June  4,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
507 
report  in  due  course.  He  smiled  approvingly,  and  it  was  suggested 
that  a  bushel  of  each  be  sent  forthwith  as  a  commencement,  with 
an  intimation  that  more  might  follow  if  he  lived . 
t  [R0  was  alive  on  J une  2nd.  and  supplied  the  following  report : — 
“  The  two  types  of  Spinach  (1)  the  ordinary  pale  green  thin-leaved 
as  commonly  grown  in  gardens  under  various  names,  and  (2)  the 
dwarfer  and  later  Longstander  (also  grown  under  fanciful  names), 
with  very  thick  dark  green  leaves,  were  caoked  under  identical 
conditions,  and  served  without  any  dressing  to  affect  their  flavour. 
As  the  quality  of  No.  2  was  only  in  question  it  may  be  said  that 
if  the  leaves  had  only  been  boiled  the  same  length  of  time  as  is 
usual  in  cooking  Spinach  the  quality  must  of  necessity  have  been 
relatively  inferior  to  that  of  the  No.  1  type,  bat  allowed  four  or 
five  minutes  longer  the  thick  leaves  became  tender,  and  all  who 
partook  of  the  two  samples  pronounced  in  favour  of  No.  2  as 
being  somewhat  firmer,  as  well  as  possessing  a  more  distinct  yet 
agreeable  and  true  Spinach  flavour.”  The  genuine  Longstander 
Spinach  is  a  Continental  variety,  the  Lent  a  Monter  of  the  French, 
with  leaves  not  unlike  those  of  a  well-known  variety  of  Tobacco  ; 
it  is  a  valuable  addition  to  our  gardens,  and  cannot  fail  to  be 
acceptable  at  table  to  that  half  of  the  world  not  composed  of 
“  haters  ”  of  this  vegetable,  when  the  cooks  “do  their  duty.”] 
FILMY  FERNS. 
As  Orchids  have  been  aptly  termed  the  aristocracy  of  flowering 
plants,  so  may,  I  think,  these  refined  and  elegant  members  of  the 
great  Fern  family  take  equal  rank  in  their  own  sphere.  It  is  not 
necessary  that  the  appellation  in  either  case  should  cause  the 
misapprehension  of  exclusiveness  pertaining  to  their  culture,  for 
cool  Orchids  are  now,  practically,  within  the  reach  of  all,  and  the 
simple  wants  of  the  Filmy  Ferns  place  their  culture  within  reach  of 
plant  lovers,  although  their  comparative  rarity  bars  the  way  to 
freer  distribution.  So  while  it  is  not  likely  that  they  will  ever 
become  common,  it  is  not  less  certain  that  the  charms  of  but  a 
small  specimen,  or  of  the  most  modest  collection,  will  always  be 
appreciated.  Few  plants  there  are  better  able  to  ingratiate  them¬ 
selves  with  the  amateur,  whose  principal  pleasures  spring  from  the 
pains  of  self-imposed  labours. 
The  natural  requirements  of  the  Filmies  are,  indeed,  such 
atmospheric  conditions  as  reduce  their  care  to  a  minimum,  and 
when  this  is  happily  afforded  by  suitable  environment  in  place  of 
unremitting  attention,  which,  in  this  case,  never  quite  accomplishes 
the  best  results,  we  have  here  a  class  of  plants  specially  commending 
themselves  to  notice. 
He  who  is  an  amateur  in  the  truer  sense  of  the  term  as  applied 
to  gardening  seldom  cares  to  relegate  love’s  labours  to  subordinate 
hands  more  than  ia  absolutely  necessary,  and  some  there  are  who 
in  the  closer  communion  with  the  objects  of  their  affection  will  not 
permit  of  any  assistance,  the  best  of  which  is  jealously  regarded  as 
an  infringement  on  their — an  amateur’s — rights.  Then  it  may 
again  be  noticed  how  easily  and  well  the  Filmy  Ferns  fulfil  these 
conditions.  An  eminent  London  surgeon  was,  some  years  since, 
one  of  the  most  successful  cultivators  of  these  gems  of  the  Fern 
world.  They  were,  I  believe,  the  sole  objects  of  his  horticultural 
tastes  and  care,  and  there  are  few  better  suited,  if  properly  accom¬ 
modated,  to  fill  in  the  little  leisure  of  a  busy  man,  coming,  as  it 
may,  at  irregular  or  prolonged  intervals. 
