June 26, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
679 
number of exactly similar plants have appeared which 
have been extremely different from the parent. I had 
a very dwarf and congested form of Blechnum spicant, 
raised from B. s. strictum of Barnes, of which I am in¬ 
formed by the raiser fifteen plants made their appearance, 
yet no one would credit the parent with such offspring 
unless on the very best evidence. A still more remark¬ 
able case occurred some short time back amongst my own 
sowings. I sowed spores from a very finely cut form of 
plumose Athyrium (A. F. -f. plumosum elegans, Parsons) 
of purely normal outline, yet among a large batch of 
plants only one resembled the parent ; the whole of the 
rest were heavily crested on tips of frond and pinnse, 
most of them symmetrically, but some were irregular. 
As the sowing was a very special and unmixed one and 
duly registered, and as, moreover, I have never sown 
spores from a plant similar to the resulting ones, I am 
quite sure of their origin. They all, moreover, possess 
the plumose character of the parent. 
It is a well-known fact that Ferns otherwise normal 
develope occasionally some local eccentricity which is 
liable to affect the spores borne in its immediate 
vicinity. There is, for instance, a very finely crested 
Gymnogramma (G. Laucheana grandiceps) raised by 
Messrs. Dixon, of Hackney, some years ago, and the 
raiser informed me that upon an ordinary plant of G. 
Laucheana he noticed the tip of one of the pinnse was 
merely dilated, and as it bore some sori he sowed 
it, the result being a house full of densely crested 
plants. It has, therefore, suggested itself to me that 
many of the varieties found may originate in a similar 
way, though this of course does not detract one iota 
from the singular transformation of the germ which 
must precede the appearance of the transformed plant. 
It is also manifest from the case of the plumose Athy¬ 
rium just described that the abnormality is by no 
means necessarily visibly shown in the parent. The 
most common form of variation is that of Cristatum, 
varying from merely division of the tip of the frond to 
an indefinate ramification of parts forming a ball like 
Athyrium F.-f. acrocladon. The other forms are 
enumerated, but may be roughly classed under the 
following heads—Depauperation, the extreme form of 
which is the reduction of the plants to mere mid-ribs ; 
Dwarfing, implying merely reduction in size ; Con¬ 
gestion, where the spaces between the divisions are so 
reduced that the parts more or less densely overlap and 
crowd each other ; Plumation, which is generally 
accompanied by partial or entire absence of spores, and 
which consist in a greater foliaceous development, 
apparently produced at the expense of the spores. 
Several of these classified eccentricities may be con¬ 
joined in one and the same plant, as, for instance, in 
L. F.-m. angustata cristata congesta, where the 
ordinary lanceolate frond of the male Fern is nar¬ 
rowed to about an inch in width, is extremely con¬ 
gested and finally crested, this being, I believe, the 
result of three separate sports ; first a natural wild 
sport, viz., the crested but otherwise normal form, 
a spore of which gave a narrowed form from which, 
I believe (though I have not its history), the congested 
form was raised. Besides these classified forms of 
varieties, there are hundreds which can only be ranked 
as oddities ; such as, for instance, the cornute forms 
which have arisen in several families, where the midrib 
is suddenly extended from the surface of the frond, 
like a Thorn; the proliferous forms, where young plants 
bud out in the most unexpected places ; the serpentine 
forms, where the ordinary shuttlecock shape is resolved 
into a sort of Medusa’s head, each frond coiling away 
from the crown and twirling about like a snake. Mr. 
G. B. Wollaston has a Polystichum answering this 
description exactly. Then there are the marginate 
forms, where regular ridges are developed on either side 
of the frond ; pocilliform and truncate varieties, where 
the frond suddenly stops and developes a pocket, and 
so on ad libitum. 
With regard to proliferation, I should like here to 
record the fact that in my collection I have recently 
found a seedling Lastrea dilatata bearing a young plant 
on the first frond evolved from the prothallus. A plant 
of Asplenium adiantum nigrum var. microdon has de¬ 
veloped a young plant in the axil of one of the pinnae. 
So far as I know proliferation has not been recorded in 
connection with either of these species. 
