222 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTIGULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  13,  1902. 
while  the  stove  Adiantums  are  both  numerous  and  beautiful, 
some  of  them  producing  lovely  tinted  fronds. 
One  or  two  large  and  imposing  varieties  of  Tree  Ferns  should 
be  included  in  a  collection.  The  Alsophilas  are  particularly 
beautiful,  and  may  include  A.  australis,  A.  excelsa,  and  A. 
Rebeccse.  They  will  ultimately  require  large  pots,  and  must 
have  a  space  on  the  floor  and  plenty  of  head  room.  The  Dick- 
sonms,  including  D.  antarctica  and  D.  squarrosa,  are  superb 
varieties,  having  large,  arching  fronds. 
Cyrtomium  falcatum  is  a  Japanese  Fern  growing  18in  high,  a 
useful  evergreen  variety,  which  grows  well  in  equal  parts  of  peat, 
loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand.  Cystopteris  bulbifera  is  a  hardy 
North  American  Fern,  growing  about  9in  high,  and  is  deciduous. 
It  is  also  known  as  the  Bladder  Fern.  The  fronds  are  freely 
produced  in  May,  and  are  very  pretty  and  of  graceful  habit. 
Loamy  soil,  mixed  with  dried  mortar  or  limestone  suits  it  better 
than  a  compost  containing  peat  or  vegetable  matter  like  leaf 
soil. 
Davallias  are  specially  beautiful,  and  adapted  for  growing  in 
hanging  baskets  lined  with  moss,  and  filled  with  a  compost  of 
loam,  leaf  soil,  peat,  charcoal,  and  sand,  on  which  the  rhizomes 
mav  be  pegged  down.  They  will  eventually  cover  the  whole 
surface  and  spread  round  the  baskets  on  all  sides.  The  be.st 
varieties  of  Davallias  for  greenhouse  culture  are  D.  bullata  (th^ 
Squirrel’s  Foot  Fern),  from  the  East  Indies,  and  D.  canariensis 
(the  Hare’s  Foot  Fern),  from  the  Canary  Islands.  D.  re]iens  is 
a  pretty,  dwarf-growing  species,  for  small  baskets.  D.  Mariesi, 
an  exceptionally  beautiful  variety,,  with  fine  cut  fronds,  from 
Japan,  makes  an  imposing  specimen  grown  in  a  large-sized  pan  or 
basket.  D.  Mooreana,  a  large-growing  kind,  is  very  fine  for 
baskets,  making  fronds  3ft  high.  It  is  one  of  the  limited  number 
of  Davallias,  native  of  Borneo. 
Attention  ought  to  be  drawn  to  the  merits  of  Aspleniums  for 
greenhouse  culture.  There  are  some  interesting  varieties,  but 
one  of  the  best  for  general  purpo.ses  is  A.  bulbiferum.  It  will 
grow  3ft  high,  and  has  rich,  dark  green  arching  fronds,  which 
produce  young  plantlets  at  the  points  of  the  pinme,  and  afford  a 
ready  means  of  increasing  the  variety.  A  shady,  but  light  and 
airy  corner  suits  the  plants,  which,  however,  require  a  consider¬ 
able  amount  of  head  room,  so  as  to  give  space  for  the  i^roper 
development  of  the  fronds.  It  is  a  native  of  New  Zealand,  and 
will  succeed  in  a  mixture  of  peat,  loam,  leaf  soil,  and  sand.  It 
IS  an  evergreen  Fern,  and  the  fronds  are  very  lasting,  but  not 
useful  for  cutting. — Edwin  D.  Smith. 
Wassailing  the  Apple  Trees. 
