240 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[July 18. 
soil. He tlien laid upon the pots pieces of glass large 
enough to rest upon the edges and overhang them a 
little; this prevented evaporation; and he was rewarded 
by a plentiful crop. Some of the fronds had been 
collected several years, but it seems the seeds had the 
power to preserve their vitality. No doubt there were 
several species that never came up, but a sufficient 
number did make their appearance to reward him for 
his trouble. Our readers may inquire, “ Which of these 
methods are we to adopt ? ” The answer is, try them 
all, if convenient, and any other your ingenuity may sug¬ 
gest till you succeed. Bake the soil, to destroy the seeds 
of weeds, or you may be deceived and disappointed by 
having a worthless crop instead of the beautiful foreign 
ferns you may wish to succeed with. 
Species. —We subjoin a list of such of the most 
beautiful exotic ferns as may be procured at nurseries 
cultivating them for sale. There is a very good collec¬ 
tion at Pine Apple-place under our care. Such of our 
readers as may have connexions abroad would do wisely 
to desire their friends to collect fronds of ferns with ripe 
seeds on, to dry them, and pack them up between sheets 
of dry paper, inclosing the whole in a deal box, to be 
kept dry; and as soon as they arrive let the seeds be 
sown in some one or other of the methods we have 
described above. Living plants might be sent home in 
Wardian cases with great success. By these means 
new species of these elegant plants might be introduced. 
Average 
height. 
Name. Feet. 
Adiantum assimile .. l 
* ,, curvatum .. 14 .. 
* ,, continuum .. 2 .. 
* ,, cuneatum .. 1 .. 
* j j formosum .. 1 4 .. 
,, macrophylluml .. 
* ,, Inna turn - 4 . • 
,, lucens . J .. 
,, pubescens .. l .. 
* ,, pedatum .... 1 
3 .. 
Price, 
s. d . 
2 6 
5 0 
5 0 
I 
10 6 
3 6 
2 6 
2 6 
Average 
height. Price. 
Name. Feet. s. d. 
*Doodia attpera . 4 .. 3 (3 
,, rupestris .... 4 .. 1 6 
,, Kunthiana.. 2 .. 2 6 
* Gymnogrumma calo- 
melunos . 2 .. 3 6 
* ,, chrysophylla 1 .. 7 6 
,, ochracea .... 1 .. 2 6 
* ,, tartaric a .... l 5 0 
,, tomentosa ..2 .. 7 6 
* ,, dealbata.... 1 .. 5 0 
Hemionitis palmata .. 4 .. 3 6 
,, rhomboideum 1 
5 
0 
Lastroeu eburnea .... 
2 . 
10 
6 
* ,, tenerum .... 14 • 
5 
0 
,, paludosa.... 
Lindscca linearis .... 
G • 
5 
0 
* ,, trapeziforme 2 . 
5 
0 
3 • 
7 
6 
* ,, villosum .... 1 . 
Aspidium mucronatum 2 . 
5 
0 
,, falcata . 
3 • 
7 
6 
7 
6 
*Litobrockia lepto - 
,, serra . 2 . 
5 
0 
phylla . 
14. 
5 
0 
* ,, indivisum ..3 . 
7 
6 
,, denticulata .. 
4 ■ 
5 
0 
yy villosum .... 3 . 
10 
6 
Lumaria attenuata .. 
3 • 
5 
0 
,, auriculum .. 1 
5 
0 
,, Puttersonii .. 
4 • 
3 
6 
* Allantodia axillaris.. 
,, australis.... 
Anemia flexuosa .... 
,, fruxinifolia 
Asplenium ebeneum.. 
,, bulbiferum.. 1 
falcatum .... 2 
u.. 
4 •• 
Jlabelliforme 
molle . 
prcemosum.. 
palmatum .. 
nidus avis .. 
Shepherd'd 
4 
2 .. 
14 .. 
1 .. 
2 .. 
1 .. 
3 6 
5 0 
5 0 
3 6 
2 6 
5 0 
5 0 
3 6 
rhizophyllum 2 
4 •• 
6 
5 0 
5 0 
15 0 
5 0 
10 6 
3 6 
7 *> 
3 6 
3 6 
2 6 
21 0 
Blechnum australe 
* ,, brasiliense .. 2 
,, gracile . 1 
,, triatigulare 4 
,, Occident ale.. 1 
*Cassebeera furinosa 1 
*Cheilianthes lendigera 1 
,, micromcra .. 4 
„ prof us a 
,, repens . 3 
,, viscosa .... 1 
* ,, vcstita . 1 
,, tenera . 
*Camoptcris ticutaria 1 
* ,, vivipara .... 1 
Cibotium Barometz .. 2 
Davallia canarietisis 1 
* ,, elegans .... 2 
Darea odontites . 1 
* ,, diversifolia.. 14 
* Dic/csoniu ant arc tic a 6 
* ,, davallioides .. 2 .. 5 
Diplazium dccussatum 1 .. 2 
,, plantagineum 14 .. 10 
4 •• 
4 .. 