A  Wardian  case  placed  on  a  table  in  contiguity  to  a  window 
facing  due  north  is  an  ideal  method  and  position  for  the  more 
restricted  culture  of  these  plants  ;  and  though  some  of  the  more 
delicate  varieties  may,  possibly,  enjoy  a  little  more  warmth  than  is 
afforded  by  such  quarters  during  severe  frost,  it  is,  I  believe,  pre¬ 
ferable  to  that  stewing  process  one  now  and  again  notices  these 
plants  subjected  to  by  the  orthodox  gardener.  But  lately  I  saw 
some  good  examples  of  Hymenophyllum  demissum  and  Trichomanes 
radicans,  not  to  mention  a  few  rarer  kinds,  growing  in  an  unheated 
house,  happy  in  their  rockwork  surroundings  and  the  dim  light  of 
a  darkened  roof. 
The  most  popular  of  these  plants  is  probably  the  Killarney 
Fern,  Trichomanes  radicans,  and  though  its  popularity  has  all  but 
entailed  total  extinction  from  its  southern  home  in  the  Emerald 
Isle,  its  amenity  to  culture  and  comparatively  free  growth  makes 
it  fairly  plentiful.  In  a  suitable  position  it  is,  indeed,  of  freer 
growth  than  is  often  accredited  to  it.  Under  one  instance  of 
successful  culture,  where  the  end  of  a  temperate  house  was  shat  off 
for  its  accommodation,  it  grew  so  luxuriantly  that  each  alternate 
year  it  was  replanted  and  nearly  half  the  stock  was  a  surplus  for 
disposal.  In  this  case  nothing  but  fibrous  peat,  with  large  smooth 
pebbles  interspersed,  was  the  medium  employed.  One  important 
point  was  duly  regarded — that  is,  nothing  but  clean  rain  water  was 
used,  and  that  is  one  at  least  of  the  Eecrets  of  success  in  growing 
Filmy  Ferns. 
The  rarer  forms  of  Trichomanes  and  Hymenophyllums  are  well 
adapted  to  the  Wardian  case  treatment  either  in  the  dwelling 
house,  as  previously  described,  or  in  the  shady  corner  of  a  temperate 
plant  house,  but  with  the  exception  of  the  commoner  British 
H.  tunbridgense  and  H.  Wilsoni,  easily  procurable,  they  scarcely 
come  within  the  scope  of  a  brief  article  or  any  but  the  ultra 
enthusiast.  Even  with  the  better  known  T.  reniforme  it  used  to 
be  valued  at  the  rate  of  a  guinea  per  frond  (each  frond  is  but  little 
larger  than  the  oTd  spade  guinea),  and  probably  a  good  specimen  is 
measureablo  by  tbe  same  scale  now. 
Todea.  superba  is  undoubtedly  the  crowning  glory  of  the  Filmies 
in  this  section,  and  with  its  advent  the  older  cultivated  kinds 
seemed  to  suffer  an  eclipse.  Be  that  as  it  may,  a  well  grown 
specimen  of  this  lovely  Fern  always  commands  admiration.  A 
friend  who  has  grown  and  studied  the  wants  and  whims,  which  are 
few,  of  this  variety,  concludes  from  experience  that  a  too  close 
atmosphere,  even  under  perfectly  cool  treatment,  is  undesirable. 
The  only  difficulty  under  general  good  treatment  appears  to  be  in 
a  browning  of  the  fronds,  more  noticeable  in  some  seasons  than  in 
others,  and  not  attributable  to  insect  pests.  In  one  season  par¬ 
ticularly  my  friend  was  very  unhappy  in  the  behaviour  of  his  plants 
and  their  rusty  appearance.  More  air  was  given  by  keeping  a 
door  leading  to  another  house  always  open,  and  this  proved  to  be 
a  simple  but  efficient  remedy. 
