THE GARDENING WORLD. 
565 
August 29, 1908. 
fhe Culture of 
perns for Exhibition. 
Those who delight in growing Ferns, 
diether for exhibition or otherwise, 
isually make for that exhibit. Some- 
imes we look on in wonder when we see 
.laidenhair Ferns in 18 in. pots, with 
ronds from 18 to 24 inches long, and say 
0 ourselves, “ How on earth do they grow 
uch plants ?” and go home with the firm 
ntention of at least having a try. To 
hose who have that intention, the follow- 
og hints may be of interest:— 
In spring, just before the young fronds 
rake their appearance, select the plants 
ou wish to grow on. Next cut away all 
he old fronds in readiness for potting. 
Compost can be made up of six parts 
ood yellow turfy loam, two parts peat, 
nd one part coarse silver sand. 
This should be well mixed, and in a 
ice friable condition, neither too wet nor 
10 dry. When potting, procure a clean 
ot, at least two sizes larger than that 
hich the plant has lately occupied. The 
iside of the pot should then be smeared 
ith a thin layer of moist cow manure, 
'his can be done with the back of an or- 
inary garden trowel. I as a rule use my 
and. Then place a large crock over the 
rainage hole, next some broken charcoal, 
ten a piece of rough compost, and over 
11 a sprinkling of soot. The amount of 
rainage should depend on the size of the 
ot used. On no account must the soil 
e rammed hard with the potting stick ; 
loderately firm is better for the purpose, 
'aving sufficient space between the soil 
in Effective . 
- Border. - 
In the following notes I will describe to 
te best of my ability a pretty arrange- 
ent for a herbaceous border, which, if 
irried out where there is a border on 
ther side of the walk, has really only to 
: seen to be appreciated. 
In the first place, put up a trellis 6 ft. 
gh at the back of the border ; it may 
‘ a neat wire trellis or a rustic one, the 
tter for preference. Against the trellis, 
1 the side facing the walk, plant a few 
imbers, Honeysuckles, and Clematis of 
fferent sorts suiting the purpose splen- 
,dly; also Roses, such as Crimson 
jambler, Captain Christy, Gloire de 
iion, and others, may be utilised for the 
me purpose-. These must be carefully 
ained on to the trellis as growth pro- 
eds, until the whole is covered, but with- 
it lettmg one sort get mixed up w'ith 
e others. 
^ e next turn our attention to the front 
ging for the border, which will be a 
me or alpine edging, and for this pur 
'Se a quantity of rough stones of dif- 
tent shapes and sizes must be procured, 
order to fix them in position, take out 
rut three or four inches deep at the 
ge of the border, then place the stones 
mg the rut, leaving a space of three 
hes between each. Have a few- jutting 
t on to the walk a few inches; some 
av be level -with the ground, whilst 
and the rim of the pot to allow for water¬ 
ing- , 
vVith regard to watering, the plants 
should be examined in the growing season 
at least once a day, twice is better. Never 
let the soil become sodden or too dry. 
Water should never be given overhead, 
but just above the rim of the pot; avoid 
giving cold tap water. A good supply of 
water should always be kept in the house 
in which the plants are growing, and that, 
preferably, rain water. Shade the plants 
before the sun gains power, syringe in the 
morning when the young fronds are open¬ 
ing, and, when the first fronds are about 
a month old, cease syringing and give 
weak soot water about once a week. The 
plants may be raised from the staging by 
placing two pieces of wood at either side 
of the drainage hole, beneath the pot. 
Brown or withered fronds should be cut 
away as they appear. 
In winter, when the plants are resting, 
they should be kept in a temperature of 
at least 55 degs., and in an upright posi¬ 
tion. Never dry- the plants off, but give 
water when required. Potting may be 
practised about the same time every year, 
till they attain the standard for exhibit¬ 
ing. I worked my plants on from 48’s, 
and with the above culture they are 
now in 18 in. pots, with fronds 2 ft. 
long, and have gained three first prizes, 
the species is Adiantum cuneatum. 
Thos. Francis. 
