62 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
October 24. 
a fine luxuriant bed of Rhododendron Mrsiltum, a most 
singular ease of a threefold union, in what seemed to be 
a Lucombe Oak, the stem having separated into two 
divisions, joined again after a distance of some two feet, 
separated and joined a second and third time ; and a 
magnificent Horse Chestnut, near to what had been the 
principal lake, now the Rhododendron ground; the 
diameter of the head, as near as I could make it out, 
■ being twenty-seven yards one way, and twenty-eight the 
opposite way, and which will be ever memorable while 
it carries leaf at Althorpe, as beneath its far-spreading 
branches the mother of the present Karl entertained the 
French, stationed at Northampton, in 1798. 
Beneath the dense shade of the lame and other 
avenues no grass would grow so as to form neat edg¬ 
ings to the walks; but I was told, these bare places now 
were a perfect blaze in spring with the Winter Aconite 
and Other early-flowering bulbs. In such places, where 
there are no bulbs, where Laurels, however treated, are 
too large and rampant, a beautiful green carpet is formed 
all the season over by using the larger, and especially 
the lesser, kinds of Vinca, or Periwinkle. R. Fite. 
( To be continued.) 
GREENHOUSE FERNS. 
(Continued from page 24.) 
NOTHOCLbENA. 
The Greenhouse species belonging to this genus are 
amongst the loveliest of the tribe; they are also like 
Cheilanthes, somewhat tender and impatient of wet 
over the leaves. I have found them thrive best placed 
on a shelf, about a foot from the glass, kept moist 
in summer and rather drier in winter. The soil should 
be rough sandy peat, and half-decayed leaves, freely 
mixed with silver sand. 
N. distans (Distant).-—So called from the pinnte 
being wide apart. A delicate New Holland Peru, of 
considerable beauty. Fronds bipinnate, or twice-cut, 
growing six inches long; pinnules opposite and distant; 
pinnae without stems and hairy. All the stems are 
thickly covered with scales; seed-vessels placed on the 
margins of the leaves. Increased by dividing the 
creeping rhizoma. 
N. lanuginosa (Woolly). — From Madeira. Fronds 
covered with fine, woolly hair, the underside quite 
brown, bipinnate, growing six inches high ; the pinnte 
are almost round, except the end one, which is lobed, or 
hollowed, as it were, into two or three parts. Seed- 
vessels circular, and placed at the end ot the pinnte. 
Increased slowly by dividing the slow-creeping root-stock. 
! N. vestita (Clothed).—A nearly hardy North American 
Fern. Fronds bipinnate, five inches high; pinnte 
I roundish, and thickly set on the mid-rib; the whole 
plant is densely clothed with rather long hairs, very 
conspicuous even to the naked eye. J have had this 
Fern exist through a mild winter, plunged in coal 
! ashes, behind a low west wall; but in a very severe 
I winter in perished. It is safe in a good greenhouse, if 
treated carefully. Every one of the above species are 
. very elegant plants, and will try the skill of the best 
cultivator. 
Derived from onudiion , a little claw; divisions of the 
fronds resembling a claw. 
I formerly grew this Fern under the name of Ccenop- 
teris Japohica ; it is now made a separate genus. There 
is only one species in cultivation, and it is a very elegant 
one. I find it quite hardy enough for greenhouse 
temperature. 
O. luciduji (Shining).—Native of various parts of 
the East. Fronds slender, and of two kinds, fertile and 
barren, both forming almost a triangle; the fertile fronds j 
grow three or four inches longer than the barren ones ; 
the latter are a foot long, bright green, and finely 
divided ; seed-vessels small, hut when magnified may 
lie seen in clusters between the mid-rib and the margin ; 
when nearly ready to burst they are spread out, almost 
covering the underside of the pinme. Easily increased 
by dividing the creeping rhizoma. 
PLATYLOMA. 
From phtiys, broad, and lotna, margin ; the seed- 
vessels are placed broadly on the margins of the leaves. 
Allied to Pteris. 
P. atiiopurpurea (Dark purple) —Though this elegant 
Fern is a native of North America, it is not hardy 
enough to bear our winters ; hut thrives well in a good 
greenhouse. Fronds ten inches high, bipinnate ; pinme 
bluntly oval, and heart-shaped at the base; the end 
one lengthened out; colour a purplish-green, hence the \ 
specific name; seed-vessels continued on the margin, 
forming a broader hand than the Pteridii. Increased, 
but slowly, by dividing the slow, creeping-rhizoma. A ( 
very beautiful Fern, easy to grow, and ought to be in 
every collection. 
P. cordata (Heart-shaped).— A Mexican, beautiful 
Fern Fronds bipinnate, delicate, and erect, growing a 
foot-and-a-half high ; pinnte halbert or heart-shaped, i 
with a sharp point, beautiful light green, and hairy; 
stems light brown; seed-cases lance-shaped, and con- | 
tinned on the margin. Increased by dividing the thick, 1 
scaly, creeping root-stock This species loses its leaves I 
in winter and should then be kept only just moist ; 
enough to keep the roots alive. 
P. falcata (Sickle-shaped).—A rather tall Fern, from 
New Holland. Fronds pinnate and lance-shnped, two 
feet high, growing nearly upright; pinnte oblong, 1 
suddenly coming to a. point, heart-shaped at the base, j 
but sickle-shaped upwards; dull green and leathery; I 
seed-case long and narrow, placed transversely on the ; 
leaf, thus forming a broad belt close to the margin. 
Steins scaly. Increased by dividing the creeping root- 
stem. 
P. Rotondifolia (Round-leaved). From New Zealand. 
Fronds pinnated, growing a foot or moro long, and 
reclining. I never saw them, however strongly grown, 
stand upright; pinnte, or leaves, nearly round, stout, 
and dark green, and slightly hollowed out at the edges. 
Seed-cases linear, placed across the leaf, forming a broad 
margin. Stems covered with brown scales. Increased 
readily by dividing the creeping root-stock. This is 
also a most desirable Fern, and thrives well in a 
Wardian ease. 
P. sagittata (Arrow-shaped).—An erect growing South 
American Fern, of great beauty. Fronds bipinnate, 
the lowest, the longest, and gradually shortening to the 
apex, forming a triangle; growing sometimes two feet 
high ; pinnules, or side branches, silvery-green, having 
short stems, and lance-heart-shaped, with the margin 
contracted so much that they become arrow-shaped. 
Seed-cases narrow, forming a broad margin. Increased 
by dividing the creeping root-stock. 
PTERIS. 
The most familiar name of all the genera of Ferns, 
with, perhaps, the exception of Polypodium. There 
are a few handsome species that belong to our division 
of greenhouse Ferns. 
1*. arguta (Sharp-notched).—Native of Madeira, the 
Canary Islands, and St. Helena. Fronds three feet 
loii£, spreading, and triangular in form, many times 
divided, and of a pale green colour; pinnae bluntly 
oblong, and sharply cut at the edges. Leaf-stems a 
foot or more long, and of a rich brown colour; seed- 
