbizoma sometimes grows erect, aud 
two feet high, with branches at the foot that creep. By 
this the species may be easily known. It is increased 
by cutting off oue of the creeping rhizomas. 
L. auriculata (Eared).—This is a remarkable Fern, 
from the Cape of Good Hope. I saw, this summer, 
throe or four line specimens in the Birmingham Botanic 
Gardens, placed behind a north wall, as a summer 
habitation. The fronds on them were, iu some in¬ 
stances, nearly two feet long. 1 know that most of our 
hardiest greenhouse Ferns would be much benefited if 
set out-of-doors, in a shady place, during the summer. 
Fronds of both kinds pinnate; the barren ones are 
lance-shaped, aud of a pleasing green; the others 
broader at the base, with the pinna) long, narrow, aud 
terminating with a sharp point. Very slow of increase; 
the root-stock does not creep, but sometimes sends out a 
branch at the base, which, when rooted, may be taken 
off, potted, aud placed under a hand-glass for a week or 
two, till it makes fresh roots and new fronds. 
L. Catensis (Cape of Good Hope). — Undoubtedly, 
this is the giant of the genus, growing three feet or 
more high. In fact, in some gardens, it is named 
L. gigantea. Sterile fronds, coarse and strong, dark- 
green, pinnated; piunro six inches long, wavy-edged, 
