December 29, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
275 
an acquisition, I should not pass over two Odonto- 
glossums—0. Insleayi and 0. leopardinum—both of 
which are handsome-blooming Orchids. 
Berried Hollies. 
Not for many years have I seen Hollies weighed down 
with such a weight of berries. The ambition for 
berried holly, which most householders use at Christmas 
time for house decoration, ought to be fully satisfied 
this year. The profusion of berries is general, and less 
harm has been done to the beauty of trees than is 
usual. This, of course, is due to the absence of severe 
weather, and the consequent abundance of food which 
birds can otherwise obtain. Glasnevin has got its full 
share of fruiting Hollies, and being treated in most 
cases as single plants, their beauty, as they stand alone 
on the well-kept grass, the branches bending down 
with their burdens of highly-coloured berries, can just 
now be well understood. I think I may add that at 
the present time no other hardy berry-bearing plant 
can approach the Holly in its decorative appearance. 
St. Brigid Anemones. 
I hate had many inquiries lately as to where seeds 
of the St. Brigid Anemones can be obtained, and 
from what I can learn the persons with whom the 
strain originated have disposed of the seed supply to a 
London firm of seedsmen. Now, if these Anemones 
are desirable to have, and I know of many people so 
wishing, I think it would not be too much to ask the 
holders of the stock to give some intimation as to 
where they can be procured, as well as price, &c. I 
have no doubt their cultivation would increase rapidly 
if people knew where to obtain them.— IV. D. 
-- 
FERNS: FROM SPORE TO 
TREE.* 
(Concluded, from p. 265.) 
We have another form that is sterile, or produces no 
spores. In this case the pinnules have over-grown 
themselves. To such an extent is this carried in 
Scolopendrium vulgare var. crispum, that the margins 
become beautifully undulated, thus forming, when 
well grown, one of our prettiest varieties of British 
Terns. Other instances of this occur in Polypodium 
vulgare var. Cambricum, and also in Adiantum 
tenerum var. Farleyense. In the latter case I can show 
you specimens under the microscope on the table, where 
at least the indusium is formed, and under which I have 
been able to detect a few sporangia ; but the specimen 
is in too young a state to say that they would ever reach 
maturity. I am one of those who think it quite 
possible that the plant under favourable cultivation will 
reproduce itself from spores. The pinnule which I 
exhibit, showing the indusium, presents no sign of 
becoming contracted or smaller as in A. tenerum, and 
on that account I am inclined to believe it to be a 
species, and not a variety of A. tenerum. 
If we now turn to the roots and stems we shall find a 
great many different forms. In the Hymenopbyllum, 
as the plant grows, it forms thread-like branches or 
rhizomes, and as these rhizomes grow the fronds are 
given off singly along them. In the common Polypody 
we have another creeping rhizome, only much thicker, 
from the upper side of which the fronds are given off, 
and the roots from the under side. In Lastrea Filix- 
mas we find a different form of stem. The fronds 
are produced from a crown in a tuft, and even should 
the plant live to a great age it grows very little in 
height. The tallest stem I have seen of this was about 
1 ft. high ; and no doubt the situation in which it was 
growing had much to do with this. The plant was the 
most luxuriant I have seen of this species, the fronds 
reaching above my head. The situation was a tiny 
island in a mountain brook. This kind of stem is 
generally called a caudex. This caudex attains a 
considerable size in some species. In Cibotium 
Barometz it rises out of the ground supported upon its 
rootlets, and the plant has been described as a vegetable 
sheep growing on a stem, and devouring every other 
species existing within its reach. In the Tree Fern 
the caudex grows upright; and in most of the species 
adventitious roots are given off, which grow and inter¬ 
lace with each other, thus helping to thicken and 
strengthen the stem. 
Ferns have a wide distribution, and are to be found 
almost in all places where vegetation exists ; but it is 
where we have a moist warm atmosphere that they 
attain the largest dimensions. They are to be found 
in all manner of places—from the hot swampy grounds 
of the tropica to the dry arid heaths of our own country, 
on old walls, in the rich loam by the running brook, 
in crevices of rocks, or it may be by the waterfall, 
where the fronds are kept wet by the falling spray. 
