February  17,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
141 
The  precaution  necessary  is  never  to  begin  this  sulphuring  till  the 
Grapes  are  larger  than  the  largest  peas  or  nearing  the  stoning  period, 
and  are  free  from  all  danger  of  what  is  termed  rusting.  I  never 
observed  the  least  ill  effect  on  the  Vines  from  this  treatment,  provided 
it  was  not  applied  too  early.  Unless,  indeed,  that  from  over-moisture 
and  improper  ventilation,  the  under  leaves  of  a  Vine  became  warty. 
The  warts  became  black.  By  the  use  of  a  pocket  lens  it  is  easily  seen 
when  all  the  insects  are  dead,  and  their  eggs  become  black  and  vanish. 
Then  the  extra  fire  may  be  stopped,  but  the  sulphur  left  intact.  I  have 
never  once  found  this  remedy  fail  in  clearing  Vines  of  red  spider,  and 
for  many  years  I  have  seldom  or  ever  syringed  a  Vine  from  the 
time  they  were  fairly  started  till  the  fruit  was  all  used  ;  and 
I  have  had  llamburghs  and  other  Vines  keep  their  leaves  intact 
without  a  blemish  till  they  dropped  off  the  pale  yellow  colour  of  Horse 
Chestnut  leaves  when  ripe  and  falling  from  the  trees. — David 
Thomson. 
FAIR  DEVON. 
{Continued  from  page  83.) 
It  is  remarkable  how  the  principal  species  are  found  in  colonies 
along  these  stone  fences,  and  I  have  observed  in  some  places  from 
50  to  100  yards  of  surface  nearly  covered  with  one  sort,  then  another 
long  or  small  space  occupied  with  a  different  kind,  and  so  on  avith 
perhaps  half  a  dozen  distinct  forms  in  succession.  Very  rarely  are 
they  found  mixed,  and  even  species  of  the  same  genus  appear 
antagonistic  to  each  other,  or  at  least  do  not  associate.  Amongst 
these  colonies  of  one  kind  searchers  may  find  some  abnormal  varieties, 
the  crested  and  much-divided  fronds  of  which  render  many  of  the 
forms  of  wild  Ferns  so  extremely  beautiful.  But  the  explorer  requires 
a  keen  eye  and  considerable  patience  to  discover  such  departures  from 
the  types,  and  thousands  of  plants  may  be  examined  without  observing 
the  slightest  tendency  to  anything  unusual.  Some  peculiarity  of 
conditions  seems  necessary  to  set  up  a  variation,  and  even  then  it  is 
rarely  perpetuated  in  a  state  of  Nature. 
One  of  the  most  distinct,  though  it  is  not  the  most  abundant  of 
the  Ferns  that  came  under  my  notice,  is  Asplenium  Adiantum  nigrum, 
the  Black  Spleen  wort,  of  which  such  large  quantities  of  fronds  are 
seen  in  Covent  Garden  Market  as  the  “French  Fern.”  It  is  a 
handsome  Fern,  the  bright  green  shining  fronds  contrasting  with 
deep  purple  or  black  stems,  and  it  is  one  of  the  few  which  can  be 
grown  in  both  sunny  and  shaded  situations.  I  observed  some  marked 
differences  in  the  size  of  individual  plants,  accordingly  as  they  were 
growing  high  up  on  the  “fences  ”  or  near  the  base,  and  the  dimensions 
differed,  too,  on  opjiosite  sides  of  the  same  road,  the  stronger  plants 
being  in  the  lower  situations  and  shadier  snots.  Beyond  this  difler- 
ence  in  mere  size  scarcely  any  variation  was  noted,  though  one  closely 
allied  to  the  finest  of  the  abnormal  forms,  the  beautifully  crested 
grandiceps,  has  been  found  in  Devonshire,  the  original  variety  being  a 
native  of  Ireland.  Another  very  peculiar  and  interesting  variety  of 
this  Fern,  caudifolius,  which  has  the  tips  of  the  fronds  and  pinnae 
terminating  in  long,  curiously  attenuated  portions  like  tails,  has  also 
been  found  on  Dartmoor.  The  Black  Spleenwort  is  one  of  the  easiest 
of  our  native  Ferns  to  grow,  and  is  admirably  adapted  for  a  rockery, 
where  a  light  soil  and  well-drained,  but  not  dry  position,  can  be 
allotted  to  it. 
