March 24, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
471 
Moltke, dark lilac. These are but a few of many 
named varieties, but they are very good, and as the 
dry roots can be bought at something like twopence 
each, there is no reason why every garden in which 
they can be grown should not have its clump or bed 
of Anemones. The double varieties appear to be 
more common in gardens than the singles, and they 
are all very handsome. It can be said of the single and 
double varieties both, that they are more brilliant in 
colour on the inner surface of the flowers than on 
the outside, and in the case of the single flowers 
very readily become double by the conversion of 
the numerous stamens into narrow petals. 
Some very fine double varieties will be found in 
Beauty, blue and white; Blue Amiable, dark blue; 
Ceres, white; Couleur de Sang, scarlet; Ten 
Superb, fiery scarlet; King of the Netherlands, soft 
rose; Lady Franklin, white and rose; L’Unique, 
violet; and Sir Joseph Paxton, violet. There is a 
much wider range of choice in the case of the 
double varieties. 
Why is the Anemone called the Wind Flower ? 
Anemone appears to have come from a Sanskrit 
word, signifying wind and to blow. Pliny tells us it 
was named the wind flower because it never opens 
out when the wind is blowing. As it blooms in March 
—the windy month—it 'may have got the name 
from that circumstance, for though the blossoms are 
said to shiver and tremble before the blasts of early 
spring, they yet flower bravely and finely. 
It is not difficult to raise Anemones from seed. 
Let a cultivator start with a dozen or so good single 
and double varieties, and he then has opportunities for 
saving seed. They can be sown in the open ground 
on a bed of light, loamy soil, spreading the seeds 
thinly, and covering lightly with fine earth. The 
surface should be kept moist and clear of w'eeds, 
and it is a good plan as soon as the plants are large 
enough, to give a top dressing of rich soil. The 
plants can remain and bloom in the seed bed, or be 
transplanted in autumn. Seed can be sown in 
April and May.— R. D. 
-- 
ABOUT BEETROOT. 
In some places a good supply of Beet is expected 
during at least nine months of the year, and I have 
been so placed that at any time during the year I 
could meet any demands made upon me for it, and 
found little difficulty in doing it, having had the 
convenience of a good shed facing north to store it 
away in. I have sometimes thought it would be 
possible to keep both this and Mangel Wurzel 
through the summer and well on to the following 
winter by overhauling them occasionally and rub¬ 
bing off the fibres and young leaves. My favourite 
varieties have been Dell’s Crimson and Pragnell's 
Exhibition for late autumn and winter use, and the 
Egyptian Turnip rooted for summer aud early 
autumn. This in its proper season is excellent, but 
for winter use is disappointing, as it will not boil a 
good colour. 
Some years ago my favourite was Cattell’s Eclipse, 
but I gave it up owing to its growing rather too large. 
Dell’s Crimson will seldom do so, and it is my 
favourite for general use ; but for exhibition I give 
Pragnell’s the preference, it being the most hand¬ 
some in form. Like most root crops, Beet delights 
in a deep, rich soil, and I generally avoid putting it 
on freshly manured ground. It usually finds its 
place on the quarter the Celery has been grown on. 
This is deeply dug and allowed to lay rough till near 
sowing time, when it should be lightly forked over 
and have a slight dressing of salt, which is highly 
beneficial to this crop. Beet having a larger per¬ 
centage of salt in its composition than any other 
root crop. I have seldom sown it before the middle 
of April, and often rather later, as the young seed¬ 
lings are very susceptible to frost, and this is a point 
sometimes overlooked by those who sow their 
Parsnips, Carrots, and Beet all about the same 
time. 
When sowing Beet draw the drills 12 in. apart 
and an inch in depth, and I find that it is a good 
plan with this and other root crops to cover the 
seeds with burnt ashes from the rubbish fire. This 
marks distinctly for some time where the rows are, 
and renders it possible to ply the hoe among them 
before the Beet shows itself above ground. As 
medium-sized roots are generally most in demand, 
we thin out to 6 in. at most, this being ample space 
to allow unless large roots are desired. The 
Egyptian I thin out but very little, finding that by 
commencing to use them as soon as they are the size 
of an egg those left will continue to grow, and 
several pullings can be had from the same ground. 