Having drawn your attention thus to the main forms 
of variation to which Ferns are subject, and some of the 
peculiarities attending their occurrence, I will reserve 
further observations on the subject until after the dis¬ 
cussion.— C. T. Druery. 
Scottis h Gar dening. 
On Watering.—There are few operations con¬ 
nected with the cultivation of plants more important 
than that of watering. How simple it appears to a casual 
observer to apply water to the roots of plants ; yet 
there is much mischief done to plants by the misapplica¬ 
tion of water, or the making of soil cold, sour, aud 
soddened by over-doses given at inopportune times. 
Take as examples Heaths, Azaleas, or any other hard- 
wooded plants (Hew Holland plants especially). How 
frequently they seem to go wrong at the collars and 
suddenly die off. The blame is put upon the man in 
charge, and ‘ ‘ Watered to death ” is the verdict. We 
and others whose experience has been very extensive 
have again and again proved to ocular demonstration 
that the fault was not that too much was given, but 
that it was given in homoeopathic doses, dribbling the 
surfaces only, while the roots at the base of the pots 
were starving, but chilled and soured where they did 
not require sustenance ; and while the plant could not 
get support death was gradually taking place, and in 
course of time they collapsed. 
Cinerarias, Calceolarias, Primulas, and some other 
plants during winter often fall victims to this treat¬ 
ment. Bad drainage clogged by worms is certain to 
end in bad health or death. Strawberries in pots often 
flag and gradually die off, and in most cases this is due 
to watering in some form not conducive to health. 
Half the upper portion of the ball of earth has been 
fairly moistened, but at the bottom of the pots the 
roots are matted and are dying of starvation, while the 
upper roots are soddened to rottenness. Orchard-house 
trees in pots are often found in the same state, especi¬ 
ally while their roots have not filled the pots ; but 
when the roots have filled the pots they can hardly be 
over-watered, as moisture runs through the fibres as it 
would through a sieve. All the mulching they may 
have applied will not save them from red spider, small 
flavourless fruit, or untimely dropping. A check from 
want of water also causes inferior colour and defective 
flavour, especially during the period of second swelling. 
When ripening is taking place less harm from absence 
of water will be sustained ; this applies, however, more 
to what is known as stone fruit than to Grapes or Figs. 
The latter two being gross feeders, must not be stinted 
severely ; but if their roots are in sour and soddened 
soil the fruit will be proportionately bad. 
We remember, many years ago, having a house of 
supernumerary Vines, which were bearing a very heavy 
crop, and to be ripe "within the year after planting. 
They evidently were in distress while struggling under 
such a heavy impost ; the fruit was streaked, and show¬ 
ing symptoms which the practised eye knows too well 
precedes failure. We gave the borders, all the roots 
being inside, a thorough soaking with soot and guano- 
water—repeated the dose in course of ten or twelve 
days afterwards, and again before the fruit were 
finished. The ventilators were kept open night and 
day with sufficient fire heat to keep the air moving ; 
the colour, and size of berry, was all we could 
desire ; flavour was not inferior, but pure manure-water 
applied in this way,, and in a warm state, say 80° to 
85°, is very different to the clotted mixture frequently 
seen in gardens, and supposed to be the life of plants, 
while it is positively downright poison. Application 
of such liquid is, however, very different in its effects 
when applied to plants in pots compared with those in 
the open ground where the air has free access to the 
roots, and foliage receiving nature’s best gifts ; soil 
crammed in a pot which is in a stifling atmosphere 
under glass should have liquid manure, when necessary, 
which would not become poisonous to the roots, or render 
the soil impure, and such as the feeders cannot as- 
simulate. Inanition of plants often takes place by 
applying solid manure in soil when the plants are 
exotics, and have to be grown with a minimum of air, 
also when they are subjected to drenchings of offensive 
liquid manure. At this season one can almost apply 
it ad lib to growing crops in the open ground, but a 
difference must be made between strong clay land, and 
sharp sandy soil ; the former is easily injured while it 
would be difficult to overdo the latter. We prefer, 
however, to give a good soaking and mulch before the 
surface becomes baked with sun and wind, and in 
every case to avoid “ dribblings.” 
