1044 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 24, 1904. 
An Interesting Fernery. 
I lie varied modes of growth of different species and varie¬ 
ties of Ferns necessitate that the method of cultivation shall 
be likewise varied, and this necessity becomes in reality a 
stepping-stone to an artistic and tasteful arrangement of the 
whole. 
A striking instance of how this intelligent consideration of 
the habits and requirements of the various Ferns led to an 
exceedingly pleasing arrangement of the whole ferneiy came 
recently before my notice, and is, I think, worthy of note. On 
a stage were pots and pans of such as Adiantum farleyense, 
A. W illiamsii, and A. elegans, Davallia canariensis, Lomaria 
ciliata, and many others that may well be confined to the limits 
of these receptacles. The back wall was furnished with Platy- 
ceriums growing on blocks of cork held up by inconspicuous 
wires. A small rockery at the far end formed an ideal spot for 
many choice bits of Lastreas, Blechnums, Nephrodiums and 
others, which plainly showed by their healthy vigour they were 
“ at home ”; but perhaps the most notable and pleasing 
feature of all was a number of columns formed of wire netting 
lined with growing moss and filled with soil and furnished with 
creeping and ramifying Ferns, such as Davallia bullata, Adian¬ 
tum dolabriforme stenochlaenas, and the lovely Selaginella 
laevigata. Some were crowned with a plant of Nephrolepis ex- 
altata, and others with other suitable kinds. These plant- 
clot lied cylinders stood informally in convenient places, an iron 
rod through the centre serving To support them, and undoubt¬ 
edly the Ferns grew better and displayed their charms to 
greater advantage than could possibly have been the case had 
they been grown in pots. Heather Bell. 
Stephanotis floribunda. 
A stove plant of great value which should find a place in 
every stove, although it is oftener found doing duty cohering a 
back wall than growing for the supply of flowers; and while it 
is exceedingly useful to cover a back wall, with a little extra 
trouble it may be made to furnish a nice lot of flower. Take 
a stove that is three-quarter span or lean-to—although not 
model structures for plant-growing, they are often met with as 
such—and has a space of back wall to cover. The StephanoOis 
will very soon cover it, and on it reaching the top of the vndl a 
few wires run the length of the house, about 6 in. apart, and 
the Stephanotis trained thereon, it will be found on this por¬ 
tion of the plant that the flowers will be produced very freely. 
There is another important point to be considered where the 
Stephanotis has to cover the wall and is expected to supply 
flowers, and that is the mode of planting. It should not be 
over-potted, but grown on until a large pot or tub is required 
to hold it, when it should annually be top-dressed, and during 
growth have plenty of water and a little feeding. In the 
course of a year or two the pot or tub will get full up with a 
mass of roots, when the sides of the tub will have to be 
heightened in another way ; and a good one is to place some 
thick turves under the tub. The roots will very soon take 
possession of these. I think nothing beats a good fibrous 
sandy loam for the Stephanotis to grow in. 
The annual pruning must also have attention, and when 
doing this all unnecessary shoots should be spurred, and tie in 
those that are required to fill the wires; and during growth 
the shoots must be laid in to keep the plant tidy in appear¬ 
ance. The slight pruning and the confinement of the roots 
render the Stephanotis more floriferous than if given too much 
root-room. 
The Stephanotis is very liable to be infested with bug, and 
if bug gets in a house it will very soon be at home on this 
plant. It is a good plan when giving the plant its annual prune 
and clean to take it right off the wires and tie the whole plant 
in a loose bundle and lay it down and give it a good syringing 
with the following mixture—4 oz. soft-soap and two wineglasses 
of paraffin in three gallons of hot water, and after the soap is 
dissolved well work with the syringe to mix the whole, and 
apply to the plant luke-warm. The syringe should be emptied 
into the can and on the plant in turn. This application should 
be allowed to remain on the plant for a time, when it should be 
well syringed with clean water, and then, when convenient, tied 
up in its place. 
It is well to syringe with above mixture a few times during 
growth to keep it clean, and kept well syringed with clean 
water. 
Heavy shading is unnecessary; in fact, it is detrimental to 
the production of flowers. These few simple rules, attended 
to as directed, are an excellent average answer to the question, 
Why does my Stephanotis not flower? ” J. R. B. 
Spiraea Billardi. 
There are certain classes of plants so important to the em¬ 
bellishment of grounds that without them there would be less 
of 'beauty in gardens than there is. One of them is the 
Spiraea, There are dozens of species of this, and easily a dozen 
jjrominent in all large collections. One of them always 
looked for is Spiraea Billardi. It is one of those which bear 
their flowers in finger-like spikes; and as its flowers are pink 
in colour it is very effective. In fact, S. Billardi is one of the 
very best of its class, while -one of the oldest. 
Botanies make it a variety of S. salicifolia,, a white-flowered 
one, but in addition to its pink flowers there is no great re*- 
semblance between them. 
What makes; S. Billardi much valued is its habit of produc¬ 
ing blooms throughout the season. We get its first flowers 
towards the middle of June. Then, right up tto frost, if the 
bush be vigorous, there are spikes of flowers to be seen almost 
the whole time, especially should the old decayed heads be 
pruned away asi fast as formed. 
As is well understood, early-blooming shrubs need pruning 
as soon as flowering is over late one® in winter. S. Billardi 
seems to havei an intermediate place, much as S. Bumalda and 
a few others have. Left unpruned in winter, it flowers very 
well, and pruned at that season it also* flowers. The most 
vigorous blossoms coma from winter-pruned specimens;, and 
some; of the best flowenheads possible; are to be met with on 
bushes; which have been pruned almost to; the ground. But 
in the case of these clos'eiy-pruned subjects the flowering is 
apt to he more profuse in, late; summer than before. 
When one has two bushes we would advise that one should 
represent spring pruning, the other that of winter. Joseph 
Meehan in “ The; Florists’ Exchange.” 
[The above beautiful Spiraea forms a close, upright growing 
bush with terminal spike-like panicles of flowers. The; Index 
Kewensis refers it to; S. salicifolia as a, variety of that old- 
fashioned and well-known plant. In the Kew Hand-list of 
trees and shrubs a; variety is; recorded a® S. Menziesii Billiardii, 
the latter name showing a different spelling from the above. 
Apparently the; same plant is; recorded in a, nursery list under 
the spelling of S. Billardderii. Apparently the name is little 
known, or not much recognised in this country. At least five 
varieties of S. salicifolia have been named and described in 
books many years ago in this country.] 
Begonia Gloire de Sceaux. 
This plant makes useful decorative stuff from the new year 
onwards, its coppery bold foliage, even without the flesh-col¬ 
oured flowers so freely produced, being enough to recommend 
it. for a vase plant. Cuttings inserted early in May and grown 
on without any pinching are now from 2 ft. to 3 ft. high and 
yet only in 5|-in. pots: others have two and three shoots 
respectively from being stopped once near the base. The 
panicles of flowers remain upon the plant a great length of 
time if the overhead moisture is kept at bay. Another item in 
its culture is careful watering from October onwards, as the 
plant is apt to go black at the base and decay. Given a mean 
temperature of 60 deg., the plant, will continue to be of much 
value well into April. J. M. 
