654 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
August 1, 1903. 
/ Readers' Competition—continued. 
their quarters in a good light and airy position of the green¬ 
house. 
It will be found when the plants start to grow after grafting 
they will require frequent repottings, A check should always be 
avoided until the plants have made sufficient growth, to ensure a 
good display of flowers. A suitable compost for potting is 
fibrous loam, and plenty of sharp sand added, using plenty of 
drainage in the bottom of the pots when potting, which should 
be performed as the roots of the plants fill the pots. It is im- 
posible to give a stated time, as some of the plants are sure to 
make more growth than others, lienee requiring attention first. 
It is a good plan to transfer some when big enough, “ say when 
in 5-inch pots,” to hanging baskets. The plant being naturally 
of a trailing habit, shows itself off to far better advantage when 
hanging than is the case in pots. But, of course, this plan is no 
good for grouping, and when in pots the plants require some 
good stiff sticks for support, as it will be found the growths are 
very brittle and need such. Liquid manure can be given about; 
onice or twice a week, when the plants get- well established with 
good results, although it is not advisable to have it too strong, 
being far better to give two weak waterings than one strong one. 
Although this plant, is not very subject to insect pests, a sharp- 
look-out should be kept, for red spider, which puts in an appear¬ 
ance when conditions favour it. A. H. 
Ivy Grafted on Aralia Sieboldi 
The kinship existing between the Aralia and Hedera (the Ivy) 
permits of a union being effected with ease, and if a proper selec¬ 
tion of subjects be available, grace and dignity are also secured 
after the growth of the scion, is sufficiently advanced. In order 
toattain thist result the stock must be the Aralia—either tender 
or hardy varieties will suit, but as the Ivy thrives only under 
cool treatment by all means select such a hardy stock as A. 
Sieboldi. Many "persons will possess numbers of these which 
have outgrown their usefulness as decorative plants—long, leggy 
things, with! bare stems and only a cluster of leaves at the top. 
When the objects of their quondam admiration have reached this 
stage of decrepitude many people throw them to the rubbish 
heap. To those who have practised this summary method of dis¬ 
posal I would counsel second thoughts, and advise them to grant 
a new lease of life in partnership with the Ivy. 
I have found the early part of next month a good time to per¬ 
form-the operation .of grafting. All that is necessary is to secure 
moderately strong shoots of the Ivy—say about the thickness of 
a lead pencil and two or three inches.long. It is not necessary 
that.a. growing point be left. A shoot answering this description, 
with dormant buds or short side growths, is most suitable, which 
prepare by slicing both sides at thick end, leaving it wedge- 
shaped. Then proceed to make two -or more incisions on the 
Aralia stock, according as its thickness will permit of insertions, 
directly under the tuft of leaves, either upwards or downwards, 
in a direction slanting inwards and of sufficient length to fit the 
pieces to be inserted. 
Generally speaking, the outer edges of both sides of the incised 
stock will not fit both sides of the wedge-pointed scion, the stock 
being thicker than the scion, but this is not essential to success, 
as. if the outer edges correspond exactly, and be firmly bound 
together with tying material, a complete union will take place in 
a few weeks, and the inner edges in process of time will gradually 
get incorporated with the tissue of. its partner. In this connec¬ 
tion I may say the upward cut in the stem which is to receive 
the graft is probably the best, as no sooner has it begun to grow 
than it assumes the downward habit, whereas if the downward 
cut be made growth is naturally upwards, necessitating some 
tying in as growth advances, in order to achieve the result 
desired, viz., a fine pendent drapery of Ivy proceeding from the 
base of the massive crown of Aralia leaves. 
If some contrast of colour is wanted variegated Ivy should be 
employed. When the operation is completed place in a some¬ 
what close structure for several weeks, siiading from bright sun¬ 
shine, and dewing the plants overhead. A fine appearance is not 
to be expected for the current season, but towards autumn of the 
next really graceful plants can be formed, which are admirably 
adapted for decorative purposes in a mansion house, either stand¬ 
ing on high pedestals as single specimens, or what is probably an 
ideal place, on a staircase window sill ; and if larger plants be 
desired a shift into bigger pots, as growth advances makes them 
errand objects in a mixed collection on an exhibition table. 