Were it possible to sell all that could be grown of 
this kind it would prove one of the most remunera¬ 
tive crops to grow. It will sometimes happen that 
blanks occur in the rows; these blank spaces can be 
readily filled up by transplanting the spare plants 
when thinning out; but choose showery weather if 
possible, if not, water when transplanting and till 
the plants gain root-hold of the soil. 
Store away the winter supply before severe frost 
sets in. I have often had them out till December, 
but it would not always do to depend upon its being 
safe so late, as the seasons vary so much. So 
choose a dry day for getting in the crop; remove 
the leaves by cutting them aslant with a knife, and 
be careful not to break the roots or the colour will 
boil out; but they are much better when baked if 
properly attended to. For small quantities there is 
nothing better than a dry frost-proof shed, where 
covered up in dry ashes they give little trouble, and 
can always be got at. I have before now clamped 
them and laid them in thickly in rows in a sheltered 
place covered over with sufficient litter to exclude 
frost.—IF. B. G. 
-- 
EXOTIC FERNS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
{Continued from p. 455.) 
If I were asked to individualise one particular genus 
of Ferns that had gained the most popularity for 
decorative purposes, I should unhesitatingly say the 
Adiantum, of which there are over 100 species ; and 
that the most useful of all is A. cuneatum, and its 
various forms. Probably there is no other species 
among the whole family of Ferns that has gained a 
more prominent position among gardeners and 
florists generally. They are not only invaluable for 
supplying cut fronds, but small seedlings in thumb- 
pots judiciously dotted about on the dinner table 
with a dash of colouring here and there afforded by 
a few cut flowers gives a very pleasing effect. 
Ferns grown from spores are more symmetrical 
in habit than from division. The adaptability of A. 
cuneatum as a decorative plant is manifested in its 
being utilised in almost every conceivable form of 
decoration, and its value is enhanced by having a 
constitution that succeeds in either stove or green¬ 
house temperature. So extensive are the species of 
Adiantum, that I can only name a few of the many 
meritorious sorts. There is that charming, new, 
English-raised Adiantum, Capillus-veneris imbrica- 
tum, which bears a striking resemblance to A. 
farleyense, but differs in being quite as hardy as 
A. Capillus-veneris. Adiantum cuneatum grandiceps 
is a crested form. A. c.versaillenseis another raised by 
M. Truffant, of Versailles, both of which have a very 
pleasing appearance. So also has A. schizophyllum, 
which came up in a batch of seedlings of A. aemu- 
lum. There are many species of Adiantum that 
require stove temperature, such as A. cardiochlaena, 
A. farleyense; A. macrophyllum, A. scutum, A. 
Veitchii, and a host of others. 
Though I must necessarily omit many useful 
Ferns that have gained for themselves popularity 
among all lovers of what is beautiful, I must make a 
passing reference to the Davallia which has gained 
the designation of the Hare's-foot Fern. There are 
many useful and handsome species, some of which 
require stove temperature, such as Davallia fijiensis 
and the major and plurnosa forms of it, D. foenicu- 
lacea, a very handsome variety, the well-known D. 
Mooreana, and D. hirta cristata, sometimes called 
Microlepia hirta cristata. Most of the Davallias 
have long rhizomes, therefore in potting a quantity 
of drainage will be necessary and the plants raised 
on a mound well above the rim of the pot or pan, so 
that the rhizomes may ramble over the sides at 
their own sweet will. Abundance of water should 
be given during their season of growth, which should 
be diminished at the approach of winter, as many 
of the Davallias are deciduous, very little water will 
be required during their resting period. The 
Gymnogrammes require more heat than any other 
form of the Fern family; many of its species are 
clothed with a gold or silver farinose powder 
therefore the plants should never be subjected to the 
syringe. G. chrysophylla, G. Laucheana and G. 
