September 22, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
59 
PROTECTING LATE 
BROCCOLI. 
Like many other things this year, Broccoli are far 
too vigorous in growth, and their stems much too 
succulent in character, to please the far-seeing gar¬ 
dener. This too rank vegetation must be checked, 
and the stems must be a little firmer if the plants 
are to pass through the winter safely. A good 
method of attaining this desirable end is to take a 
digging fork, and, inserting it well under the root, 
lift the whole plant partly out of the ground, then 
to let it fall back gently into its old place, leaving 
the soil around it loose. This will give the much- 
needed check to the plant, and in many instances 
will prove of the utmost service in enabling the 
plants to weather the unkindly breath of winter. In 
localities where the winter often proves severe it will 
be necessary to lift the plants altogether. Take 
them up with as large balls as possible, and re-plant 
close together, with their heads inclined to the north. 
This should be done as soon as possible in the 
northern districts, although a few weeks later (that 
is to say about the middle of October) will be 
sufficiently early for the southern. Although there 
are very many hardy varieties cultivated, measures 
of this kind are necessary in order to make sure of 
saving a fair percentage of the crop, for, with the 
blissful uncertainty of our climate, we can never be 
sure of immunity from frost. In some winters, it is 
true, I have known that splendidly hardy varietj, 
Sutton’s Late Queen, stand unharmed, and this with¬ 
out any protection whatever, but it has been in cases 
where the previous summer has been warm and dry, 
and the winter a mild one. In every instance, how¬ 
ever, it is by far the wiser plan to make sure, and 
afford what protection is possible.— A. S. G. 
FERNS FOR BASKETS. 
In all well-ordered ferneries basket plants find a 
deal of favour. From their habit, many ferns show 
themselves to much better advantage when suspended 
from the roof in wire or wooden receptacles, than 
they do when growing in pots in the orthodox way, 
or when planted out. When growing in this position 
it is imperatively necessary that sufficient supplies 
of water be given, as from their very situation the 
air has free play all round the roots of the plants. 
The wisest plan is to plunge the baskets in a vessel 
of water, when of a size sufficiently small to allow of 
this. When too large to be conveniently handled, 
the water pot must be resorted to. But, remember 
to give a good watering and thoroughly soak the soil 
in the basket for in this case a thing half done is 
much worse than if not done at all. 
I have seen baskets of ferns, in which the outside 
layer of soil was as wet as possible, but the inside in 
a condition that would lead one to suppose it had 
never seen water since first it was placed there. A 
few of the kinds most suitable for growing in baskets, 
both from a cultural and a decorative point of view 
are: 
Adiantum caudatum, which is perhaps better 
known in gardens under the name of A. ciliatum, and 
is unique amongst other members of the genus Adian¬ 
tum for its peculiar habit. The gracefully drooped 
fronds make it singularly appropriate for growing in 
baskets in the stove or in other houses of an equally 
high temperature. It will, however, do fairly well 
during the summer months in a cool greenhouse or 
conservatory. The fronds will grow to a length of 
twelve inches, rooting and producing new plants at 
their extremities. A native of the Tropics generally, 
it is amenable to the same treatment as are other 
members of the same genus, viz. a rich soil and 
abundance of water, this more particularly when it 
is in vigorous growth. 
Asplenium longissimum. —As a suitable occupant 
for hanging baskets, this beautiful stove Fern stands 
unrivalled among its class. No one who has seen the 
graceful effect produced by its long pendulous fronds 
(which often attain a length of six, and occasion¬ 
ally of eight feet), could fail to be struck by its great 
beauty and its distinct and graceful habit. It is a 
native of Malacca and the Straits Settlements, from 
whence it was introduced about the year 1840. To 
succeed, it must have a compost of loam and leaf 
soil or peat in equal parts, with a little sand and 
charcoal. Once it gets established, however, it will 
give but little trouble. One peculiarity exhibited by 
this plant, is its strong objection to changing its 
quarters. It will remain in the same position for 
years, in a state of perfect health, if an occasional 
application of liquid manure be given it during the 
summer months. A solution of cow manure is some¬ 
times used with exceedingly good results. This 
should be varied with an occasional dose of soot- 
water, which will serve to impart that dark green 
hue to the fronds that is, or should be, the aim of 
every Fern grower. 