The  common  Spleenwort,  Asplenium  Trichomanes,  is  largely 
represented  on  the  “  stone  fences  ”  of  the  Devonshire  roads  and  lanes, 
and  ill  one  place  particularly,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tavistock, 
I  remarked  a  length  of  wall  of  over  80  yards  covered  with  this  elegant 
little  Fern,  as  even  and  regular  as  if  they  had  been  cast  in  a  mould. 
The  fronds,  with  their  dark  stems  and  small  rounded  pinnae,  radiating 
equally  from  the  centre,  have  a  unique  appearance,  like  rosettes  dotted 
over  the  surface  and  peering  out  of  every  crevice.  It  is  one  of  the 
most  constant  of  British  Ferns,  and  very  few  variations  have  been 
found,  chiefly  of  the  cres'ed  type,  with  the  tips  of  the  fronds  deejdy 
divided ;  but  it  is  a  doubtful  addition  to  the  attractions  of  the  species 
in  this  case.  I  have  had  plants  of  this  Fern  in  pots  in  a  cool  house 
for  years  great  and  abundant,  small  pieces  of  stone  suiting  it  well. 
Blechnum  spicant,  the  Hard  Fern,  occurs  in  colonies  on  the  walls 
like  the  others,  but  is  found  in  other  situations  as  well,  where  the  soil 
is  moist,  not  too  heavy,  and  free  from  lime.  It  grows  freely  and 
strongly,  and  the  contrast  between  the  tall  fertile  fronds  with  narrow 
pinnae,  and  the  shorter,  broader,  and  more  lasting  sterile  fronds,  is -very 
notable.  For  culture  in  pots  or  on  rockeries  it  is  one  of  the  best. 
Variations  are  more  plentiful  amongst  plants  of  this  Fern  than  of  the 
two  preceding,  and  several  have  had  their  origin  in  Devonshire,  or  are 
found  there  as  well  as  in  a  few  other  districts.  One  of  the  most 
distinct  is  polydactylum,  which  occurs  in  North  Devon,  aiid  has  the 
fronds  divided  into  several  jiortions  at  the  tips.  Congestum  is  a  small 
compact  variety  found  on  Dartmoor,  and  concinnum  is  another  neat 
little  Fern  from  Exmoor.  Of  other  variations  the  crested  forms— 
cristatum  and  ramo-cristatum — are  graceful,  and  a  “sporeling”  from 
one  of  tliese  named  glomeratum,  which  forms  a  dense  crested  mass  of 
growths  in  a  compact  globular  form,  is  one  of  the  most  peculiar  of  all 
the  British  varieties. 
Polypodium  vulgare  is  abundant  on  the  walls  or  “fences,”  hut 
generally  on  rather  higher  and  drier  situations  than  the  others,  its 
slender  creeping  rhizome  requiring  little  soil.  Its  even  pinnate  fronds 
vary  but  little  in  size  and  still  less  in  shape  as  regards  the  majority  of 
colonies,  but  the  Cornish  Polyp(jdy,  P.  vulgare  cornubiense,  must  take 
its  place  amongst  the  most  beautiful  of  the  abnormal  varieties  of  British 
Ferns;  it  has  indeed  been  appropriately  named  elegantissimum.  The 
fronds  are  very  finely  divided  into  small  segments,  until  the  original 
pinnate  character  is  quite  lost,  and  it  could  scarcely  be  recognised  as 
a  Polypody.  It  is  a  charming  little  Fern,  and  should  be  grown  by 
all  who  admire  graceful  foliar  form. 
The  HartVtongue,  Scolopendrium  vulgare,  affords  a  wonderful 
study  in  variation,  and  there  are  Pern  lovers  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Sheffield  and  Manchester  who  have  formed  astonishing  collections  of 
this  Fern.  In  the  Devonshire  roads  and  byeways  it  is  very  abundant 
in  tbe  lower  positions  where  there  is  a  greater  abundance  of  light 
moist  soil.  Even  in  its  simple  forms  tbe  undivided  straight  shining 
green  fronds  are  both  distinct  and  attractive,  but  amongst  the 
“crispum”  forms,  which  have  the  frond  margins  undulated  until 
they  I'esemble  green  bills,  some  exquisite  varieties  have  been  either 
raised  or  found.  Other  types  range  from  those  with  slightly  crested 
or  cut  fronds  to  some  so  densely  and  closely  cut  up  that  they  become 
almost  moss-like,  and  bearing  no  resemblance  to  the  original  forms. 
