554 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 30, 1887. 
gather from those who are using them, and others who 
are likely to know, this cast-iron boiler is likely to 
supersede the welded one entirely, on account of its 
greater durability—lasting three times as long as a 
welded —and economy. No doubt many gardeners can 
bear me out in this statement.— J. B. Sidney, Tun¬ 
bridge. [We may add, for the convenience of those who 
may be interested in this subject, that a sketch of this 
boiler may be seen on the back page.—E d.] 
-- 
OSMUNDA REGALIS AND ITS 
VARIETIES. 
Considering the wide area of its distribution, and 
the consequent different climatal and other conditions 
bearing upon this noble British Fern, we do not find 
that amount of variation one would be led to expect. 
Take, for instance, the common Hart’s Tongue (Scolo- 
pendrium vulgare), in which there is no end of variation 
as to the outline, cresting and branching of its fronds, 
and compare this with the Royal Fern, in which 
the distinct and leading variations may be counted on 
the fingers of one hand. The species is easily propa¬ 
gated from spores ; but notwithstanding that, many 
seedlings have been and are annually raised in this 
way. Those on the look-out for new and distinct 
varieties have been but ill rewarded. 
Old plants in a vigorous, healthy condition, and well 
supplied with moisture, produce fronds 4 ft. to 6 ft. 
long, independent of the footstalk or petiole. The 
noble appearance of a plant producing fronds of these 
dimensions may well be imagined, and to do this it 
must have a large well-established rootstock or caudex. 
The greater part of this latter consists of densely and 
firmly interlacing strong and wiry root-fibres of a brown 
colour, and these being developed above ground, and 
altogether exposed, give an old specimen a very charac¬ 
teristic appearance. A great amount of reserve material 
is stored in this caudex or stem, so that the plant is 
moveable at any age while the fronds are down. Large 
specimens so transplanted from their native wildings 
may be calculated to produce a fine appearance the first 
season after moving, and the more especially so if they 
have been well supplied with moisture while making 
their growth. 
It may be stated that the usual method adopted with 
this Fern, when one wants to add it to his collection, 
is to obtain it from localities where it grows wild, when 
so procurable. This is more especially desirable if for 
planting in the hardy Fernery or other place out-of- 
doors, as size and appearance are thereby gained at 
once ; and if the Fernery is a new one, large plants for 
all the more prominent positions are desirable, in order 
to give the place an established look when the season’s 
growth has made some headway. Seedlings grow 
slowly, and are more adapted for cultivation in pots for 
decorative purposes, while large specimens are incon¬ 
venient and difficult to move, both on account of 
the size and great weight of the rootstock. 
Provided there is a sufficiency of moisture, this Fern 
is amenable to cultivation either in sun or shade. 
Under the latter conditions the fronds are shorter and 
stiller, but by no means to be despised, especially if 
there is a fair average number of fruiting fronds. Owing 
to the fructification being terminal, and entirely of a 
different character from the rest of the frond, this plant 
has earned for itself the popular name of the Flowering 
Fern. The resemblance is most strongly borne out by 
plants grown fully exposed to the sun in the open air. 
The young unfolding fronds, but more especially the 
fertile ones, assume a fine brownish orange or golden 
hue, that is particularly attractive in the early part of 
summer. Except in the case of late fronds, this golden 
or auburn tint is much toned down towards the latter 
end of summer, by the fructification maturing, and the 
frond falling or dying away, so that we have nothing 
left but the leafy part of the frond. The massive 
fronds in themselves have a fine effect, especially when 
contrasted with those of a more slender or plumy 
character. 