It is a great mistake to give plants manure water 
before they have plenty of roots to consume it. We 
have actually seen practical men feeding Vines and 
fruit trees in general, with solid and liquid manure, 
when the soil was dank, sour with humus, and the roots 
in a state of decay. Both animal and vegetable nature 
requires a healthy digestion before rich nutritious food 
(either in liquid or solid form) can be administered with 
safety. Newly planted trees and shrubs are very often 
drenched to death. We know where many large trees 
were transplanted to positions varying in altitude, 
the soil was very heavy and “holding,” like a 
quagmire when wet, but like bricks for hardness and 
solidity when dry. The water cart was used with a 
vengeance, not the fault of the men in charge, as 
written orders were given on the matter. The trees 
nearly all died the season after they were planted ; 
those in the low lying parts taking their departure first. 
I pointed out to the proprietor and others interested, 
that the trees situated on the high positions, exposed too, 
had survived, and were doing tolerably well. The reason 
was a very significant one ; the water cart could not be 
taken up the hill, and the trees had no water but what 
fell from the clouds, thus escaping death from over at¬ 
tention. Many plants, such as coniferae, are placed in 
large holes well supplied with good soil at planting 
time, and never move into free growth at all. The 
drenchings which they receive in summer is often con¬ 
fined about the roots by the tenacious soil, until the 
plant becomes stunted by the roots being chilled.— M. T. 
-—- 
The Amateurs’ Garden. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Most of the plants have now been out for a fortnight 
or more, but they have made very little progress ; 
indeed, the majority seem to have suffered to some 
extent. The nights continue very cold—remarkably so 
for the time of year, and with a cold north-east wind 
and leaden skies it is not surprising that the plants 
are backward. Unless the weather changes very soon 
the bedding season will be a short one, and in any case 
the advantage of rather close planting will be apparent. 
If there is a stock of well-hardened tuberous Begonias 
that have been started into growth very gradually in a 
cool house or frame, some of these should be now 
planted out, and they will prove most useful later in 
the season. The qualities of these plants for bedding- 
out have been well proved, and they are rapidly gaining 
favour for this purpose. They stand both sun and wet 
better than most other plants employed in a similar 
way, and can be used in any part of the kingdom. If 
Verbenas are making some advance in beds the shoots 
may be pegged down ; but it is not advisable to do this 
immediately they are placed out, as a check sometimes 
results from which they do not recover very quickly. 
Carpet-bedding plants are not likely to need much 
attention just yet ; but they must be looked after 
closely if it is wished to keep the design clearly defined, 
and an occasional pinching will readily effect this. 
Where chance Primroses, Polyanthuses, or Alpine 
Auriculas have been flowering out of doors, they will 
probabty have formed some capsules without artificial 
fertilization, and it is desirable to save as much seed as 
possible of any good strain. The seed pods should be 
examined daily, and as soon as they are changing 
colour and becoming ripened, gather them carefully, 
and place them on paper or in a saucer on a shelf in a 
sunny place, where they are not likely to be exposed 
to wet, or damaged in any way. Immediately the seeds 
are well ripened, sow them in pans of light sandy loam, 
or if a sheltered position can be found, out of doors. 
The former is, however, the safer plan, and the pans 
may be placed in a cold frame, dibbling the young 
plants out in early autumn, when they will have time 
to become well established before winter. 
Roses are coming on fairly well, but suckers from 
the stocks are rather abundant, and must be kept 
trimmed off; also, if large blooms are wanted, the 
buds must be thinned in good time. Except for exhi¬ 
bition purposes this is unnecessary, as flowers are 
constantly wanted for vases or bouquets, and this 
thins them quite enough. For weakly plants, a supply 
of liquid manure will prove beneficial, especially if the 
weather becomes hot and dry. Rhododendrons are 
now mostly out of flower, and require to be picked 
over, removing all the remains of the flowers, or any 
seed-pods that have formed. This is also a good time 
to thin the plants, if they have grown together too 
thickly ; and the growth now commencing will have 
more space for development and maturation. Such 
plants as these need periodical attention in this way, 
but thinning should never be done excessively at one 
time ; a moderate thinning every three years will be 
sufficient, aud will prevent the beds having a bare 
appearance, as they are liable to have if treated some¬ 
what rigorously at longer intervals. 