10 
5 
3 
5 
5 
5 
7 
3 
5 
5 
2 
10 
2 
21 0 
21 0 
0 
6 
6 
Lygodium palmatum climbing ^ 6 
* ,, scandens - do. 5 0 
* Lycopodium circinale 4 • • 3 6 
* ,. cuspidatum ^ 5 0 
* ,, caesium .... 4 •• 2 6 
,, arboreum (very 
elegant) . 12 
,, jiabulare .... 2 
,, schottii .... 4 
,, denticulatum 4 
* ,, stoloniferum 1 
,, plumosum .. 4 
* ,, Wildenovii.. 1 
+ ,, umbrosum.. 2 
Meniscium palustre .. 2 
*Nephrodium decom- 
positum . 4 
,, exaltatum .. 3 
,, ottonis . 3 
,, pectinatum .. 2 
0 6 
3 6 
5 0 
1 6 
1 6 
Niphobolus pertusus creeping 3 
,, rupestris .... do... 3 
,, sinetisis .... 4 • • 3 
*Nothochla:na sinuata 14 
,, nivea . 4 
,, di stuns . 4 
,, trichomanoides 4 
Olfersia ccrvina . 2 
Platyloma falcata .... 1 
,, subverticillata 1 
Physematium molle .. 2 
Polypodium aureum .. 3 
,, effusunt .... 3 
,, neriifolium .. 2 
* ,, pectinatum. . 2 
,, phymatodes 1 
„ sepultum .... 4 
6 
6 
0 
6 
6 
6 
6 
21 0 
10 6 
5 0 
5 0 
7 6 
3 6 
3 0 
5 
2 
5 0 
5 0 
5 
3 
0 
6 
10 6 
Average 
Average' 
height. 
Price. 
height. 
Price. 
Name. 
Feet. 
s. 
d. 
Name. Feet. 
s . 
d. 
Polystichum drepanum 4 • • 
3 
6 
* Pteris marginata .. 4 •• 
2 
6 
* ,, proliferum 
.. 1 .. 
5 
0 
* ,, rotundifulia 4 •• 
3 
6 
Pteris chinensis _ 
.. J4 .. 
3 
e 
* ,, sagittafolia 3 ., 
5 
0 
* ,, collina.... 
.. J .. 
5 
0 
jf ,, pedata . 1 .. 
5 
0 
,, cretica .... 
.. 1 .. 
7 
6 
,, palmata .... 1 .. 
7 
6 
,, hetcrophylla 1 .. 
5 
0 
,, trcmula .... 2 .. 
2 
6 
,, ha statu .. 
.. iJ .. 
2 
6 
,, vespertilionis 24 .. 
3 
6 
,, latifolia 14 • • 
5 
0 
* Platycerium grande 24 .. 
42 
0 
,, lata . 
.. 14 .. 
5 
0 
,, acrostichioidesS .. 
5 
0 
,, longifolia 
2 
6 
Woodwardia radicans 14 •• 
3 
e 
This may seem a numerous list, but there are in cul¬ 
tivation a great number more; they are either very high 
priced or in private collections, and, therefore, not 
come-at-able. The garden at Kew is exceedingly rich in 
these elegant plants. We have marked with an * the 
most beautiful species in our list. 
FLORISTS’ FLOWERS. 
Dahlias. —These splendid autumnal flowers will now 
require every due attention to briug their blooms to the 
greatest possible perfection. Unlike most other florists’ 
flowers they will bear almost any quantity of stimulating 
food. The stronger the plant the larger and finer will 
the blooms be. A good mulching of very rotten dung, 
covering a space of half-a-yard all round each plant, will 
be beneficial, whether the season be dry or wet; if dry, 
the mulching prevents evaporation from the soil; and if 
wet, the rains wash down the nutritive properties of 
the manure, and encourage the growth of the plants. 
Watering iu dry weather with liquid manure also will 
be useful. Every care must be taken that each branch 
is properly secured by stakes and ties, to prevent the 
autumn winds or heavy rains from breaking them down. 
Thin the branches so as to throw strength into the 
flower-bearing ones; the flowers, too, should be thinned, 
in order that such as are left may have every advantage 
of sun, light, and air. As soon as the flowers begin to 
expand they will require shading and protecting from 
sun and rain; the best shade we ever saw was formed 
of a small square box, glazed on three sides, and the 
top, bottom, and back of wood. These were fastened 
firmly to a stake; a slit was sawn half way across the 
bottom; one of the glass sides was hung on a hinge, 
the flower was brought within the box and fastened 
securely, the window closed, and the flower was thus 
effectually protected from sun, wind, and rain, and also 
from insects. These shades are rather expensive, but 
with care they will last several years. 
Ranunculus. —As soon as the leaves decay the tubers 
should be taken up immediately, because if rain fall iu 
abundance they will be very apt to put forth new roots, 
and in time will commence growing again above the 
surface; this would be a very unhappy circumstance, as 
it would weaken the growth and bloom next year; re¬ 
collect this, and take up directly the leaves are turned 
yellow and dead. Should any of the stalks be bearing 
seed it should be carefully gathered before the wind 
blows it away. In taking up the tubers be careful not 
to bruise them; lay them in a dry place where the 
sun will shine upon them only two or three hours each 
day. As soon as they arc quite dry clean them and put 
them in drawers for the winter, till the planting time 
arrives again. 
Tulips ought to be also all now in winter quarters. 
We shall shortly notice the necessary work to be done 
at the beds in which the ranunculus and tulip have 
grown this season. T. Appleby. 