Asplenium fragrans var. foeniculaceum.— 
This is a very elegant Fern, extremely easy of cul¬ 
ture, and succeeding in either a stove or intermediate 
house. The fronds are longer than are those of the 
type, and the segments are narrowly linear instead 
of being sub-spathulate. A. f. foeniculaceum may 
be easily raised from spores, and nice sized plants 
may be obtained within two or three years from the 
date of sowing. 
Davallia hirta cristata. —This is met with in 
many gardens under the name of Microlepia hirta 
cristata. It is one of the handsomest ferns in culti¬ 
vation, and its light green, heavily tasselled fronds, 
are as elegant in appearance as it is possible for 
fern fronds to be. It needs a stove temperature. 
D. Tyermanni and D. parvula are two species 
having scaly creeping rhizomes and rather small 
fronds, the latter species particularly. D. Tyer¬ 
manni was brought from the west coast of Africa in 
1871, whilst D. parvula hails from Borneo. Both 
need stove treatment. 
Other kinds suitable for our purpose are D. 
elegans (Tropics of the old world), D. dissecta, a 
Javanese species, and D. bullata an East Indian 
plant. All three, however, require to be grown in 
large masses, and are only suitable for large houses 
as they need plenty of room to display themselves 
to advantage. 
Gymnogrammes. —These are some of the most 
beautiful ferns in cultivation. They are perhaps 
rather more difficult to grow than the majority of 
their class, and the establishments in which they are 
grown really well are comparatively few. For 
basket work, G. schizophylla—a native of Jamaica 
and its variety G. s. gloriosa (which is of garden 
origin) are the most suitable. Both of them need a 
stove temperature and plenty of water during the 
growing seasons of the year ; but great discrimina¬ 
tion in the use of the watering can will be necessary 
during the late autumn and winter months. A light 
rich soil with good drainage are also essential to 
success in their culture. 
Nephrolepis. —Several species and varieties of 
this essentially tropical genus are suitable for grow¬ 
ing in baskets. One of the best for this purpose, N. 
davallioides — is common to Malaya. Its fronds will 
attain a length of from two to three feet, and some¬ 
times nearly a foot in breadth. It is a free grower 
and remarkably easy of culture. N. d. furcans is a 
pretty forked or crested variety of the afore¬ 
mentioned species sent out by Messrs. Birkenhead. 
It is an even more robust grower than the species 
from which it originated. N. cordifolia compacta, 
N. pluma, N. recurvata, and N. exaltata are all 
specially valuable for baskets, but none of them will 
do satisfactorily in cool houses. 
Polypodium. —Several members of this genus are 
adapted to our purpose, although their fronds are 
too heavy in character to allow of their being ideal 
basket subjects. They look very well, however, if 
grown in houses of a lofty and roomy type and 
suspended at a good distance from the ground. P. 
aureum, P. loriceum, P. phymatodes, and P. 
phyllitidis may be mentioned as some of the best 
kinds for the purpose. 
Woodwardia radicans. —This is a truly noble 
greenhouse Fern. Its fronds often attain enormous 
sizes. They have been known 6 ft. in length and 
ij ft. in diameter. As will be imagined from this 
description it needs plenty of room to do itself the 
justice due to its magnificent appearance. It is a 
native of the Canaries, South Europe, etc., and was 
brought to this country as far back as the year 1779. 
It will be found to succeed well in a compost of two 
parts of good loam to one of leaf soil, with plenty 
of sharp sand.— Filices. 
The Amateur Orchid Grower’s Guide Book. By H. A 
Burberry (Orchid Grower to the Rt. Hon. J. Chamberlain 
M.P.). Containing sound, practical iniormation and adviee 
for Amateurs, giving a List with Cultural Descriptions of 
those most suitable for Cool-house, Intermediate-house, and 
Warm-house Culture, together with a Calendar of Operations 
and Treatment for each Month of the Year. In Cloth (Crown 
8vo. 5 by 7§), price 2S. 6 d.; post free, 2s. 9d. Publisher, Garden¬ 
ing World, i, Clement's Inn, Stiand London, W.C. 
PEARS ON OBLIQUE 
CORDONS. 