The  ancient  custom,  now  fast  dying  out,  of  wassailing  or 
toasting  the  Apple  trees,  is  still  observed  in  some  of  the  out¬ 
lying  parishes  of  North  Devon  and  Somerset,  and  probably 
nowhere  with  more  ceremony  and  solemnity  than  at  Wootton 
Basset,  near  Minehead.  Old  Twelfth  Eve,  in  January, 
twelve  days  after  Old  Christmas  Eve,  is  the  usual  day,  and  in 
the  evening  well-nigh  all  the  folk  of  the  parish  assemble  at  the 
farmhouse,  and,  after  a  good  square  meal,  start  in  procession 
for  the  nearest  orchard.  A  goodly  supply  of  cider  is  carried  by 
the  stronger  men  of  the  party,  “  the  butler  ”  brings  a  two- 
handled  mug  and  some  pieces  of  toast,  and  the  “  master  ”  walks 
in  front  with  the  light,  whilst  a  number  of  men  with  guns, 
old  muzzle  loaders,  blunderbusses,  or  anything  that  will  make 
a  noise,  form  the  rearguard.  Arrived  at  the  orchard,  the  party 
all  form  in  a  ring,  .joining  hands,  and  the  master  in  the  middle 
seizes  a  branch  of  the  tree,  and,  more  or  less  out  of  tune,  sing® 
the  following  words  :  — 
Oh  Apple  Tr«e,  I  wajssail  thee  ! 
In  hopes  that  thou  wilt  blow, 
To  blow  and  to  bear  well, 
So  merry  let  us  he  ; 
For  the  Lord  doth  know  where  we  shall  be 
To  be  merry  another  ye.ar. 
Then  all  the  folks  standing  round  holloa,  shout,  or  sing :  — 
Hatfuls,  capfuls,  three  bushel  bagfuls. 
Barn  floorfuls,  tullet  holefuls. 
And  a  little  heap  under  the  stairs. 
Deafening  cheers  are  then  given,  and  the  men  who  have  been 
standing  outside  say,  “Now,  Tom  Pod,  we  wassail  thee!”  and 
then  they  let  off  their  blunderbu.ss'es  and  other  weapons.  The 
health  of  the  Apple  tree  having  been  solemnly  drunk,  the 
master  blowing  off  the  froth  and  the  two-handled  mug  having 
gone  right  round  the  ring,  the  butler  takes  a  piece  of  toast, 
and,  pouring  cider  over  it  (called  “  basting  ”),  hands  it  to  the 
master,  who  sticks  it  up  in  the  tree  for  the  robins,  in  the  hope 
<£  w  will  bring  luck.  The  ceremony  completed,  observes  the 
VVestern  Morning  News,”  the  procession  moves  off  to  the  next 
orchard,  and  so  on  until  each  has  been  visited  and  wassailed. 
^TnamontaX  "l^aiorfoiols. 
By  the  Editor  of  “  Foult.''y.” 
IT  has  somev  here  been  stated  that  nothing  is  more  contagious 
than  the  love  of  natural  history,  and  that  few  things' are 
more  deeply  implanted  in  the  human  mind  than  the  love  of 
animals.  And  one  has  only  to  visit  any  of  the  parks  that 
abound  in  and  around  London  to  be  convinced  that  there  is  more 
than  a  modicum  of  truth  in  such  remarks;  for,  be  other  features 
ever  so  attractive,  the  greatest  interest  of  visitors  is  invariably 
centred  in  the  lake,  upon  the  surface  of  which  a  collection  of 
.viiatidse  is  always  to  be  seen.  Nevertheless,  it  is  an  unrefutable 
fact  that  ornamental  waterfowl  are  reared  in  England  to  an 
extent  not  nearly  approaching  tliat  to  which  they  are  cultivated, 
on  the  Continent.  This  is  a  matter  of  regret,  since,  apart  from 
being  a  most  absorbing  hobby,  the  rearing  of  such  birds  is  by 
no  means  an  unremunerative  occupation. 
Contrary  to  general  belief,  the  keeping  of  tame  wildfowl  need 
not  be  the  exclusive  pleasure  of  those  who  have — 
Thirty  large  domain-. 
Forty  grand  chateaux. 
Fifty  fertile  plains. 
Sixty  suits  of  clothes. 
Lots  of  gold  and  silver,  &c. 
We  have  seen  a  pair  of  Mandarin  and  a  pair  of  Carolina  ducks- 
revelling  in  luxury  which  wore  the  tenants  of  a  washing  tub 
sunk  in  the  ground.  Indeed,  there  are  very  few  places  where 
waterfowl  cannot  be  kept ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  too  small  a 
pond  is  not  to  be  recommended  for  the  puiqiose. 