Staffs. 
others may be three or four, and even six 
inches high, in fact the more irregularly 
they can be placed the better. In the 
spaces left between the stones, and also 
at the back and in front of them, plant a 
few of the more easily-grown alpines, such 
as Aubrietias, Arabis, Helianthemums, 
Sedums and Saxifrages of sorts; also 
Hypericums, Alyssums, Pinks, and many 
others, the more variety the better, but 
always plant in small clumps of three or 
four plants of a kind together. The 
effect of such an edging, when the stones 
are almost overgrowm. has only to be 
tried once, and it will be always wanted ; 
no more stiff edgings like Box-wood or 
other subjects - all of the same material 
will be fancied afterwards. 
The planting of the herbaceous plants 
now' remains to be done, but it is by no 
means the least important item. For this 
a certain amount of taste in arranging 
for colour effect, and a thorough know¬ 
ledge of the plant^s regards their height 
and time of flowering are most essential 
in order that the early and late-flowering 
sorts may be evenly distributed over the 
border. 
None of the tallest growing plants 
should be used in this case, else the trellis 
effect w-ill be partly- spoiled, the highest 
grown plants should not exceed 5 feet, ex¬ 
cept perhaps for a very' few to prevent the 
height of the border from being too for¬ 
mal. The best effects are produced bv 
arranging the plants three of a kind in a 
clump, the plants being about a foot apart 
with a wider space between the different 
sorts, the distance apart being lessened 
w'ith the dw'arfer varieties when nearing 
the front. Arrange the groups in an ir¬ 
regular manner over the border, always 
avoiding anything in the way of straight 
lines; care must also be taken not to have 
the heights too formal in the gradual rise 
towards the back, a few groups higher 
than the generality planted at intervals 
throughout the border being wonderfully 
effective. 
Space w’ill not permit me to give a list 
of plants suitable for the border, so I 
must be content to refer the reader to a 
careful perusal of some of the trade cata¬ 
logues, which are now prepared in such 
an excellent manner, and as a rule are 
to be safely relied upon. 
R. Robertson. 
-++>- 
u Gold Producing Soil.” 
A Book on French Gardening. 
The above is the title of a book on 
French gardening, or intensive cultiva¬ 
tion on the French system, and has been 
written by T. Newsome, A.R.C. Sc. 
(Lond.), etc., who is the principal of the 
Science, Art and Technical Schools at 
Stroud, near Gloucester. In the first 
chapter he deals w'ith what French 
gardening is, and explains how the opera¬ 
tor can supply protection to vegetables 
w'hich are required practically all the year 
round. The protection, of course, is 
chiefly necessary during w'inter and 
spring, W'hen the temperature is low. The 
writer states that under the best con¬ 
ditions employed by the French system 
not only' one crop but from three to a 
dozen may be secured from the same plot 
of soil during the year. He then shows 
how, by' commencing about the middle of 
February, with a frame that is sown with 
lettuces in the autumn, and sowing 
Radishes and Carrots amongst them, the 
Radishes are ready' for pulling in the 
course of four or five weeks, and these are 
followed by the Lettuces planted there in 
the autumn, while the Carrots are thinned 
and Cauliflowers planted as the Lettuces 
are cut. The carrots are pulled in April 
and May and the Cauliflow'ers in May-and 
June. This makes four crops in less than 
five months. As soon as the Cauliflowers 
are cut something else goes on the same 
ground. 
Under the system of gardening about 
700 hundred tons of manure are utilised 
on one acre of ground, first for the pur¬ 
pose of supplying heat and later on in 
manuring ground. This amount need not 
be necessary in after years, but in any' 
case the soil gets so rich that the top is 
sometimes skimmed off and sold to far¬ 
mers. Other chapters deal with where, 
w-hen and how to begin, how to cover the 
ground with frames, bell-glasses, cloches, 
etc. Protection, watering and other oper¬ 
ations are all dealt with in remaining 
chapters, very full details being given. 
The book runs to 83 pp.. and is published 
by Messrs. Frederick Steele and Co., 
Ltd., I.ightpill Mills, Stroud, Gloucester, 
at is. 
-♦♦♦- 
Cemetery Fruit. 
The Borough Council of Fulham re¬ 
cently announced that they were prepared 
to receive bids for the fruit—Apples, 
Pears, etc.—as it stood at their new- ceme¬ 
tery at North Sheen, near Mortlake, 
Surrey. 