To those who wish to grow the greatest possible 
number of varieties in the smallest possible space, 
planting oblique cordons may suggest itself. It is, 
moreover, one of the best methods of cultivation, 
apart from any consideration of this kind. In most 
establishments the number of sorts grown is a 
secondary matter, it being of primary importance to 
grow a few sorts and to grow them well. In my 
opinion oblique cordons are far preferable to those 
trained in an upright position, because in the former 
the sap is more evenly distributed and as a natural 
consequence the fruit is more regularly borne also. 
If particular notice be taken of upright cordons, on 
the other hand, it will generally be found that they 
have a decided tendency to bear large clusters of 
fruits at the extremities, the remainder of the tree 
being bare of that desirable commodity, not exactly 
a satisfactory method of procedure. 
Another point to be urged in favour of this system 
of cultivation is,that in bad seasons there are decidedly 
better chances of obtaining some sort of a crop. 
Again the size and flavour of the fruit borne by trees 
of this kind will invariably bear favourable compari¬ 
son with that obtained from any other system of 
training, especially if the trees are worked upon the 
quince stock. In the garden at Aldermaston Court 
a number of single oblique cordons trained to a 
south wall have invariably (for the last seven or eight 
years) produced far finer fruit than either pyramids, 
espaliers or vertical cordons. Such sorts as Louise 
Bonne of Jersey, Beurre Diel, Beurre d'Amanlis, 
Beurre Superfin, William’s Bon Chretien, Marie 
Louise, etc., have given especial satisfaction, and 
although the crop has been thin in bad seasons, 
nothing like a failure has been experienced.— A.S.G. 
-- 
AMERICAN PLANT 
NAMES. 
Miss Fanny D. Bergen has contributed an interest¬ 
ing list of American plant names to the Journal of 
American Folk-lore. As might be expected, there is a 
considerable resemblance between the nomenclature 
of American plants and those of the mother country. 
"Adam and Eve" and “Michaelmas Daisy" are 
applied to the same plants both in England and 
America, and "butter and eggs " (Narcissus pseudo¬ 
narcissus), is as common in the Old World as in the 
New. In addition to these names, there are many 
English plant names which are applied to 
American plants of similar appearance or habits. 
The name "Mayflower" used in Cheshire for Car- 
damine pratense, is given in Massachusetts to 
Anemonella thalictroides, and " Star of Bethlehem " 
is transferred from Ornithogalum umbellatum to 
Trientalis Americana. " Ivy,” which in England is 
used only for Hedera Helix, is the name given in 
Virginia to Kalmia angustifolia, and in North Caro¬ 
lina to K. latifolia ; and " ox-eye Daisy ” is a Massa¬ 
chusetts name for Rudbeckia hirta. " Nap at noon," 
the Illinois name of Tragopogon porrifolius, is sug¬ 
gestive of the Shropshire " John go to bed at noon " 
(T. pratensis). Both plants derived their names 
from the closing of their flowers at mid-day. 
" Johnny jump up ” (Viola tricolor) is suggestive of 
" jump up and kiss me,” " leap up and kiss me,” and 
“ look up and kiss me,” English names of the same 
plant. Viola tricolor has in Virginia the name of 
"battle-field flower,” from its luxuriant growth on 
the sites of the Civil War battles. Capsella Bursa- 
pastoris, which has over a score of more or less un¬ 
complimentary names in England, ranging from 
" pick-your-mother’s-heart-out ” to "fat hen," has 
in America acquired two fresh ones in the shape of 
“pepper grass” and “shovel weed." Tobacco, 
which in England is confined to the Tobacco of 
commerce, in America plays an important part in 
plant nomenclature, and we find “ Tobacco weed," 
“ rabbit Tobacco,” “ wild Tobacco,” two species, one 
of which is also called " impudent lawyer,” " tree 
Tobacco,” " real Tobacco,” and “ Indian Tobacco.” 
Besides these, there are " Dutchman's pipes,” "fairy 
smokes,” and "Johnny smokers.” Pretty plant 
names are not conspicuous in America, but " baby 
blue-eyes ” and “ babies’ breath,” are certainly very 
poetical. It is perhaps characteristic of a republican 
country that Daucus Carota, which in aristocratic 
England is called “ wild Carrot,” is known in 
America as " Queen Anne’s lace.” A large number 