In  most  instances  there  will  be  at  the  disposal  of  readers  of 
the  Journal  of  Horticulture  grass  and  gravel  that  can,  with  little 
trouble,  be  converted  into  a  “  run  ”  for  waterfowl,  which  in  such 
a  iilace  may  be  reared  in  perfect  health.  Should,  however,  breed¬ 
ing  operations  be  contemplated  the  birds  must  be  permitted 
in  spring  and  summer  to  have  access  to  some  kind  of  -pond,  upon 
the  banks  of  which  their  houses  or  “  keimels  ”  may  be  placed. 
The  water  need  not  be  more  than  2ft  deep,  except  at  places  which 
serve  as  scours  and  landing  stages.  These  should  be  cut  through 
the  bank  of  the  pond,  so  that  the  birds  may  be  enabled  to  swim- 
out,  since  if  the  sides  are  too  precipitous,  and  the  ducks  are  tired, 
they  cannot  always  climb  out,  and  are  in  consequence  drowned. 
The  enclosure  around  the  pond  must,  of  course,  depend  upon 
the  space  that  is  available,  but  it  should  be  of  greensward.  It 
is  not  absolutely  essential  to  provide  a  shady  place  for  ducks, 
but  such  will  seiwe  as  an  excellent  shelter  from  heat  and  wind, 
consequently  if  shimbs  are  enclosed  so  much  the  better.  Other 
embellishments  will  suggest  themselves  to  the  thoughtful  reader,, 
and  the  whole  may  be  surrounded  by  wire  netting  6ft  high, 
although  a  properly  pinioned  bird  rarely  gets  over  a  3ft  fence. 
As  a  staple  diet  for  ivaterfowl,  wheat  and  barley,  or  the 
ordinary  poultry  mixture  may  be  given,  while  as  green  food  grass 
and  duckweed  are  greatly  relished.  The  birds  will  also  devour 
small  in,sects  and  molluscse,  ivhich  abound  on  the  grassy  bank-s- 
of  their  ponds.  Different  varieties,  however,  require  different 
dietary,  according  to  their  habits,  but  regularity  is  a  point  in 
feeding  that  is  of  great  importance. 
So  numerous  are  the  varieties  of  waterfowl,  and  so  varied  their 
charms,  that  it  is  a  matter  of  some  difficulty  to  give  a  list  of  those 
that  are  likely  to  find  favour  with  evei’yone.  It  may  be  men¬ 
tioned,  however,  that  Carolinas,.  IVtandarins,  Shelldrakes,- 
Brazilian  Pintail,  Casarkas,  and  Whistling  ducks  may  be  pur¬ 
chased  tame-bred,  and  if  a  pair  of  brown  Call  ducks  be  added 
they  will  greatly  assist  in  keeping  the  flock  together.  Other 
birds  that  may  be  tamed  by  pinionifig  and  by  judicious  treat¬ 
ments  are  Dunbird,  Pintail,  Widgeons,  Shoveller,  Tufted  duck, 
Gadwall,  Teal,  Scaup,  and  Garganey,  but  they  should,  however,, 
be  confined. 
Coronation  Trees  and  Spaces.  ; 
Sir  William  Vincent,  Bart.,  Vice-Chairman  of  the  Metro-  i, 
politan  Public  Gardens  Association,  approves  the  sugge.stion  made  i 
by  the  “  Morning  Post  ”  of  the  4th  inst.  respecting  the  planting  I 
of  Coronation  trees.  “  But,”  he  says,  “  in  those  localities  able  ;V 
to  provide  more  extensive  memorials  the  association  would  ijoint  J 
out  that  the  provision  of  open  spaces  of  one  kind  or  another  for 
public  recreation  is  an  especially  appropriate  type  of  memorial.” 
Such  a  form  of  commemoration  was,  he  states,  recommended  at  ^ 
the  Diamond  Jubilee,  wlien  some  seventy  places  were  opened.  He  ! 
adds  that  Mr.  Basil  Holmes,  secretary  of  the  as.sociation,  83,  Lan-  • 
ca.ster  Gate,  will  be  glad  to  give  any  information  regarding  the  ; 
powei’s  and  duties  of  public  bodies  in  relation-  to  open  spaces.  , 