Alstoni, are the best representations of the golden 
species. G. peruviana argyrophylla and G. Pearcii 
are the best silver kinds, and well-grown plants 
from seedlings make useful and handsome table 
plants. 
For decorative purposes, the species of Pteris 
closely follow the Adiantums in point of value ; it 
also represents many variegated species, such as the 
well-known P. argyrea, P. critica albo-liniata. P. 
serrulata cristata variegata, and others. P. scaberula 
is quite distinct, and succeeds admirably in pans, 
for which purpose it is best adapted. There are 
several other useful species, for instance, the well- 
known P. serrulata, P. serrulata cristata, and the 
doubly crested form of it, which was sent out under 
the name of P. serrulata semi-fastigiata. P. tremula 
is most useful for grouping with other plants, or as 
table plants, and is largely grown around London 
and elsewhere for that purpose. There is a crested 
species of P. tremula sent out under the name of P. 
tremula Smithiana, which promises to become a 
general favourite. 
The Gleichenias are well worthy the care they un¬ 
doubtedly require to produce healthy specimens. 
The compost for potting should be equal parts peat, 
good fibrous loam, and leaf mould, to which should 
be added broken potsherds or charcoal, a sprinkling 
of sharp silver-sand, and a little chopped sphagnum 
moss, which, being retentive of moisture, will prove 
beneficial to the very fine roots which are emitted 
from the rhizomes. Gleichenias require abundance 
of water, therefore a quantity of drainage will be 
necessary. In private collections, where space can¬ 
not be found for growing all the species, a selection 
should be made from G. dicarpa, G. d. longipinnata, 
G. dichotoma, G. flabellata, G. rupestris glaucescens, 
G. Mendelli, and G. circinata. The plants succeed 
best when stood on a bed of ashes or shingle, which, 
if constantly damped between the pots during the 
growing season, will afford surroundings most con¬ 
genial to their requirements and successful culture. 
Gleichenias should get all the light possible, by 
giving them accommodation near the glass, but the 
rays from the sun should be guarded against by 
shading from the outside. 
Basket Ferns. 
Suspended wire baskets of Ferns, judiciously 
arranged, will greatly enhance the appearance of the 
fernery, the plant house, and the conservatory. Side 
baskets of Ferns are admirably adapted for furnish¬ 
ing bare walls. Many species of Adiantum are 
invaluable for this purpose, and foremost of these 
must stand A. cuneatum, which under careful culti¬ 
vation is capable of completely clothing the basket, 
and presenting for our admiration elegant growth of 
green fronds from whichever point it is viewed, A. 
Williamsii being of rather a spreading habit, and 
the fronds being situated on a long, slender stem, is 
a commendable example for basket culture, the 
fronds of which being clothed with a golden farinose 
powder, gives it quite a character of its own. 
As a basket Fern, I know of no other more 
worthy the premier position than Goniophlebium 
subauriculatum, and when its dark green fronds, 
depending from the basket from two to three yards 
in length, are seen to advantage, its merits can be 
realised without further comment. It succeeds best 
in a stove temperature. G. verrucosum, producing 
long pendulous fronds, is also an acquisition for 
basket culture. 
[To be continued.) 
-- 
Iardening Miscellany. 
IRIS PERSICA. 
The spring flowering forms of bulbous Irises are 
now getting more plentiful, and with a continuance 
of mild weather and the absence of heavy dashing 
winds and rains they cannot fail to render the 
gardens and rockeries very ornamental where they 
have been freely planted. Iris persica is a very old 
inhabitant of the gardens of this country, and was 
described both by Parkinson and Miller. It also 
forms the first plate in the Botanical Magazine, now 
considerably over 100 years old. The falls are of a 
pale bluish-green with a velvety-violet, almost black, 
blotch on the lamina, besides being marbled with 
numerous dark spots around the orange ridge or 
crest. The standards are very small and unnotica- 