The Osmunda should always, if possible, be planted 
near water, and if the latter is running so much the 
better. Intending planters should endeavour to secure 
a position on the banks of a stream, so that the roots 
may dip into the water and draw supplies. The soil, 
if stiff and clayey or gravelly or otherwise unsuitable, 
may be ameliorated or altogether removed, better 
being substituted. A good layer of rubbly stones of a 
softish nature, such as sandstone or brickbats, should 
be laid in the bottom of the excavation, with a layer 
of turf or other screening material above this. Fill up 
the rest of the trench with chopped turf and peat (not 
necessarily so fine as that used for potting purposes) 
in equal parts, with a good admixture of river sand, 
and in this the royal Osmunda will grow to perfection, 
giving great satisfaction. The graceful Lady Fern in 
some of its numerous forms, Lastrea Filix-mas cristata, 
L. F.-m. paleacea, L. oreopteris, the Mountain Buckler 
Fern, or the Struthiopteris germaniea maj r be used in 
conjunction with the Osmunda with fine effect, the 
whole proving an excellent combination, and forming 
a perfectly natural and associable group. 
The undermentioned and beautiful varieties of 
Osmunda regalis are, with the exception of 0. r. 
corymbifera, perhaps, perfectly amenable to the same 
treatment, but grow so much smaller, that, except 
special care is taken of the latter, they are liable to be 
overgrown and destroyed by their taller and more 
vigorously growing neighbours. They are, however, 
more refined in character, and much better adapted for 
cultivation in pots in the cool Fernery under glass 
amongst other choice hardy Ferns, or in positions in 
the Fern garden allotted to the more select and smaller¬ 
growing kinds. 
0. r. palustris is a North American form of dwarfer 
habit, generally ranging between 1 ft. and 2 ft. in 
height, with slender red petioles and midrib. Indeed, 
when young, the whole frond, including the stalk and 
the pinnules, is of a beautiful red, almost crimson, 
colour, and the fruiting pinnules being very irregularly 
interrupted, a fine effect is produced at this stage, 
which is the more noticeable or conspicuous when 
grown indoors. 
O. r. cristata is a dwarf state of the typical plant, as 
represented by the British form. The tips of the 
fronds and pinnae are apparently foreshortened, dilated 
and somewhat crested. It is very distinct for outdoor 
purposes, but not so select or effective for indoor 
cultivation as 0. r. palustris or 0. r. corymbifera. 
As the crested variety may be considered a form of 
0. regalis, so the variety 0. corymbifera may be 
regarded as a variety or sub-variety of 0. r. palustris, 
at the option of the grower. It possesses the same 
slender habit and red petioles as the latter, and as the 
cresting seems to have a dwarfing effect on the 0. r. 
cristata, so in like manner it is carried to a much 
greater extent in 0. r. corymbifera, in which the frond 
is excessively shortened and copiously tasselled, 
especially at the apex. As it is more frequently seen 
a few inches in height than taller, this, together with 
the tasselling and the red petioles, constitutes it an 
excellent and select Fern for cultivation in small pots 
or ornamental baskets.— Filix. 
- >*<- - 
Hardening §1iscellany. 
The Gardeners’ Orphan Fund. — I think 
after the very satisfactory meeting of the committee 
yesterday, and the good progress the Orphan Fund has 
already made, and, I have no doubt, will make, despite 
the clumsy way it was put before the public, the least 
I can do is to return my sincere thanks to the repre¬ 
sentatives of the horticultural press, the members of 
the committee, and especially the worthy chairman, for 
the very able and willing help that they have already 
given to the scheme. I hope no gardener in the 
kingdom will let the next three weeks pass without 
responding heartily to the call of charity. We 
unfortuuately, had a sad experience of the need of an 
Orphan Fund only a few days since, when our poor 
friend Carr met with such an untimely end. Whether 
his widow and children will need help I know not, but 
if they do, out of our small beginnings, I should 
suggest rendering them what assistance we can. In 
starting this scheme I could not possibly have thought 
of myself, or that it would ever be useful to me, and I 
am sure none who have already given me their support 
will draw back on account of any shortcomings of 
mine as to the manner adopted in placing it before the 
public, or, in other words, for making my ideas known 
in too narrow a groove, as has recently been suggested 
by the editor of the Gardeners' Magazine. My call was 
made in the interest of true charity, aud I trust all 
will forget any mistakes I may have made when I first 
proposed it. I earnestly hope that those who have so 
ably assisted me may live to see the Gardeners’ Orphan 
Fundagrowing and great Institution.— Chas. Benny, 
Sandringham, April 27th. 