With  all  the  Filmies  frequent  drenchings  are  not  desirable, 
though,  of  course,  anything  approaching  to  drought  must  not  be 
t  derated.  An  atmosphere  charged  with  moisture,  yet  without 
stagnation,  with  sprinklings  in  moderation  and  according  to 
weather,  gives  the  happiest  results,  and  when  the  first  visit  in 
the  morning  finds  the  plants  naturally  bedecked  with  drops  of 
green-hued  gold,  beneficently  supplied  by  atmospheric  influence, 
our  Filmies  are  in  a  fair  way  to  thrive  and  yield  that  pleasure  they 
are  so  well  capable  of  doing. — Filice. 
LABURNUMS. 
The  genus  Laburnum  was  formerly  included  under  Cytisus. 
Laburnum  is  the  old  Latin  name  used  by  Pliny.  The  genus  com¬ 
prises  only  three  species  of  hardy,  glabrous,  or  puberulous  trees  or 
shrubs,  natives  of  Europe  and  Asia  Minor. 
L.  vulgare,  common  Laburnum  or  Golden  Chain,  English  ; 
Cytise  des  alpes ,  French  ;  Bohnenbaum,  German,  is  the  most  well 
known  and  universally  admired  example.  Loudon  gives  its  native 
habitat  as  Switzerland,  and  tbe  date  of  introduction  1596,  exactly 
300  years  ago.  “  Nicholson’s  Dictionary  of  Gardening”  assigns  it  as 
indigenous  to  Southern  France  to  Hungary.  It  is  quite  at  home  in 
this  country,  and  that  at  500  feet  above  sea  level,  when  fully  exposed 
to  the  breezes  that  come  across  the  North  Sea  or  German  Ocean. 
In  town  or  country  no  tree  can  vie  with  this  for  beauty  of  yellow 
flowers  in  the  early  summer  or  during  May.  The  simple,  pendulous 
racemes  are  truly  lovely,  and  in  contrast  with  the  pink  and  scarlet 
Thorns  set  off  the  outskirts  of  urban,  suburban,  and  rural  grounds 
or  gardens  to  perfection.  Its  great  advantage  is  that  of  growing 
almost  anywhere,  and  doing  well  either  as  a  dwarf  or  standard. 
Though  flowering  best  when  left  to  itself,  it  bears  cutting  to  almost 
any  extent,  being  a3  tractable  as  a  bash  Apple  tree,  and  produces 
its  racemes  of  flowers  freely  on  the  close  spur  system  of  pruning. 
In  general  contour  it  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  the  Scottish 
Laburnum,  but  is  sparser  in  growth  and  usually  grows  the  taller, 
sometimes  attaining  a  height  of  20  feet.  The  raceme  of  flowers 
is  longer  and  thinner,  pod  clothed  with  hairs,  upper  suture 
thickened  and  keeled,  but  not  winged,  as  in  the  pod  of  the  Scottish 
Laburnum. 
The  seeds  are  decidedly  poisonous,  acting  violently  as  purgative 
and  emetic,  but  very  few  accidents  occur  either  to  man  or  cattle. 
In  gardens  and  grounds  danger  would  be  prevented  by  removing 
the  pods  immediately  they  are  formed,  and  the  trees  should  certainly 
not  be  allowed  within  the  reach  of  cattle.  Dr.  Emil  Wolff,  in 
“  Aschen- Analysen,"  gives  the  following  analyses  : — 
Constituents  of  the  ash  of  Laburnum  vulgare,  syn.  Cytisus 
Laburnum. 
Potash,  K20  . . 
Soda,  Na20  .. 
Lime,  CaO 
Magnesia,  MgO 
Iron,  Fe203  ., 
Phosphoric  acid,  P205 
Sulphuric  acid,  S03 
Silica,  Si02  .. 
Chlorine,  Cl  . . 
Twigs  and  Branches.  Seeds. 
23-77 
15-00 
3-05 
7-20 
•  • 
27-15 
13-60 
1776 
20-00 
305 
1-00 
16-74 
33-60 
4-52 
4-80 
3-96 
1-40 
3-40 
The  analyses  give  no  idea  as  to  the  poisonou*  principle  residing 
in  the  seeds,  nor  of  the  agent  that  renders  the  twigs  injurious  to 
cattle  by  their  unfavourable  action  on  the  urinary  organs  of  animals, 
