JUNE 1, 1903. ~ 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
5 ' 
result. Where this does not naturally 
occur a top-dressing of leaf mould should 
be applied, at least once a year. 
All beds prepared for ferns should have 
2 depth of at least two feet of rich mould 
and a small proportion of sand. Sloping 
beds, banks, mounds, and rockwork will 
ensure good drainage. A. level, even sur- 
face is not desirable for a fernery ; it is un- 
suitable .to. ferns, and utterly ineffective. 
The transition from flower garden to fern 
garden need not be too sudden; a few of 
the hardier ferns can mingle with the 
flowers outside as a gentle prelude. <Ar- 
range the entrance so that it commands 
the most extensive and effective view. The 
ground should incline gradually upwards 
towards the back, so that tier upon tier 
of ferns will rise one above the other in 
imposing array. A rise of only 4 or 5 ft. 
in a small area, provided tree ferns and 
other’ fall growing varieties are judiciously 
grouped at thé-rear, will give an impres 
sive' appearartce of height. Clay, stones, 
rocks, ortany rough stuff obtainable can be 
used as the foundation; to bank it up and 
over this 2 ft. of leaf mould should be laid. 
Better effects can be obtained if the 
fernery is oblong, and if it is square the 
main lines should run from corner to cor- 
ner, thus giving a greater length and bet- 
ter effect to the view. There should be 
no_more paths than convenience actually 
requires, and these should be rendered as 
informal as possible. The principal path 
may run from the entrance the length of 
the fern garden, winding slightly about 
among the ferns, only here and there vis- 
ible, and nowhere obtrusive. 
Water is an inseparable associate of the 
fern. Therefore, if a trickling stream of 
water can be arranged with the aid of 
rocks to simulate the waterfall in a moun- 
tain gully so much the better. It will 
enhance the effect, render the atmosphere 
more permanently moist, and make the 
illusion more complete. Rocks should 
enter largely into the construction of a 
fernery, especially those of a soft absor- 
bent character, as they are always storing 
up moisture and giving it forth again by 
gentle evaporation. More variety and 
pleasing irregularity can be obtained with 
rocks than almost anything else, and the 
crevices and interstices afford an ideal 
home for the little fern. Care shovld 
be taken to provide a sufficient body of 
soil in the rocky crevices. | Tychopodium 
and the hardier Adiantums will clothe’ the 
soil at their base and carpet every space 
where leaf mould and moisture offer an in- 
ducement to remain. © The walls of the 
structure should be masked and concealed 
from view by trailing creepers and Aspa- 
ragus fern, of which' there are now so many 
beautiful and hardy varieties, and also by 
numerous Elk’s Horn ferns and Stag’s 
Horn ferns (Platycerium). _ We do not 
want to be confronted by and continually 
reminded of these material limitations. 
We prefer to use our imaginations as to 
what lies beyond. Any posts or supports 
should be similarly clothed. Old tree fern 
stumps, if they can be procured, should be 
made abundant use of. They serve excel- 
Doodia 
lently for terracing when placed horizon- 
tally as receptacles for ferns and lycopods, 
as these revel in the rotting mould and 
. fibre. 
Consider in disposing of ferns their in- 
dividual predilections, whether they would 
court the darkness and moisture of a hol- 
low or prefer its margin, or whether they 
would invite exposure on a knoll. To suit 
all tastes let there be sloping banks and 
shady ‘hollows, miniature gullies, rocky 
crevices, and putting knolls. Most ferns 
prefer a sight elevation, for though they 
have an affinity for moisture they do not 
like it permanently at their roots. 
There are ferns whose graceful forms we 
would wish to see from top to base. Let 
them, therefore, rise above the rest, and on 
a tall stump or a rocky eminence display 
their noble lines to the best advantage. 
The Harefoot ferns (Davallia) are among 
those that demand an eminence, and so 
that the beautiful silvery Rhiyomes can be 
duly appreciated as they droop gracefully 
downwards. This will also ensure good 
drainage, one of the essentials to their 
growth. Hanging baskets distinctly add 
to the appearance of a fernery. |The 
drooping varieties of Asparagus fern, that 
have something the effect of a delicate 
green veil, are eminently suited to this 
purpose; so also are the Alpine Strawber- 
ries, hardy Adiantums, Pteris Scaberule, 
Polypodium rugulosum, Niphobolus — lin- 
gua, and others.. They should be encou- 
raged with an occasional renewal of the 
soil and regular supplies of liquid manure 
to make a luxuriant growth, and thus, as it 
were, to form an aerial garden. Let them 
be suspended at different heights, so that 
there will be no stiff uniformity in their 
arrangement. Wherever the eye wanders 
it must rest on ferns. 
