September  2,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
223 
numbers  plunged  in  their  summer  quarters,  Carnations,  Koses,  and 
Violets  being  especial  favourites  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris. 
The  conservatory  is  a  very  prettily  arranged  building,  quite  out  of  the 
ordinary  type.  The  inside  walls  are  so  arranged  as  to  form  miniature 
rocks  planted  with  various  Ferns,  Begonias  of  the  Rex  varieties,  small 
waterfalls  trickling  down,  and  fountains  playing  in  the  shady  nooks 
having  a  very  cool,  refreshing  appearance.  In  the  centre  of  the  building 
is  a  very  line  Tree  Fern,  around  which  is  arranged  a  circular  group  of 
choice  flowering  plants.  Quantities  of  plants  and  cut  flowers  are  required 
for  the  decoration  of  the  mansion. 
In  the  kitchen  gardens  the  crops  show  little  signs  of  the  drought ;  the 
vigorous  growth  at  once  clearly  demonstrates  that  no  mere  “  tickling  ”  of 
the  surface  is  allowed,  but  deep  tilth  and  good  feeding,  cleanliness,  and 
doing  the  work  at  the  proper  time  are  the  most  certain  roads  to  “  success.” 
Strawberry  culture,  both  forcing  and  outside,  is  well  carried  out  at 
Bowden,  Royal  Sovereign  being  the  favourite  variety,  though  many  others 
are  cultivated  successfully.  Mr.  Fenton  has  a  high  opinion  of  Leader,  and 
predicts  for  it  a  prominent  position.  Lettuce  Sutton’s  iMammoth  Cos  and 
Summer  Favourite  were  conspicuous  with  immense  crisp  heads.  The 
whole  surroundings  reflect  the  highest  credit  on  all  concerned  in  the 
maintenance  and  management  of  this  garden. .1.  F. 
STAG’S-HORN  FERNS. 
The  Ferns  popularly  known  by  the  above  name  belong  to  the  genus 
Platycerium  (literally  Broad  Horn).  They  form  a  natural  group  of 
plants,  and  were  originally  united  with  Acrostichum  ;  but  to  my  mind 
they  have  nothing  In  common  with  the  species  which  represents  that 
genus  in  our  ferneries. 
Flatyceriums  are  characterised  by  their  large  sterile  fronds,  which  are 
entirely  different  in  shape  from  the  fertile  ones;  they  are  sessile,  and 
grow  erect  and  flat,  overlapping  each  other  as  they  increase  in  numbers 
and  in  size.  The  fertile  fronds  are  stalked,  standing  out  erectly  or 
horizontally  from  the  barren  fronds  (or  shields,  as  they  are  not  inaptly 
called  in  a  popular  way)  ;  they  rise  from  the  little  depression  at  the  base 
of  the  sterile  fronds,  and  are  many  times  dichotomously  forked,  having 
more  or  less  broad  and  obtuse  segments,  which  are  thick  and  leathery  in 
texture,  and  clothed  with  a  dense  covering  of  peculiar  stellate  scales, 
which  give  the  young  fronds  the  appearance  of  having  been  dusted  over 
with  a  white  powder  ;  the  veins  are  somewhat  indistinct,  but  are  coarsely 
anastomosed,  whilst  the  receptacle  is  irregular,  but  usually  occupies  he 
greater  portion  of  the  apices  of  the  under  side  of  the  segments. 
Flatyceriums  grow  naturally  upon  the  trunks  and  branches  of  forest 
trees,  and  are  most  successfully  grown  under  cultivation  when  treated  as 
epiphytes,  and  placed  upon  blocks  of  wood  or  in  baskets.  I  have  grown 
them  in  pots  ;  but  1  do  not  recommend  that  system,  because  the  peculiar 
habit  and  beauty  of  the  plants  cannot  be  developed  under  such  treatment, 
even  in  cases  where  pots  are  made  specially  for  them. 
In  providing  blocks  of  wood  for  these  plants  the  operator  must  not  go 
to  work  with  a  narrow  mind,  for  although  the  plant  may  not  now  have 
shields  or  barren  fronds  more  than  a  few  inches  in  diameter,  it  will,  if 
properly  treated,  soon  produce  others,  which  may  probably  attain  some 
12  inches  or  more  in  breadth,  and  if  a  block  sufficiently  large  is  not  pro¬ 
vided  the  shields  will  clasp  round  it  instead  of  being  kept  spread  open,  as 
they  would  be  if  upon  a  broad  block,  and  thus  in  the  case  of  the  small 
block  half  the  beauty  of  the  plant  is  lost.  This  is  a  point  too  often  over¬ 
looked,  and  therefore  1  would  specially  draw  their  attention  to  it. 