° Another plan can be tried if the cultivator wishes only a pro¬ 
fusion of Ivy, by beheading the Aralia stems altogether and cleft 
graft the Ivy on the summit. Treated in either way, these hardy 
things, which withstand a deal of ill-usage, deserve a place in any 
decorative scheme, and are a source of interest to the operator 
as well, without casting any disparagement on the merits of the 
regal Palm and ornate Fern, which are rightly considered in¬ 
dispensable in any work of adornment, and stand in no need of 
advocacy. J. M: 
July 16th, 1903. 
Gymnogrammes. 
Gymnogrammes constitute a very fascinating genus of tropical 
Ferns. Many of them are of graceful habit and of considerable 
hardihood, and, if inured by a process of hardening off, they 
will stand in good condition in apartments for a considerable 
time. They succeed well at the cool end of the stove on the 
sunny side. Afford a light shading, and abundance of water 
during the summer months. In the winter, a critical time for 
Gymnogrammes, they require much less water. The condition 
as on the dry side will suit them well. Water must not be alloweu 
to stagnate at any time, and to secure this end rather small size 
pots, which should be well drained, is far the best for them. The 
usual compost for Ferns will be found suitable for them. Loam, 
leaf mould, peat, in equal parts, witli a liberal dash of silver 
sand, will be found suitable. The plants must not be syringed, 
or the farinose pmwder which covers the under surface of many of 
them will be dispersed over the whole plant, rendering them very 
unsightly. Many of the varieties vary considerably from spores. 
Gymnogramme calomelanos is the most remarkable in this re¬ 
spect. The type of this plant produces fronds from one to two 
feet long, eight inches in width at the base, with lobed pinnules 
and light yellow powder slightly dusted on the under side, and 
will grow satisfactorily in a warm greenhouse, and is one of the 
best of the gold ferns for the decoration of rooms. The variety 
Gymnogramme calomelanos chrysophylla is of smaller growth, 
densely coloured with rich yellow powder on the under surface. 
It is a dense growing plant of sturdy habit. Spores of this 
variety generally produce plants of Gymnogramme calomelanos. 
Gymnogramme Aistoni is of similar habit and growth, but with 
incurved pinnules, a condition hardly improving the plant for 
decorative purposes. A deal of interest is attached to the plant 
owing to this freak, which is unique in Fern life. Gymnogramme 
calomelanos Parsoni is an instance of garden-raised Gymno¬ 
grammes, falling short of decorative effect, the heavily-powdered 
fronds rendering the cresting of this and other crested Ferns in 
the genus clubby and stunted in appearance, as they show 
nothing of the delicate multified tassels. Of other crested Ferns 
Gymnogramme decomposita is a fine plant, resembling Gymno- 
gi^imme calomelanos in form. It has large pinnules with white 
powder on the under side of the fronds. It has a good constitu¬ 
tion, and will stand a good deal of hard wear without ill effect, 
Gymnogramme Pearcei is* of taller growth, its fronds being 
broader. Its pinnules being larger than in the type, it attains 
a height of three feet or more, and carries as many as 20 fronds. 
Gymnogramme pulchella produces finely divided fronds one 
foot high, triangular in form and densely covered with white 
powder on the under surface. It is the most difficult to keep in 
condition during the winter months, as a dose or two of water will 
rot the roots- ini dull weather, while on the other hand it is very 
liable to be “draught struck.” The variety Gymnogramme pul¬ 
chella wettenlialliana is a small plant with heavily-crested tips 
and pinnate, the plant being almost covered with whitish yellow 
powder. Gymnogramme sulphurea grows a foot or more high; 
its fronds are spreading, covered on the under surface with a 
coat of sulphur yellow powder. The pinnules are very distant; 
the fronds are consequently thin. 
Gymnogramme sulphurea grandiceps has the tips of the fronds 
heavily crested. Gymnogramme trifoliata grows two feet or more 
high, with trifoliated and narrowly divided pinnules, which 
are dusted with white powder. Among other Gymnogrammes of 
less decorative importance, but which are interesting from their 
similarity to other Ferns, are Gymnogramme gracilis, which re¬ 
sembles a thin form of Aspidium aculeatum and Gymnogramme 
tomentosa, with hairy stems (rachises), the frond habit and 
pinnae of which resemble Pteris longifolia, J. Beax. 
The Gardens, Cleveland Lodge, Great Aytoij, Yorkshire. 
*** The prize last week in the Readers’ Competition was 
awarded to “W. A.,” for his article on “Choice Bulbs for 
Sheltered Positions,” page 643. 