Such a sight is always beautiful, even in winter, when 
the icicles are to be found hanging from the fronds. 
Tree Ferns form, in their native country, one of the 
most interesting and beautiful features in the land¬ 
scape. At home we have to content ourselves with 
them under glass, except for a few months during the 
summer, when they can be very effectively used in sub¬ 
tropical gardening. Some of the sights presented by 
tree Ferns, as arranged in some of the large con¬ 
servatories throughout the country, are by no means to 
be despised. They give to us, who have not the oppor¬ 
tunity of seeing them in their native habitats, a good 
idea of the imposing feature they present there. More 
especially must this be so when we bear in mind that 
they are to be found varying in height from a few feet 
to 40 ft. or more. But although we have not now the 
tree in this country to enrich the landscape, it was not 
always so ; for if we turn to our rich coalfields, we 
shall find that there the tree Fern plays an important 
part. There we find what at one time must have been 
vast forests of tree Ferns. In some seams of coal in 
the west midland counties, we find that the coal is 
almost entirely composed of Fern spores. These spores 
must have withstood the action that entirely destroyed 
the stems and fronds. 
Ferns owe their popularity to their chaste beauty, as 
their economical uses are neither extensive or important. 
The pith of Cyathea medullaris is, however, eaten by 
the New Zealanders. The stems of Pteris aquilina, P. 
esculenta, CalUopteris esculenta, as well as the tuberous 
roots of Nephrolepis tuberosa have been used for food, 
but generally when nothing better was to be obtained. 
The scales of Cibotium Barometz are used for stopping 
htemorrhage in wounds, also for stuffing cushions and 
beds. The rhizomes of Pteris aquilina are, when ground 
to a powder and mixed with a little barley meal, used 
for food by the people in some of the Canary Islands. 
The fronds also afford a considerable quantity of alkali 
by burning, and in some places their ashes are made 
into balls and used as a substitute for soap. Lastrea 
Filix-mas has the reputation of being a good remedy 
against intestinal worms. The common Adder’s-tongue 
(Ophioglossum vulgatum) is gathered by the country 
people for making adder’s-spear ointment, which is 
considered a good remedy for recent wounds. The 
Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis) is used as a rustic 
vulnerary and as an application for sprains and bruises. 
The Maiden-hair (Adiantum Capillus-Veneris) is em¬ 
ployed by confectioners in the form of capillaire. 
In conclusion, I would strongly advise all young 
gardeners and those interested in Ferns, who wish to 
become acquainted with the peculiarities of the 
different species and varieties, to adopt the plan of 
drying specimens for the herbarium. These specimens 
when nicely mounted on white paper form an inter¬ 
esting collection ; and by having to handle them so 
often in the drying, mounting and labelling, one 
becomes thoroughly acquainted with the specimens. 
In labelling do not forget to state where the specimen 
has been found (if collected in a wild state), as this 
adds considerably to the interest of the collection. A 
most interesting collection of Ferns may be had 
without having recourse to the cultivation of the 
plants at all. We in this neighbourhood are not 
favourably placed for collecting wild specimens ; but 
those who are, have a splendid field of recreation open 
to them. As an example of the interest I took in 
collecting at one time, I may state that I once 
travelled sixty miles to find Lastrea (emula; I 
was ten miles from where it was said to be 
found, and I travelled the distance three times before 
I discovered it. Even then I considered myself amply 
recompensed for my trouble. What a sight was before 
me ! I can'picture it to myself even yet. The situation 
was a deep ravine, the banks on both sides being 
clothed with luxuriant masses, which recalled to my 
mind at the time, Todea superba. The banks were 
dripping with water, and shaded with trees ; the sun 
was just about setting, sending its mellowed rays 
through the branches, thus causing the drops of water 
which hung from the Fern fronds to sparkle and glitter 
like diamonds in an emerald setting. I would fain 
have lingered at the spot, but darkness coming on 
reminded me that I had better get what specimens I 
wanted, and again seek my way home. In that 
district, the Campsie Falls in Stirlingshire, I collected 
thirty-two species and varieties of the British Fern, 
Amongst the rare varieties I found were Lastrea montana 
var. truncata and Athyrium Filix-fcemina var. euforme 
Wrightii, which was new. I may say that in those 
excursions in search of Ferns I derived much pleasure 
and instruction. I have sat by the waterfall and seen 
Asplenium viride enjoying the shower of spray from the 
falling water, and I have seen the Parsley Fern 
(Allosorus crispus) growing by the acre, and many 
other scenes and plants which I should never have 
witnessed had it not been for those excursions in search 
of specimens. In all my travels in search of specimens 
and uncommon-looking plants, those that I could not 
satisfactorily make out were put in the vasculum, and 
after another examination when I got home, if there 
was still any doubt I had them potted, and grew them 
on to see if they would retain their character. I was 
by this means able to learn the effect the situa ion had 
upon the character of the plant.— Alex. JVright. 
