THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND CO L NTRY GENTLEMAN, August 21, 1860. 
317 
right to be made as wise as you are yourself, without ever 
dreaming of yielding you the slightest acknowledgment in return. 
Men who would look black as thunder if you intruded into their 
office on some trifling business at a busy period, will present 
themselves at the garden-gate at any and at all times, and think 
themselves rather badly used if the gardener should not meet 
them with the blandest looks, though their trifling recreation 
should cost him some hours of toil and sleep afterwards when 
they are enjoying themselves. Many gardeners are finding this 
free use of them by the public to be rather more than an un¬ 
pleasantness. But men who submit to all this are not likely to 
refuse to give information to a man working under them, when 
that is sought in a modest and respectful manner. I may be 
wrong; but as a single feather will tell the direction of the wind, 
so I have rather feared that the reason why the information was 
not given might be owing to “Joe’s” assumed importance, or 
want of scholar-like bearing; and no man cares, and that without 
fee or reward, to give information to another who already in his 
own estimation knows so much. Now to the questions. 
1st. Different gardeners have different modes. For common 
purposes nothing is better than common figures. For cutting on 
wood Loudon and others advise different plans, which will be 
found in gardening books. 
2nd. When you have mastered our little books, “ Gardening 
for the Many,” “ Window Gardening,” “ The Greenhouse,” &e.,' 
we will then advise you further. 
3rd. All the Brugmansias have long tubular flowers. Had 
you mentioned the colour it would have been some guide. 
4th. Wash the Fuchsia seeds from the berry, dry and save in 
a dry place, and sow in spring. 
5th. The Cucumbers have got a disease. This has been a bad 
season for Cucumbers. Next year, use seed from a distance, and 
thoroughly fresh soil, without a particle that has been near the 
place before, and wash with lime, and repaint your pits and 
frames. 
peculiar habit, being unlike every other Fern, and the pretty 
colour of its fronds and stems, make it well worth growing. A 
good specimen of it is really a beautiful object. It may now be 
obtained at a low price; for it has been a long time introduced, 
and comes freely from spores. 
Doryopteris sagittifolia. J. Sm. (Synonyme —Pteris 
sagittifolia, Eadd. Litobrochia sagittifolia, Prest.) Fronds 
strap-shaped, sagittate at the base, and acuminate at the point 
(so as to be in form like a lengthened arrow), about a foot long, 
of a bright glossy green, paler beneath, coriaceous. Most of the 
fronds are fertile, having the sori running along the whole edge 
of the frond. The indusium is formed by the reflexed mem¬ 
branous margin of the frond. There is a moderately thick mid¬ 
rib, the veins are nearly all uniform in thickness and reticulated, 
so as to form a network of long meshes. Stipes (as well as the 
I midrib) ebenous— i.e., black and shining, as in the Maiden-hair 
Ferns. The fronds are produced in tufts from a creeping rhizome. 
The glossy fronds of this beautiful Fern make it a general 
favourite. "Unfortunately, it is/very subject to the attacks of 
green fly and thrips ; but these^ are easily kept under by a slight 
syringing with a solution of the Gishurst Compound, washed off 
again before it is allowed to dry; or by occasional fumigation 
with tobacco. These insects will not be found very troublesome 
unless the plant be grown in too strong a heat. It is a Brazilian 
Fern, and may be propagated by division. The name is derived 
from words meaning “The Spear-headed Fern.”— Kael. 
NOTES ON FERNS. 
Poeystichum anomaeum. J. Sm. (Synonyme —Polypodium 
anomalum , Hook, et Arn). Fronds eighteen inches long, broadly 
ovate-lanceolate, bi-pinnate, coriaceous, dark green. Pinnce 
lanceolate, acuminate, the pinnules serrated. Veins free, forking, 
the upper veinlet bearing the sorus upon its apex. The sori are 
almost universally produced upon the upper surface of the frond; 
in many specimens which I have examined I have observed no 
attempt to produce them on the under side. The sori are usually 
naked, but occasionally, if examined while young, a small, 
deciduous, filmy indusium will be observed. The stipes (which 
is about a foot long), and rachis covered with deciduous chaffy 
scales, which are of a bright brown colour. 
