September 15, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
33 
foods are required, we respire more at a lower tem¬ 
perature than at a higher oue, and more heat is given 
off from our bodies into the surrounding air. Baron 
Liebig explains the principles which govern the 
relations between the food of man and the different 
latitudes of the earth. The warmer the climate, and 
the warmer we are clothed, the less appetite have we 
for food. The loss of heat by cooling diminishes the 
amount supplied. He says were we exposed to the 
cold Arctic regions, we could with ease consume half a 
calf, and maybe a dozen candles per day ! The carbon 
given to the body would only suffice to keep up the 
balance between the internal and external temperature. 
In southern climates the very opposite ensues, and 
light or fruit foods are quite sufficient; or in other 
words it takes 80 per cent, of carbon, contained in 
blubber, to keep up the balance in one latitude, whilst 
10 per cent, in fruits can keep it up in the other. It is, 
then, not wholly a question of fruits or vegetables, but 
Kniphofia aloides. 
warmth ; for if we begin to pinch Nature’s demand 
she will inevitably pinch us. Still I believe there is 
plenty of room for us as consumers of fruit and vege¬ 
tables, and that Nature will also demand the rearing 
of poultry. Dairy farm and other heat-producing 
foods commensurate to our latitudes will also be 
required.— B. L., September 3rd. 
-- 
HARDY FERNS. 
It is to be regretted that such a beautiful class of hardy 
plants as the British Ferns do not find a larger number 
of cultivators in this country than they do at present. 
Some twenty or more years ago such an enthusiasm 
was awakened for them all over the country, that many 
amateurs and private growers vied with each other 
as to who would have the largest collection. Not only 
were hardy ferneries created for them, but houses were 
built in which the more select of them could be grown, 
together with such hardy or half-hardy exotics as could 
be associated with them. What is wanted dow is that a 
younger set of enthusiasts should take the place of those 
who have died, or who are no longer able to attend 
to their cherished hobbies, and thus give the cultivation 
of British Ferns a wider scope _than they enjoy at 
present. 
In the neighbourhood of London it is almost 
necessary to grow the more select kinds in pots, except 
the surroundings are unusually favourable with regard 
to shade and moisture. At Kew the conveniences are 
great, so that, in the matter of moisture, what is 
lacking naturally can, to a great extent, he applied 
artificially; although in such a summer as the one 
we have just passed through comparatively little 
watering would be required. Since the addition of the 
Carbonell collection to that of Kew, the old rockery by 
the ice-well has been greatly extended on both sides 
of the walk that used to run through it, and, besides 
swallowing up that portion which was formerly devoted 
to the cultivation of Alpine plants, it also extends all 
round the mound, where shade is afforded the Ferns on 
the south side by tall trees. The wet season has been 
very favourable to the establishment of the newly 
planted Ferns, and at present the greater number of 
them are in fine condition, although not so tall, in 
many cases, as we may yet expect them to be when 
they have taken firm hold of the soil. 
In looking over the collection, one of the old school, 
who used to be guided by the writings and books of 
the late Mr. Moore, of Chelsea, would find himself at 
sea as far as the names are concerned, if he has not 
recently been studying the subject or watching the 
doings in the Fern world, which unhappily are con¬ 
fined to a few scattered workers. The great mass of 
the garden forms are, however, still confined to a few of 
the more favoured British species, such as Asplenium 
Filix-fcemina, Polystichum aculeatum, but more 
especially to its sub-species, P. angulare, also Scolo- 
pendrium vulgare, and in a lesser degree to Polypodium 
vulgare, of which there are now many beautiful forms, 
Lastria Filix-mas and L. spinulosa dilatata. The 
crested and other forms of the smaller-growing species, 
such as Lomaria spicant and Asplenium trichoinanes, 
are more suitable for cultivation in pots in the dry 
atmosphere of the southern counties. Of the leading 
kinds we noted some of the finest and most distinct 
forms. The distinguishing characteristics of many 
really good things require careful discrimination, as 
might be expected, to determine them ; but in this the 
connoisseur generally takes much delight, and he is no 
more to blame than is the florist with his favourite 
flowers. 
The greatest number of varieties belonging to any 
one species in the collection under notice, consists of 
forms of Asplenium Filix-foemina. The leaves of A. 
F-f. cristatum densum are elliptic in outline, 2-3 times 
pinnatifid, with red petioles, and finely crested. As 
is well known, A. F-f. plumosum is notable for the 
finely-divided feathery appearance of its leaves, and 
they are even finer in A. F-f. p. elegans. A very 
graceful and much crested variety is A. F-f. Craigii, also 
having red petioles. A. F-f. nodosum multifidum is 
much in the way of the old form Frizellise, but has 
longer arching fronds, while A. F-f. Frizellisenanum has 
thong-like leaves, ranging from 6 ins. to 12 ins. in 
length, and only £-in. wide. It is suitable for pot- 
work, as are A. F-f. crispum cristatum, A. F-f. 
cristatum nanum, and A. F-f. Veronise, which was 
originally picked up in a wild state, and has all the 
pinns abnormal and densely crested. A. F-f. Victoria is 
another old variety, having the basal pair of pinnules 
only greatly elongated in a cruciate manner, and 
narrow, while all the rest of each pinnce is entirely 
aborted or wanting. It is a very elegant variety, suitable 
for pot purposes, and a large number of beautiful forms 
have now cruciate pinnules, but differ from each 
other by these same parts being longer, shorter, 
or broader than the parent type, and in being crested 
or not. 