-- 
Motes from Scotland. 
— ■ ■***- 
Notes on Plant Culture.—The advantage of 
glass structures which are capable of admitting a 
maximum of light is very apparent in the short dull 
days of mid-winter, more especially to those who are 
expected to keep up a constant supply of cut flowers ; 
and in no department of horticulture is the modern 
glass structure more appreciated than for the cultivation 
of plants for the purpose indicated. With the assistance 
of a little warmth in the hot-water pipes, quite a show 
of bloom (as I have overheard it called) may be secured 
at a time when it is most highly valued. With good 
cultural advantages, the difficulty as to such plants as 
Primulas damping off is reduced to a minimum. 
Cinerarias, if -wanted early, can be readily got into 
bloom if sown at the right time, and early Camellias 
are to be had with but little forcing. Then such a 
magnificent floral treat as zonal Pelargoniums in full 
bloom at the shortest day in the year, it is not too much 
to say would be a reward in themselves to any garden 
proprietor, for erecting a house specially for their 
cultivation. Some of the most popular flowering 
varieties have done good service since the end of 
October. 
Liquid Manure for Ferns.—In the rage for 
decorative materials at this festive season, Fern fronds 
of the Adiantums are generally in brisk demand. 
Besides abundance of light, which in winter especially 
is an important factor in producing fronds of good 
substance, I have noticed that after a few applications 
of weak guano-water there was a perceptible improve¬ 
ment in the vigour of the plants.-* The varieties to 
which the guano-water was applied were Adiantum 
cuneatum, A. gracillimum and A. Williamsii, the 
latter variety having made remarkably vigorous growth 
within the last eight weeks. This plant, which I have 
had for only a year and a half, and then only a weakling 
in a 5-in. pot, will be ready in spring to shift into an 
8-in. size. Regarding the general merits of this noble 
Fern I can only call attention to the papers referring 
to it in a recent issue of The Gardening World.— 
Western. 
Rhubarb Forcing - .—Tastes vary much as to the 
quality of Rhubarb when forced, some preferring that 
which is grown in the dark and gathered before leaves 
are formed. The colour, when of a deep crimson, is 
valued ; but I think that the best Rhubarb at this 
season is gathered from roots which have never been in 
a dark position or away from the light at all, but 
placed in full sun, where air can be admitted at pleasure. 
In market establishments where I was employed for 
many years ago, to force all kinds of produce for Covent 
Garden, Rhubarb was an item which received special 
attention, and every conceivable space which was 
vacant and could be spared was filled with Rhubarb 
roots. Where a quantity of Pine Apples was cut, the 
plants would be cleared out, and Rhubarb roots packed 
closely together over the fermenting material (warm 
tan), when in a short time—about twenty days or so — 
plenty of Rhubarb could be gathered. Under stages in 
stoves, intermediate houses, and greenhouses, suc¬ 
cessions were brought forward. Where Vines were 
started early, with a bed of fermenting material along 
the centre of the house. Rhubarb roots were quite at 
home, and did grandly in such positions. Though 
there was a deal of land connected with this London 
market concern, Rhubarb was never forced outside. 
Plenty of horse manure was always at command, but it 
was valued too much for the thousands of Gardenias, 
Pines, and other valuable productions raised than to 
cover pots of Rhubarb in the ground. Victoria was 
the kind chiefly raised for market at that time ; but for 
first gathering—say, the end of November or early in 
December—Prince Albert is more suitable in every 
way. It forces in half the time before the new year. 
— Caledonian. 
