THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
March 6. 
43 1 
the evening. Whilst in the pit, I removed off the hand- 
lights, as the shade was quite sufficient to keep them 
from drying up too quickly. In this pit I have no 
doubt they would have done.well through the winter, 
but I wanted them to be seen, and so I removed them 
hack again into the stove, placing them at the north 
side, where no sun could reach them. I have but little 
hope that these delicate Eerns can bo grown in the open 
air, unless a similar situation can be had as that of 
their native locality. Such cultivators as do not possess 
a frame or pit, should placo them behind a low hedge or 
a wall, and keep a hand-light constantly over them, 
excepting in rainy weather, only bearing in mind that 
they are not aquatics, and will not exist long in a 
swamp; therefore, the place, however favourable in 
other respects, should have the surface covered with small 
stones, as well as being well undermined. 
TRICHOMANES EADICANS. 
('Rooting Tkiciiohanes.) 
So named by Swartz. Wildenow names it T. apeciosum, 
and R. Brown, T. brevisetum. This rare and beautiful 
Fern is a native of Ireland, and is generally known by 
Fern growers as “ the Irish Fern.” The generic name 
is “ Hair Fern,” derived from trichos hair, and mania 
excess; referring to the finely-divided fringe on the 
seed-cover of some species. 
Fronds triangular, many times divided, light greon, 
and almost transparent, growing nine inches high ; 
leaves generally entire, but sometimes cleft at the end ; 
stem of the frond covered with narrow scales; ribs of 
the leaf winged. Seed-vessels placed singly in the join¬ 
ing of the leaves. 
This elegant Fern is always in request with all Fern 
growers, but it is very difficult to cultivate. Like the 
preceding genus, it will not bear the dry exposure to sun 
and wind. It is frequently found growing at the mouth 
of moist grottoes. At the celebrated Waterfalls, near 
Kilkenny, it has boen seen growing very finely in 
the space on the rock behind the projecting sheet of 
water as it leaps over the rocky barrier. In such 
romantic scenes this lovely Fern clothes the moist rocks 
with its delicate membranous fronds. The question 
may well be asked, How are we to imitate such an 
atmosphere and situation, and so transplant and grow 
successfully a plant so peculiar in its requirements? 
At first sight it would seen almost impossible; but 
careful skill and perseverance conquer many difficulties. 
By applying extra heat and moisture, even this 
desirable and apparently dilficult-to-grow gem has been 
successfully cultivated. Witness the fine specimens that 
have been exhibited at the different metropolitan ex¬ 
hibitions. 
These specimens had been grown in a warm house, 
in pans, under a bell-glass. I have seen, also, good 
plants in a Wardian case. Dr. Pitman had, for several 
years, a good plant of it growing under a bell-glass in 
his study in Montague Place, Bedford Square, London. 
In all such places it may be grown. The only instance 
I ever saw of its thriving out-of-doors was at Rolleston 
Hall, Sir Oswald Moseley’s seat, in Derbyshire. It was, 
however, covered with a hand-light, and during the 
growing months was kept constantly moist. The worthy 
baronet had a bottle kept nigh it full of water, and every 
time he passed the place gave it a drink out of the 
bottle. The fronds of this plant, when I saw it in 
December last, looked fresh and healthy, and were 
evidently happy under his care. I trust these somewhat 
rambling remarks on the culture of thoso three delicate 
Ferns will be found useful, and will be a guide to such 
persons as may wish to grow them. T. Appleby. 
('To be continued,.) 
PLANTS IN ITALY. — EXPERIMENTS IN 
HYBRIDISING. 
It is a long while since I have had the pleasure of a 
little gardening gossip on paper, or otherwise, with you. 
Last winter I was in Rome and. the south of Italy, 
where I remained till called home, sorely against the 
grain, in April, to join my regiment, the N- 
Militia, in which I command a company, and now 
grow young corporals by way of Scarlet Geraniums, 
and practise drill husbandry exclusively. 
In Naples, I saw a great deal of good old Tenore. 
The talented old man is as fresh and enthusiastic as a 
boy in his beloved botanical pursuits. I picked up 
| much curious information, and many pretty and curious 
f seeds and plants. At Florence, I gathered the hardy 
| Opuntia in its wild habitat (vide Strangways), and 
within a few yards the corn fields were full of the 
pretty Glusius Tulip, white with purple eye. I dug up 
bulbs in flower, and kept them in a tin botanical case, 
which preserved the foliage green for some time. This 
ripened the bulbs, small but ripe. 
The Papyrus of Sicily, and the great Colocasia, would 
certainly be hardy in mild parts of England. The 
Papyrus grew away in my waters at W-, last 
summer; whether it will survive this winter I know 
not. On reading up a batch of Cottage Gardeners, 
the other day, which I had not had time to read before, 
I hit upon your mention of the Geranium seeds, and 
I this inspired me to write you a note. I once sowed a 
row of Green Peas to mystify an old-fashioned gardener, 
and he certainly did open his eyes when they came up, 
which they did, and, moreover, flowered and podded a 
few of them before the year was out. 
I got a few months gardening in the summer, and 
flowered a few seedlings. I crossed the curious, old 
Colvilles, double ami purple (Cucullatum breed, I think 
[Yes] ), by Anais. The seedlings were mostly as double . 
as the parent, with better colours; one I thought good 
enough to keep. Cucullatum by Anais produced much- 
improved flowers, deeply empurpled by the cross, and 
the habit rendered more stocky and floribund. Anais, 
crossed by Duke of Cormvall, produced very pretty, 
compact purples. One, I think, will be a prize. A rich, 
red-purplo, lower petals with large, suffused spots. It 
is, too, a prolific seeder, and I have a dozen plants up 
and growing of it. Self-seedlings of Anais came, some 
like the parent, others more like Victoria, and others 
of that class. I believe that all our modern fancies i 
came from Anais (and Queen Victoria), exceptions being 
the Yeatmanianas, and the dirty-faccd breed. Who 
raised Anais ? I saw it at a show at the Petit Triainon, 
in Paris, several years before Henderson got it. I think 
it was sent by Chauviere. 1 could not find the owner, 
or we should have fancies three years sooner than we 
had. (It is a French seedling, and the mother of j 
Ibrahim Pacha, without being a cross.) It is very odd 
that my lovely Sidonia colt will not strike by cuttings. 
(There are more like it in that respect). I left home, 
however, in September, and, perhaps, some may have 1 
yielded to my various experiments, in order to pro¬ 
pagate it. 1 got one root-cutting, but it died, and j 
my grafts failed. I seeded both the white and com¬ 
mon Unique, and left plants of them up. (We never could 
seed the white Unique.) A curious white new sort, 
called Virginium, seeds very freely. (We are very glad 
to hear it.) I crossed it with several sorts, and have 
seedlings up. I expect something from this. I am 
also at Fair Helen, at least, the wild Cape one; the 
seedlings came out all sorts of Helens, some with 
spots, some without, some with long, gaping petals, 
and some with short and compact; some, also, very 
deeply jagged, both top and bottom petals. (No 
Geranium varies in crossings more than Fair Helen, . 