All who have seen this Fern, unite in saying that it is the 
most singular and remarkable member of the family. We often 
hear of single instances in which the sori are produced upon the 
upper side of the frond, as in Asplenium trichomanes, and some 
of the curious varieties of Scolopendrium ; but this is the only 
instance within our knowledge of a plant which does so uni¬ 
versally, and as its usual mode of operation. Many persons now 
study this elegant tribe of plants in a botanical point of view, 
and to all such it will be a most interesting and curious object. 
It requires stove treatment, being a native of Ceylon. From 
that island it was sent a few years ago by Mr. Tkwaites, the 
persevering Director of the Botanic Gardens of Peradinia, to the 
Eoyal Gardens, Kew. It is at present one of the rarest of Ferns, 
and has hardly found its way yet into the nurserymen’s catalogues. 
Peemia FLEXUOSA. Fee. (Synonyme —AUosorus flexuosus, 
Kaulf. Pteris Jtexvosa, Hook. Platyloma flexiwsa, J. Sm.) 
Fronds three or four feet long, flexuose, and sub-scandent; bi- 
or even tri-pinnate, the ultimate divisions of the frond are thrown 
off at the angles of the zigzag rachis, and have usually three or 
five pinnules. These are ovate, somewhat cordate at the base, 
stalked, and articulated with the rachis. Veins free and forking.’ 
Sori continuous, protected by the reflexed margin of the frond. 
Rachis covered with fine yellowish down. Rhizome creeping, and 
producing the fronds in tufts from its apex. 
A native of Peru and Mexico, where it is often seen scrambling 
over low bushes. It is scarcely to be called a climbing Fern ; 
but it requires a slight trellis, to which the fronds may be fastened, 
for they are extremely brittle and easily broken. It should be 
grown in a cool greenhouse; if the thermometer does not fall 
below 40° in winter that will be found sufficient for it. Its 
GREENHOUSE ORCHIDS. 
(Continuedfrom page 298.) 
i Summer Treatment. —During this period these plants should 
be encouraged by a liberal supply of moisture and heat, in order 
to make their growths. Those on blocks of wood should be well 
syringed on the evenings after a sunny day. In dull weather a 
slight sprinkling in the morning only should be given. If 
severely syringed in such weather, there is great danger of damp¬ 
ing off the young shoots and leaves. On this point, therefore, 
the amateur must exercise his best judgment; for though, on the 
one hand, Orchids require plenty of moisture when in a growing 
state, yet if, as is often the case in our climate, there succeed 
several days in succession that are of a rainy damp character, the 
giving water then is not needed—at least not in abundance. 
Water at the roots of such as are grown in pots and baskets 
should be regulated by a similar rule—-that is, water most freely 
in hot dry weather, but more gently in dark dull weather. The 
proper application of water is of the greatest consequence to these 
plants. In watering, when the growths are very young, pour the 
water on out of a very small spout round the edge of the pot, 
only avoiding to wet the plants in the centre. When the new 
pseudo-bulbs are swelling freely, then water may be given more 
plentifully. 
Air-giving .—In summer air should be given to these hardy 
Orchids freely. In fact, day and night in warm weather the 
temperature of the open air will generally be amply sufficient for 
them during June, July and August. In cold nights in the 
early and later months, the heat of the day may be economised 
by shutting up the house early in the afternoon, and not giving 
air so soon in the morning. In fact, the same heat as wiE suit a 
common Geranium or Fuchsia in a growing state wiE be amply 
sufficient for the Orchids comprised in the list below. 
Orchids in baskets should be often examined; and if found 
dry in the centre they should be dipped in tepid water till the 
soil is thoroughly saturated. Weeds and insects during this 
season abound most, and should be extirpated diligently. The 
entire area of the house should also be kept sweet and clean—no 
decaying vegetable matter should be left in any corner or out-of- 
the-way place in the house. The above points of culture during 
summer are such as apply to such species as grow on blocks, in 
baskets, and in pots, and belong to the grand division named 
epiphytal —growing on trees. The other division— terrestrial , 
require during summer a similar treatment as to air-giving and 
syringing; but in watering, when they are growing freely, an 
addition of an occasional watering with liquid manure will add 
largely to the size of the foliage and bulbs : therefore let that be 
given to them say once a-week. 
Towards the end of the summer, less water from any source 
must be given, gradually reducing the quantity. The end to be 
aimed at is, to get them to rest by the time the leaves begin to 
faU from the trees out of doors. I have sometimes and with 
some sorts, placed them out of doors in dry weather, in order to 
