THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, May 11, 1858. 
a barrowful of dried horse droppings ; these rub to 
pieces through a sieve. Finally, add the latter two ; and 
lastly, turn and mix the whole until it appears an uni¬ 
form mass. If not used off hand, let it be kept dry 
until wanted. 
Such is the mere “ finger and thumb ” mode by 
which I should manage the affair, for I fear even our 
celebrated chemists would prove but sorry hands at 
an artificial loam. It would be well, however, for the 
I experimentor first to obtain a handful or two of good 
, loam, and subject it to a water trial, stirring it well up 
| in a vessel, and allowing it to subside. This will, at 
least, enable him to form some idea of the proportion 
the organic matter bears to the inorganic. 
It. Eerington. 
I 
I _ 
1 
THE CULTURE OF FERNS. 
i 
Many correspondents are often asking for informa¬ 
tion how to proceed to grow Ferns. Such corres¬ 
pondents, I suppose, have not seen our first volumes, 
which contain very full information on the subject. 
For the sake of these new readers, and to give 
supplementary information, has become, therefore, 
necessary, for the cultivation of Ferns has increased 
tenfold. 
To succeed in this branch of horticulture perfectly, 
it is necessary, or, at least, desirable, to cultivate them 
in a house adapted to their culture. We have, in these 
high days of culture, separate houses for Orchids, 
Heaths, Geraniums, Camellias, New Holland plants, 
&c., and, in addition to these, I now frequently meet 
with houses devoted to Ferns alone. I do not insist, 
however, upon this point as absolutely necessary; 
for Ferns will grow with other plants in tolerable 
perfection. Stove Ferns, for instance, grow well 
amongst Orchids, and stove plants generally; but they 
do not associate perfectly even with those heat-loving 
plants; therefore, it is better, where it is possible, to 
devote a house to them exclusively. There is this 
difference in Ferns, to most other large divisions of 
plants, the greenhouse and hardy species will thrive and 
grow magnificently in the highest temperature, pro¬ 
ducing fronds such as are never seen out of doors in a 
wild state. Bearing this accommodating fact in mind, 
the amateur need not fear placing his British Ferns in 
the same house as the species he may obtain from the 
Indies. He may cultivate, in one house, Ferns from 
every quarter of the globe, providing the heat is suffi¬ 
cient for the tropical species ; for, though the natives 
of hot climates will not thrive well in a low tempera¬ 
ture, the species from cold climates will flourish in a 
much higher heat than their native wilds. 
In stating that the whole tribe of Ferns may be 
grown in one house, and in the same degree of tempe- 
| rature, I only mean, let it be understood, that the 
cultivator has only one house that he can spare for 
I them. Some may have ample room for separate places 
i for them—one for stove Ferns, another for greenhouse 
species, and a fernery out of doors for such as are 
perfectly hardy. In such a case, of course, the proper 
method to follow will be to grow them in those three 
groups. Some species of hardy Ferns, however, re¬ 
quire a very peculiar treatment, of which I shall treat 
more particularly hereafter. 
Ferns are distributed almost all over the globe. 
They are found in the hottest and the coldest climates. 
They grow on the highest mountains and in the mo¬ 
rasses of the plains. Some even grow in water and 
others on barren rocks ; whilst some few grow near 
waterfalls, loving to be bedewed constantly with the 
spray to keep them moist. I have even found some 
species growing luxuriantly within the mouths of old 
wells. Yet all may, by a very slight adaptation, be 
cultivated in, comparatively speaking, a small space of 
the globe. This is a great encouragement to an ardent 
cultivator, who is desirous of growing a large collection 
of these curious and singularly beautiful plants.- A 
good collection of Ferns, to a lover of plants, is as at¬ 
tractive and pleasing, if not more so, than any otlief 
tribe of plants, “ always excepting Orchids,” that I 
am acquainted with. 
I have hinted above that Lerns may be divided 
popularly into three groups, felating to the tempera- j 
ture they require ; that is, store,- greenhouse, and ! 
hardy. Under these divisions, then, I propose to give j 
the culture for each group ; and as the species that are 
hardy are such as can be most easily procured, either 
by collecting them from the native localities, of at a I 
less price than the exotic species from the dealers, 1 
will commence my remarks on their culture, first— 
IIARDY FERNS. j 
Culture in Pots. — The species that kvb foflnd hi j 
liigh situations, such, for instance, as the Aspleniuiii j 
irichomanes, should be well drained, and potted in 
sandy peat and loam, thoroughly mixed with broiett j: 
potsherds, or small stones — limestone is the best, j 
Whilst those which grow in damp places, such as 1 
Osmund a regalis, should be potted in strong Ioann 
Others that are found in shady woods, or banks, should 
have a free admixture of leaf mould, not too much 
decayed, added to the compost. The moisture-loving 
species should be plunged behind a wall, or low hedge, 
on the north side ; the others require a free exposure 
to the sun ; but the pots should always be plunged, to 
protect the roots from the burning rays of the siin. 
They should be repotted every year, in the spring, and 
be supplied with water as they require it. The size of ' 
the pots must be in proportion to the size of the plants. 
The Osmunda regalis, for instance, will require, when a 
good size, pots from ten to twelve inches diameter; 
whilst the small species, such as Allosorus crispus, 
will seldom need a pot more than six inches wide, even 
for the largest specimens. 
In the situation I have mentioned these hardy Ferns 
may remain all the year; but where there is that con¬ 
venience I would recommend them to be removed into 
a cold pit, or frame. In woods they are sheltered by 
the fallen leaves, or low shrubs; and the removing 
them into a winter shelter is a similar protection to 
them from the severe winter’s frost, and heavy snows 
or rains. 
The Trichomanes species a is, undoubtedly, a hardy 
Fern, but it grows near waterfalls ; and to grow it in j 
the open air, in pots, it should be planted in a wide, 
shallow pan, placed in the shade, covered with a bell 
or handglass, and kept sprinkled with water every day 
during the spring, summer, and autumn months. The i 
Tunbridge Wells Fern (Hymenophyllum Tun bridgense) 
requires a similar treatment. 
Culture in a Fernery.— A situation for a fernery j 
should be chosen in a retired spot, and should be 
formed by throwing up a mound of earth, and facing 
it on both sides with rocks and roots of trees ; or two 
banks of earth, faced similarly, and facing each other, 
with a walk between, would answer admirably. One 
bank should face the north, and the other the south. 
On the north side, near the base, the moisture-loving 
species should be planted, and higher up on the bank 
such as love shade. On the south bank, plant to¬ 
wards the base all that grow on hedge banks ; and 
towards the top, such species as inhabit mountainous 
rocks, old walls, &c. By these judicious arrangements, 
j nearly the whole hardy species may be grown suc- 
I cessfully in a comparatively-speaking small space of 
ground. Suitable soils for each species must be put 