Conglomeratum  is  one  of  the  most  marked  of  these,  and  is  well  adapted 
lor  pot  culture.  The  Hart’s-tongue  is  an  excellent  Fern  for  the  base 
of  rockeries  or  amongst  old  tree  roots  or  stumps,  and  is  always 
admired.  Devonshire  is  so  remarkably  the  home  of  Ferns  that  some 
excuse  will  be  found  for  devoting  this  letter  to  a  few  of  the  most 
notable,  but  only  the  fringe  of  a  great  subject  has  been  touched,  a  long 
holiday  could  be  delightfully  spent  in  searching  for  these  natural 
-Viator. 
(To  be  continued.) 
VEGETABLES  FOR  HOME  AND  EXHIBITION. 
Broccoli  and  Cauliflower. 
Though  these  vegetables  may  be  classed  as  near  relatives,  the 
former  is  the  hardier  in  constitution,  and  the  latter  has  the  advantage 
in  appearance  and  delicacy.  Both  in  their  season  have  an  equal  claim 
to  popularity,  and  during  recent  years  many  acquisitions  in  the  shape 
of  new  varieties  have  been  introduced.  These  have  had  the  effect  of 
lengthening  the  season  during  which  good  Cauliflower  and  Broccoli 
may  be  produced,  this  end  being  reached  by  successional  sowings  and 
jilan tings.  Like  all  other  members  of  the  family  both  are  gross 
ffeders,  and  a  fairly  strong  soil,  fed  with  good  farmyard  manure,  and 
iifterwards  stimulated  with  a  little  chemical,  are  the  conditions  under 
which  they  thrive  admirably.  Plants  that  have  to  stand  the  winter 
must  be  strong  and  sturdy,  and  it  is  generally  the  ill-fed  specimens 
that  are  the  first  to  succumb.  In  generalities  the  culture  of  the  two  are 
similar,  but  in  particulars  they  vary. 
fi’he  first  sowing  is  to  provide  heads  for  cutting  in  the  autumn,  and 
should  be  made  in  March  and  April,  the  former  in  a  frame  and  the 
latter  in  the  open  ground.  Robust  growth  is  necessary  from  the  first, 
therefore  the  seedlings  must  be  thinned  early  and  planted  before  they 
become  crowded.  If  ground  is  not  vacant  at  this  period  the  seedlings 
should  be  pricked  out  and  afterwards  transplanted.  The  land  ought 
to  be  enriched  with  good  manure  prior  to  planting,  and  the  Broccoli 
dispersed  at  about  2  feet  apart  each  way.  If  the  planting  can  be  done 
in  showery  weather  so  much  the  better,  but  if  not  applications  of 
water  must  be  supplied  to  give  them  a  start.  The  best  varieties  for 
providing  an  autumn  supply  are  Veitch’s  Self-protecting  and  Walcheren. 
Good  Broccoli  at  this  period  is  very  acceptable,  and  it  may  be 
obtained  by  following  the  above  methods. 
Towards  the  end  of  April  another  sowing  should  be  made,  this 
time  for  winter  Broccoli.  Snow’s  Winter  White,  Vanguard,  with  a 
second  sowing  of  Self-protecting,  are  good  varieties  for  the  winter 
supply ;  and  as  seasons,  climate,  and  soils  vary  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
commence  planting  early,  and  continue  till  sufficient  have  been  put 
out.  A  third  sowing  should  follow  in  May  for  providing  heads  the 
following  spring  and  summer,  and  by  this  means  a  succession  of  the 
family  is  practically  kept  up  through  the  year,  as  the  latest  of  the 
Broccoli  is  closely  followed  by  early  Cauliflower.  Leamington,  Model, 
and  Late  Queen  are  good  for  the  latest  sowing,  the  latter  being 
an  excellent  variety,  frequently  producing  heads  in  June. 
Numerous  methods  are  adopted  for  the  winter  protection  of 
Broccoli,  though  in  mild  seasons,  such  as  the  present  one,  it  is  not 
