October 24. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
63 
cases narrow, and close to the margin. Increased easily 
by dividing the creeping rhizoma. This fine species 
requires a large space to show off its large, beautiful 
fronds. 
P. Crettca (Cretan). — Though found in the Isle of 
Crete, this Fern is widely spread in various parts of the 
globe. It has been found in the East and West Indies, 
in China, and in Southern Europe. It will, however, 
grow in a greenhouse, but should be kept at the 
warmest end in winter. Fronds pinnate, a foot or more 
high, and of a beautiful lively green; pinnae of the 
fertile fronds narrow, and very long ; of the barren ones, 
long lance-shaped, with the lowest pair often divided in 
the centre. Stems light coloured. Increased slowly by 
dividing the slow creeping rbizoma. 
P. Ktngiana (Capt. Ring's).—Found in Norfolk Island 
only. Fronds partly hi pinnate, two feet high, and 
rather spreading; pinnar long lanceshaped, hanging 
! down with sharp eut edges. Increased by dividing the 
j short rhizoma. 
P. tremui.a (Shaking).—A common New Zealand 
Fern. Fronds many times divided, spreading, growing 
two or three feet long; pinnae broadly line-shaped, and 
hollowed out at the edges. I find this very handsome 
free-growing Fern springs up from seed freely on the 
soil, in the pots, wherever it grows, till its seeds are 
scattered. 
P. umbrosa (Shading).—This handsome Fern is very 
common in New South Wales. Fronds two feet high, 
bipinnate on the lower part of the frond, and only 
pinnate on the upper. Fertile pinnee are remarkably 
long, often as much as ten inches. Sterile fronds 
shorter, and deeply cut throughout. Increased by 
dividing the creeping rhizoma. 1'. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
EARLY-FLOWERING BORDER PLANTS. 
(Continued from puye 23 .) 
HENCHERA. 
A genus of pretty-flowering, hardy, herbaceous plants, 
all flowering in May, and all natives of North America. 
; The name is given in honour of Mr. Hencher, a Pro¬ 
fessor of Botany, and a German. 
Henchera Americana (American).—Grows a foot 
high, with purple flowers Increased by dividing the 
plants iu spring. 
H. glabra (Smooth).—Colour pink; growing nine 
inches high. Increased by division. 
IL hispida (Bristly).—This is the tallest of the genus, 
growing rapidly in spring till it attains three feet high; 
colour rich purple Increased by division. 
LI. Menziezii (Mr. Menzies’s).—This species has 
white flowers ; growing about a. foot high. 
1 LI. pubescens (Downy).—A better specific distinction 
j would have been bicolor (Lw r o-coloured), as it is the only 
■ one with two colours, pink and violet; growing a foot 
high. 
j LI. pi i,os a (Hairy).—This grows only six inches high, 
i with pretty violet flowers. 
The border for these little-known plants should have 
a mixture of peaty, sandy soil, w r ell mixed with tba 
1 common soil of the border. I have found that the 
greater part of the herbaceous plants from North America 
do better in a compost of the above kind than in our 
common loam; leaf-mould and sand is, however, a good 
1 substitute where sandy peat is scarce. 
HIERACEUM—HAWKWEED. 
This is a very large genus of herbaceous plants, many 
of which are mere weeds, yet there are a few worth 
i keeping on account of their easy culture and bright- 
j coloured flowers. 
LTteracf.um angustifot.ium (Narrow-leaved).—Native 
of Switzerland; growing four inches high; yellow flowers, 
appearing iu May. Increased by division. 
H. aurantiacum (Orange).—Native of woods in Scot¬ 
land. This species throws out runners like a Strawberry, 
every one of which produces a spike, or rather an 
umbell of flowers a foot high, of a bright orange colour, 
appearing in June. This, I think, would make a good, 
early, yellow bed, because the colour is good, and it lasts 
a long time in flower. Increased very fa 9 t by its 
runners. There is a variety with yellow flowers, a native 
of Switzerland. 
H. croceum (Saffron).—A native of Siberia, with 
copper-coloured flowers; growing a foot high; flowering 
in June. Increased by division. 
H. cymosum (Cymose).—A creeping plant, native of 
various parts of Europe, with pretty yellow flowers 
in May ; growing a foot high. Increased by division. 
H. incarnatum (Flesh-coloured).—Native of Cnrniola, 
with pink flowers, many on a stem ; growing a foot-aud- 
a-half high ; flowering in June. Increased by division. 
H. pilosella (Mouse-ear).—Native of Britain. 1 
mention this common plant, because I saw it made use j 
of as a bedding-out plant in the gardens of John Smith, 
near Macclesfield. I was assured, that in May it was 
very effective, the plants covered the soil of the bed 
entirely with thin, silvery, soft, mouse-ear-like leaves, 
and their clear pale yellow flowers, about four inches 
high, looked very neat and beautiful, proving that there 
are many plants we never think of that afford us excellent 
and novel combinations of colour, in leaf and flower, if 
we would only make tise of them. 
H. STATiciFOi.iUM (Statice - leaved). — A European 
plant; growing a foot-aud-a-haif high, with bright yellow 
flowers in June. Increased by division. 
H. verascifolium. —From Italy; growing a foot-and 
a half high, with yellow flowers, iu June. Increased by 
division. 
Most of these plants may be increased by seed also, 
gathered as soon as it is ripe, and sown immediately in the 
open border, and, when large enough, transplanted; they 
will bloom the succeeding season. 
HIPPOCRKPIS. 
From hippos, a horse, and crepis, a shoe; the seed- 
pods of the genus resemble a horse-shoe. (Many of the 
leguminous plants have curiously-formed seed pods, and 
have been named horns, snails, and caterpillars, on 
account of their forms resembling such insects.) This 
genus, Hippocrepis, contains a few pretty early-flowering 
plants, with beautiful pinnated foliage, and rather showy 
pea-shaped blossoms. They all trail on the ground, but 
do not strike root; but may be increased by layers, 
cuttings in sand under a hand-light, and by seeds. They 
are excellent for covering naked banks or rockwork. 
Hippocrepis comosa (Tufted).—Native of Britain, 
but not common. L’lowers yellow, growing on short 
stems, three or four inches high ; appearing in April. 
II. GtAucA (Silvery-green).—Native of the Italian Alps. 
Flowers yellow; half-a-foot-high ; appearing in May. 
II. Helvetica (Swiss).—From Switzerland; with 
yellow flowers, and not more than three inches high ; 
appearing in May. A neat, pretty species. 
HOUSTONIA. 
A commemorative name in honour of Dr. Houston, an 
English botanist. The plants iu this genus are very 
lovely when in bloom, but are rather tender; hence, 
duplicates should be kept in pots, and placed under a 
cold frame through the winter. They should havo 
abundance of air on all favourable occasions, as they are 
impatient of damp, especially the ccerulca. 
Houstonia albifi.ora (White flowered). — North 
America; growing halt'-a-foot high; and blooming in 
May. Increased by division. 