Amongst these forms are A. F. -f. cruciatum cristatum, 
with leaves 2J ft. long, A. F.-f. proteroides and A. F.-f. 
grammicon, most of which are of dwarf habit, and 
suitable for pot work. A handsome and much crested 
form with crested pinnae, a tasselled apex and red 
petioles grows about 18 ins. high and is very graceful. 
The old A. F.-f. reflexum, otherwise known as A. F.-f. 
rhceticum, has very graceful fronds, and owes its 
characteristic appearance to the recurved pinnules and 
their revolute segments, which give all parts a very 
light and airy appearance. A. F.-f. grandiceps is an 
old variety, and well known for the large dense crested 
head which it produces at the apex of the frond ; a 
variety named A. F.-f. Tyermanni resembles it very 
closely, but the mid-rib below the crest is furnished 
with short pinnae resembling those of A. F.-f. Fri- 
zelliae, whereas those of the first-named variety are 
considerably elongated. 
A large number of the Polystichums are really 
beautiful and distinct, especially of the sub-species 
known as P. angulare, which is well characterised by 
its arching finely divided fronds covered with rusty 
scales. P. angulare divisiloba-plumosum laxum has 
very broad, much divided, pale green fronds, with 
angular or jagged segments, and much imbricated 
pinna;. The segments of P. a. multifidum densum are 
more normal in shape, but finely divided, and the 
fronds have a feathery appearance. P. a. proliferum 
is a handsome and old variety well known for its 
feathery appearance, and the profusion of young plants 
borne by old fronds along their mid-ribs. Very similar 
in general appearance is P. a. tripinnatifidum densum, 
but the lower half of the mid-rib is blackish brown, 
not rusty. The leaves of P. a. pulchellum are sub¬ 
erect, and already 3 ft. to 3J ft. long. It has also 
dark brown scales on the mid-rib and petioles. Very 
distinct is P. a caudatum, with long linear fronds, 
which owe their contracted appearance to the shortening 
of the pinnse, while the pinnules are wedge-shaped, 
and deeply toothed. A well-known plant either for 
pot-work or the hardy Fernery is P. a. lineare, 
characterised by the excessive narrowness of its 
pinnules. 
There are a few fine forms of the Male Fern (Lastrea 
Filix-mas), but none of them excel L. F. -m. cristata 
for beauty and general usefulness in the decorative 
way. L. F.-m. cristata intermedia is intermediate in 
form between the latter and the beautiful old variety 
named L. F.-m. cristata angustata. Of the other 
species of Lastrea there is a very distinct dark green 
form with much crowded and crisped pinnae, namely, 
Kniphofia aloides : showing habit of plant. 
L. spinulosa dilatata crispa, which is both dwarf and 
compact in habit. Of the other species it is unnecessary 
to speak where there is as yet but little variation from 
the typical forms, and those interested in them would 
do well to visit and inspect the collection. As most 
cultivators know there is an immense number of forms 
of Scolopendrium vulgare ; but a great number of them 
are merely objects of curiosity. 
-- 
COMMON FLAME FLOWER. 
Of the various species of Kniphofia that have been 
introduced from South Africa, none are more univer¬ 
sally cultivated than K. aloides, better known as 
Tritoma uvaria, or the Red-hot Poker. It proves per¬ 
fectly hardy over the greater part of Britain, and as far 
north as the Murray Firth, if the roots are planted in 
a tolerably dry situation. Damp is a greater enemy to 
the leaves and crowns than is the cold. Everywhere 
in the south at the present time gardens are resplendent 
with the brilliancy of the dense and massive spikes of 
scarlet flowers, while a week or so later the plant will 
be in full bloom in the colder and more northern 
counties. Those experiencing any difficulty in its pre¬ 
servation there would do well to place a covering of 
dry Beech or Oak leaves round the collar of the plant, 
and which the long drooping leaves of the plant will 
prevent from being blown about by the wind. A fully- 
exposed position is most favourable to the well-being 
of the plant, while the roots should enjoy perfect 
drainage. There are several magnificent varieties of it 
in cultivation, including K. aloides maxima, which 
grows taller, and has much stouter spikes of flower. 
It is often cultivated under the name of K. a. grandis. 
Our illustrations exhibit a spike of bloom and a plant 
to show the natural habit. 
