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THE GARDENING WORLD. 
March 21, 1903, 
species of Pavallia, They are not adaptable for pot-culture 
owing to the spreading nature of the rhizomes, but a most con¬ 
venient and successful mode of culture is the use of rafts, either 
round or octagonal, and made of some durable wood. Upon 
these a mound of soil should be placed, the plant having been 
arranged in the centre, thus allowing the rhizomes to ramble 
at will. D. pallida (mo-oreana.) is perhaps the best known, and, 
if treated well, it makes a large plant in a comparatively short 
time. It is easily recognised by its light green foliage and 
the somewhat yellow-scaled rhizomest. D. divaricata (poly- 
antha) has a wide, spreading habit, and in large specimens the 
fronds measure from 5 ft. to 6 ft. in length. Tire distinguishing 
feature of this species is the beautiful magenta tint produced in 
the young fronds. D. epiphylla is a large-growing species with 
a peculiar - habit, the stout, rhizomes being erect instead of pro¬ 
cumbent. This same habit is also characteristic of a cool house 
species, D. pyxidata, but the rhizomes are more slender. A 
robust species with dark green fronds is D. solida, and even 
more robust are its varieties, Lindlevi and ornata. 
D. fijiensis and its varieties constitute a very useful group of 
specimen P aval lias, The largest is major, or robusta, having 
Odon: OGLOSSUM Rossn MAJUS. (Seep. 249.) 
an exceedingly graceful habit. The plant should be given a, 
high position, so that the massive, drooping fronds can be seen 
to advantage. Similar in habit to- the foregoing, but of slightly 
smaller dimensions, is plumosa, with finely-cut plumose fronds. 
The habit of elegans is quite distinct to the other varieties; 
the fronds stand erect, and are of a very feathery nature. D. 
canariensis, the “ Hare’s-foot Fera,” also- makes a, fine specimen 
for the cool fernery. D. (Microlepia) platyphylla and D. hirtx 
cfistata are~'fwo- very robust and easily-grown Ferns. The 
former requires the cool house ; the fronds are erect, and the 
rhizomes not spreading so- much renders it adaptable for pot 
culture. D. hirta cristata is so -well known that there is no need 
to describe it; few Ferns can beat it for making a, bold, shapely 
specimen. 
Smaller-growing Species. 
The majority of these are best grown in shallow pans ; given 
a good open peaty compost, which should be raised so as to 
form a mound, and the rhizomes kept pegged down, very 
desirable plants will be obtained, and worthy of a good position 
in the fernery or in the mixed stove- and greenhouse. Few 
are suitable for the cool fernery. The best, perhaps-, is D. 
elegans, being a very free grower. A deciduous species, with 
finely-cut fronds, is D. chaero-phylla. Very useful for po-t cul¬ 
ture is P Speluncae, having erect-growing fronds of a soft 
nature. A veiy rare and beautiful cool-house species is D. 
Novae-Zelandia.e, the fronds of which are very tender and 
filmy-like ; it should receive a shady and sheltered position. 
For the warm femorv a, fin© assortment is obtainable. P. 
angustata is a very distinct Fern, with thick-textured, simple 
fronds. P. assamica is a lovely species, the young fronds being 
copper-tinted, afterwards assuming a beautiful rich green. D. 
ciliata differs from any other Pavallia in shape and appearance 
of fronds, and the rhizomes are conspicuously covered with long 
black hairs. P. heterophylla is very interesting, the growing 
points of the rhizomes being tinted red, producing a pretty 
effect. The barren fronds are simple, of a deep shining green, 
and produced plentifully, but the fertile- ones are only sparingly 
produced, and quite distinct. P. membranulosa is also worthy 
of a place in the stove fernery. It has rather a stiff habit, and 
the rhizomes have a tendency to grow out horizontally. D. 
pedata is a small-growing species, with peculiar - slender 
rhizomes, resembling a bird’s claw. A most interesting species 
is P. repens (hemiptera) with peculiarly-shaped fronds of a very 
delicate texture. It should be placed in a shady position. D 
strigosa is a very free grower, succeeding well when planted 
out in a warm corner of the cool fernery. P. tenuifolia stricta, 
a variety of e-rect growth, with finely-cut fronds, is suitable for 
both ferneries. It is a very desirable pot plant, being useful 
in all stages-. P. t. Veitchii is a most elegant Fern, with Ions: 
feathery drooping fronds, and may be grown to- advantage in 
either pot or basket. 
Two very rare and curious spe-cies are P. aeuleata and P. 
foeniculacea, The former is distinct from any other species of 
the genus, the rhizomes being restricted in growth, but the 
fronds possess a climbing habit, which attain a great length 
when the plant is in good condition. A remarkable distinction 
on the fine-textured fronds is the presence of thorns, which, no 
doubt, assist the plant in its endeavour to climb. It will be 
found a useful plant for clothing pillars in the fernery. P. 
foeniculacea is a veiy distinct Fern which at first sight reminds 
one more of an Asplenium than a Pavallia, but on close observa¬ 
tion the cuttings of the fronds will be found quite different to- 
the Asplenium. It is a Fern rarely met with, yet it succeeds 
well in the warm fernery. 
Two particularly interesting but very small-growing species 
are P. alpina and P. oarvula. The latter only succeeds when 
the protection of a glass case is given it in a very warm posi¬ 
tion. A veiy pretty object is obtained bv forming a. miniature 
rockerv with small pieces of sandstone and a compost consisting 
of half peat and sphagnum moss ; when Wanted on this it 
thrives and alwavs nro-ves: interesting and attractive. P. 
alpina is- slightlv hardier than parvula, and will grow without 
the protection of a case, but succeeds much better whe-n treated 
in a similar way to that described for parvula, 
Davallias for baskets. 
It is difficult to find any other Ferns that are so adaptable 
for cultivation in baskets as many of the Pavallias are. It is, 
of course, the small-growing forms that are most suitable. 
Those with thin slender rhizomes should be grown in wire 
baskets ; the flexible rhizomes grow veiy freely, and in a short 
time completely cover the basket. Those, however, having 
thick and conspicuous- rhizomes appear much better when given 
rustic wooden baskets. The soil should consist of turfy peat, 
with a small addition of loarn, to which may be added a good 
quantity of sphagnum moss, the latter performing the most 
important function—in basket-Fern culture-—of retaining mois¬ 
ture. P. dissecta is the most useful and best grower, with nut- 
brown slender rhizomes and pale green fronds. P. decora is 
similar in habit, but of slightly larger growth, and is noticeable 
by possessing a pleasing blue-glaucous tint, in the fronds. P. 
bullata, and the- variety Mariesji are well-known basket Ferns, 
the latter being used very extensively for making the Japanese 
Fern balls and other artistic designs which are imported in such 
large quantities. P. pentaphylla is a very distinct species, with 
dark shining green-divided fronds, suitable for both wire- and 
wooden baskets. P. Tvermanni is remarkable for tire silvery, 
scaly covering of the rhizomes, affording a pleasing contrast 
with the dark green fronds : wooden baskets are best for it. 
Similar also in appearance- are P. glabella, and the-larger-growing 
P. griffithiana. An ideal basket plant is P. (Xeucostegia) inr- 
mersa, a. deciduous species with underground rhizomes, which 
permeate the contents of the basket and produce- a good crop 
of fronds, ultimately developing into a perfect pall of light 
straw-coloured foliage. W. J„ Ptson. 