Feeding Azaleas. —It is usually regarded not 
only as useless, but even injurious to feed Azaleas or, 
indeed, any of the Erica family, but judging from a 
box of Azalea blooms sent us by a Lancashire friend, 
we are led to consider with the sender that the size of 
the flowers of Azalea indica, and its endless varieties, 
might be greatly improved in size, and that our present 
system of cultivation is more akin to starvation than 
liberal treatment. Our correspondent feeds his plants 
twice a year with weak guano water, that is during the 
growing period, and again for a month before the 
plants come into bloom. A magnificent slightly 
branched truss of Charles de Buck, from a plant grown 
on its own roots, had eleven flowers, many of which 
were 4 ins. in diameter, and some a little over that. 
The flowers are deep rosy red. AT. Wilson Saunders was 
equally large, boldly and irregularly splashed with red 
on a white ground. The flowers of Paul de Scryver 
were about 3£ ius. in diameter, and of a beautiful rosy 
pink colour, blotched on the lower segment, and having 
an irregular white margin, reminding one of a regal 
Pelargonium. Another exceedingly chaste large- 
flowered form named La Deese had soft reddish pink 
flowers, richly spotted on the lower side, while John 
Gould Veitch produces superb flowers of a fine pink 
suffused with crimson ou the lower side, with an at¬ 
tractive but irregular white margin, like a regal 
Pelargonium. Noble Belgian is somewhat similar, 
but less delicately fine, with numerous deep-coloured 
spots all over the lower side. The flowers of George 
Loddiges are of a fine bold red colour ; and those of 
Argus, a double-flowered form, while on the whole 
darker than the last, have a deep crimson blotch on the 
lower side. A semi-double rosy pink form, a sport 
from Reine du Portugal, also produces very pleasingly 
attractive flowers. The size and general appearance of 
the flowers attests the propriety of the treatment they 
receive. 
Protecting Peach. Trees. — The method 
adopted by Mr. "Wright, gardener at Devonshurst, for 
protecting Peach and other trees in bloom, if not quite 
new, is by no means generally adopted in gardens. No 
netting, shading, or tiffany is used, and in the absence 
of glass, Spruce branches or those of the Cherry Laurel 
are cut and tied to the wire on the walls, or to the 
branches of the trees themselves, in such a way that 
spring frosts are warded off, thereby preventing the 
latter from being damaged. Spruce branches are con¬ 
sidered best seeing that the leaves are close, yet from 
their smallness allowing a freer play of light than the 
broad leaves of Laurels do. This is in some respects 
essential, as the trouble of removing the branches in 
the morning and replacing them at night is avoided, 
and the branches remain on the trees till all danger of 
frost is over. Laurel branches, however, seem quite 
effective, as from an examination of the trees after the 
recent severe frost, variously reported as ranging from 
7° to 14° Fahr., the embryo fruits appeared quite 
fresh and unhurt. — Visitor. 
Skimmia japonica.— It may interest those who 
grow this plant, to state that there are two very distinct 
forms of it in cultivation—one with perfect flowers pro¬ 
duced generally iu small not very conspicuous clusters, 
and a male plant that produces conspicuous terminal 
panicles of numerous small white flowers. This latter 
form, as a matter of course, is perfectly sterile, aud the 
question is sometimes asked why it does not set fruit. 
The answer is simple, as it has no ovary containing 
ovules to set. The flowers, however, to a casual observer 
give rise to great expectations. Oranges, which belong 
to the same family as Skimmia, sometimes present 
similar conditions ; but the perfect and imperfect flowers 
are on the same, not different plants. Both forms of 
the Skimmia may be seen amongst the Camellias at the 
entrance of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens, 
Chiswick. 
Unheated Peach House.— During the recent 
severe frost, when the temperature fell to 23° Falir., or 
in other words, exhibited 9° of frost at Gunnersbury 
Park, Acton, recourse was had to candles to maintain 
the temperature sufficiently high to prevent injury to 
Peaches, Nectarines and Cherries in a house entirely 
unheated by hot-water pipes or flues. In a narrow lean- 
to or glass case about 30 yds. in length, twenty-eight 
candles were stuck in sand in ordinary flower pots, and 