Having  selected  a  block  of  wood  of  sufficient  dimensions,  first  fasten 
the  plant  upon  it  with  some  fine  copper  wire,  and  then  take  some 
living  sphagnum  moss  and  rough  peat  from  which  all  the  fine  earthy 
particles  have  been  beaten  out,  and  pack  down  behind  the  barren  fronds 
so  as  to  make  the  plant  quite  firm  ;  give  it  a  good  soaking  in  a  tub  or  pan 
of  water,  and  nothing  more  remains  to  be  done  but  hang  it  up  in  the 
desired  position,  and  keep  it  abundantly  supplied  with  water  from  the 
syringe.  '  are  must  be  taken  to  prevent  the  lodgment  of  either  thrips  or 
scale,  for  if  either  be  suffered  to  gain  a  footing  they  will  speedily  turn 
the  fronds  from  their  lovely  green  colour  to  a  nasty,  dirty,  rusty  brown, 
which  will  present  quite  the  reverse  of  the  effect  desired ;  therefore 
examine  them  occasionally,  and  promptly  remove  any  of  these  pests  should 
they  put  in  an  appearance.  I  do  not  recommend  the  sponging  of  the 
fronds  if  it  is  possible  to  avoid  it,  as  by  this  means  the  covering  of 
stellate  scales  is  removed,  and  thus,  to  my  mind,  the  plant  becomes 
disfigured. 
There  are  but  few  species  of  Flatyceriums  known  to  science,  and 
nearly  all  of  them  have  been  introduced  to  cultivation  ;  but  perhaps 
there  are  more  species  or  varieties  yet  to  come  which  will  lend  an 
additional  charm  to  our  ferneries.  This  much  can  be  said  of  those  we 
have,  they  are  all  so  entirely  distinct  that  a  block  or  bracket  may  be 
found  for  each  in  even  a  small  Fern  house,  without  producing  a  sameness 
or  monotonous  appearance,  whilst  their  habit  is  so  peculiar  and  extra¬ 
ordinary  that  no  Fern  house  should  be  without  them. 
r.  alcicorne.—\  before  mentioned  baskets  as  being  suitable  for  the 
growth  of  Flatyceriums,  but  this  is  the  only  one  to  which  that  style  of 
culture  is  applicable.  The  shields  or  barren  fronds  are  small,  and  as  it  throws 
up  innumerable  young  plants  from  its  roots,  in  the  course  of  a  few  years 
it  forms  a  large  globular  mass,  producing  fertile  fronds  from  all  parts  of 
its  surface.  It  is  not  the  most  beautiful  of  the  genus,  but  is  specially 
deserving  the  attention  of  those  having  only  a  greenhouse  fernery,  as  it 
succeeds  admirably  under  cool  treatment  ;  moreover,  in  a  young  state, 
and  for  several  years,  it  may  be  grown  with  advantage  by  those  who  have 
only  a  Fern  case  to  inaulge  their  taste.  In  such  a  position  the  halt  of  a 
cocoa-nut  shell  forms  a  capital  basket,  and  when  suspended  from  the  roof 
of  the  Fern  case  does  not  present  an  unsightly  appearance.  This  species 
is  widely  distributed  through  the  islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago,  and 
is  also  common  in  Australia. 
P.  alcicorne  majus. — As  its  name  implies,  this  is  a  large  form  of  the 
original  type,  and  as  such  it  is  well  deserving  the  attention^  of  Fern 
growers.  Although  it  may  be  grown  in  a  basket,  the  large  size  of  its 
barren  shields  and  the  more  forked  character  of  its  fertile  fronds  induced 
me  to  give  preference  to  a  large  block  of  wood.  It  has  been  introduced 
from  Australia. 
P.  hiforme. — This  species  is  a  native  of  Burmah  and  various  localities 
in  the  Indian  Archipelago,  and  must  be  treated  to  stove  temperature. 
The  sterile  fronds  are  somewhat  broad,  whilst  the  fertile  ones  are 
long  and  pendulous.  The  sori  in  this  species  are  not  produced  near 
the  apex  of  the  segments,  but  upon  a  scutiform  lobe  near  the  first  divisions 
of  the  fronds.  It  is  a  most  beautiful  species. 
P.  Stemmaria,  known  also  in  collections  by  the  name  of  F.  mthiopicuin, 
is  a  very  distinct  plant,  but  is  not  such  a  general  favourite,  because  the 
barren  shields  die  and  turn  brown  every  season.  This,  however,  should  not 
deter  or  discourage  the  amateur  from  finding  a  place  for  it  in  the  fernery, 
as  each  year’s  growth  completely  covers  the  old  ones.  The  shields  are 
large,  and  densely  clothed  with  stellate  scales,  which  give  them  a 
what  glaucous  aspect.  The  fertile  fronds  are  broad  and  short,  several 
times  forked,  and  very  leathery  in  texture.  Native  of  Western  Africa. 