The following is a list of ferns suited to 
this semi-open air culture. Besides tree 
ferns, of which there are many beautiful 
and effective varieties and hardy Adian- 
tums, there are the Pteris family, form- 
ing an ornamental and varied group, viz., 
P. incisa, P. ouvran, P. scarerula, P. 
serrulata, P. tremula, P. argyrea (the lat- 
ter one of the few hardy variegated ferns), 
Struttioteris Germanica, Woodwardia Ja- 
ponica, W. radicans, W. christata. The 
last three are strong growing, handsome 
ferns, which will even bear with rough 
treatment. They produce an abundance 
of off-sets, and are, therefore, easily pro- 
pagated. The Bird’s Nest fern (Asple- 
nium andeyianum nidus) is distinctly 
handsome, growing to a great size, and 
with its rich green burnished fronds is a 
conspicuous feature. Asplenium obtusa- 
tum, Anthyrium felix femina christatem, 
the well-known lady fern, of a delicate 
. shade of green and feathery form. It 
should have abundant moisture and a rich ” 
peaty soil. Blechnium polypoidoides and 
B. spicant, the latter known as the hard 
fern, is another variety that wants a moist 
peaty soil. It should share with Osmunda 
regalis a most peaty hollow. Cyrtomium 
atratum, Davaillia dubia, Dictogramma 
Japonica variegata, Diplayium Thwaitesii. 
candata, with its succession of 
pretty young. pink fronds; Thlebodium 
aureum; Lastrea filex-mas cristata, the 
male fern, is exceedingly handsome; and , 
with T. erythropus wants mellow loani or 
peat and a shady _ position. © Tomarias 
should be grown in abundance. They are 
very hardy and quite indispensable ; their 
fronds have always the fresh, glossy ap- 
pearance of young growth.’ The crested 
varieties are becoming rare, but if obtain- 
able are very choice, having that rare dis- 
tinction that crested growth alone can give. 
Microlepia elegans. Niphobolus lingua 
should be placed on an exposed elevation. 
It wants a rather sunny position and a 
soil composed mainly of brick and saud. Tt 
should never be allowed to suffer from ex- 
cess of water. Onoclea sensibilis, on the: 
contrary, should be given'a damp: place. 
With Microlepia elegans we will close what. 
must necessarily be but an incomplete list 
of desirable subjects for the fern garden. ° 
PEOSESO SE > 
MISTLETOE. 
There is something strangely attractive 
about this curious plant, something mys- 
terious that rouses the imagination. It is 
attractive, and yet at the same time 
slightly repellent, for it has somewhat of a 
vampire nature, in that it sucks out and 
lives upon the life-blood of some honest 
tree. Moreover, it is both ugly and 
pleasant to see, for it hangs in rather un- 
gainly bunches and masses, and yet is beau- 
tiful in detail. In form it is so simply 
constructed that it gives one the impres- 
sion of being low in the scale of vegetable 
creation. It is built almost as simply as a. 
seaweed, but there is a strange and rare 
kind of beauty in the individual twigs, and 
especially in the relation of color between 
the golden-green leaf and the pearl-white 
berry. 
The seed can be sown by fixing the berry 
either in an artificial slit, or a crack in 
the bark of any likely tree, preferably ou 
the underside of a branch. Such sowings 
are often ineffectual because the seed is 
used before it is ripe. —‘ The Garden.” 
PEO Stee StS 
AN EXOTIC LILY. 
An exotic Lily from the East, a very 
curious plant, can now be obtained in 
England. It requires neither water nor 
earth, gradually produces leaves, and even 
blossoms apparently without extraneous 
assistance of any kind. It is extremely 
interesting to watch, its development, and 
adds another novelty to the collection of 
bulbs for the sitting room. The J apanese 
Lily in the china bowl among pretty little 
pebbles was a charming joy, but this plant 
is still more curious and absorbing.— 
“Graphic,” 