P.  grande. — This  species  must  be  provided  with  a  large  and  broad 
block  of  wood,  or  half  its  beauty  is  lost.  The  sterile  fronds  are  erect,  the 
upper  edge  variously  forked,  but  plain  and  rounded  below.  Fertile  fronds 
from  1  to  3  feet  in  length,  coriaceous  in  texture,  dichotomously  forked, 
and  light  green  in  colour.  Too  much  cannot  be  said  in  praise  of  this 
charming  plant.  It  must  be  grown  in  the  stove  fernery.  Native  of 
Australia  and  the  NIalay  Archipelago.— C.  E. 
GARDENERS’  ROYAL  BENEVOLENT 
INSTITUTION. 
The  Committee,  Treasurer,  and  Trustees,  acting  on  behalf  of  the 
members  and  subscribers  of  the  above  Institution,  with  the  concurrence  of 
its  Fresident,  the  Duke  of  Westminster,  recently  forwarded  through  the 
Home  Secretary  a  loyal  and  dutiful  address  to  the  Queen,  for  forty-six 
years  the  Gracious  Fatroness  of  the  Charity,  congratulating  her  Majesty 
on  the  completion  of  the  sixtieth  year  of  her  beneficent  reign,  and  the 
following  reiily  has  been  received  from  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  Matthew  "White 
Ridley,  M.F.,  by  the  Secretary  : — 
Secretary  of  State,  Home  Department, 
"Whitehall,  S.W.,  August  24th,  1897. 
Sir,— I  have  had  the  honour  to  lay  before  the  Queen  the  loyal  and  dutiful 
address  of  the  Gardeners’  Roj^al  Benevolent  Institution,  congratulating  her 
Majesty  on  the  completion  of  the  sixtieth  year  of  her  reign,  and  I  have  to 
inform  you  that  her  Majesty  was  pleased  to  receive  the  same  very  graciously. 
With  reference  to  the  application  for  permission  to  make  use  of  the  words 
“Victorian  Era”  in  connection  with  the  title  of  a  fund  now  being  raised  by 
the  Institution,  I  have  to  acquaint  you  that  her  Majesty  graciously  approves  of 
the  desired  permission  being  granted. — I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  M.  W.  Ridley. 
KENT  CHAMPIONSHIP  BELT  (DMPETITION. 
The  Kent  belt  conqietition  instituted  by  Mr.  Cannell,  of  Swanley 
has  done  an  immense  amount  of  good  for  horticulture  in  the  county.  A  few 
years  ago  it  would  have  been  deemed  an  imjiossibility  lor  vegetables  to  be 
grown  to  their  jwesent  quality.  So  successful  has  the  competition  in 
vegetables  become  that  fruit  and  flowers  are  now  introduced,  and  these 
new  features  have  added  to  the  beauty  of  the  competition.  The  struggle 
for  possession  of  the  county  championship  this  year  took  place  at  the 
annual  exhibition  of  the  Rodmersham  Amateur  and  Cottage  Gardeners’ 
Association,  which  was  held  in  a  large  booth  in  Rodmersham  I’ark  on 
Wednesday  and  Thursday,  August  25th  and  26th.  It  was  here  that  the 
competition  for  the  Kent  chamjiionship  belt  took  place  two  years  ago, 
after  the  honour  had  been  won  by  Rodmersham  from  NIilton  in  the 
]>revious  year.  Two  years  since  the  Miltonians  came  to  Rodmersham, 
and  wrested  the  championship  from  their  neighbours.  Last  year  the 
fight  took  place  at  Milton,  and  here  Rodmersham  once  more  turned  the  tables 
on  the  .Miltonians,  and  for  the  past  twelve  months  the  coveted  belt  has 
found  a  resting-place  at  Rodmersham.  Now  the  contest  for  the  title  of 
the  champions  of  Kent  has  again  taken  place  at  Rodmersham,  and,  by  a 
singular  coincidence,  the  chamjjionship  has  gone  to  Nlilton  for  the  third 
time.  Meanwhile,  other  societies  in  the  county  do  their  best  to  stoi>  this 
“little  game,”  as  it  has  been  not  inaptly  termed,  but  so  far  they  have  been 
poweiless  to  prevent  it.  There  were  eleven  entries  for  the  competition 
this  year -viz..  Eynsford,  Strood,  Ash,  Fenshnrst,  Charing,  Ightham, 
.Milton,  Linton,  Milsted,  Westgate,  and  Rodmersham  (the  holders).  At 
the  last  minute  Charing,  Ightham,  and  Eynsford  withdrew,  leaving  eight 
stern  and  determined  competitors  to  enter  the  lists.  The  jirizes  went  to 
Milton  first,  Rodmersham  second,  and  Fenshnrst  third.  The  competition 
is  open  to  all  amateur  and  cottage  garden  associations  in  Kent. 
