so 
JOURNAL  OF'  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
Feliruary  2,  180D. 
SELA(HNELLAS  AND  THEIR  USES. 
The  many  beautiful  ppecie.s  and' varieties  of  tlicSe  everr^rceri  plants 
include  some  of  the  most  diminutive  forms  of  vegetation  which  are 
cultivated  for  ornamental  purposes,  and,  like  the  animal  forms  of 
Nature's  lilliputianS,  there  arc  times  when  they  prove  of  the  utmost 
service.  A  house  devoted  entirely  to  Selafjinellas  mieht  bo  made 
attractive  at  all  tin)es,  as  a  varied  collection  would  supply  amjde 
diversity  of  form  and  colour;  but  it  is  not,  perhaps,  when  turned  to 
account  in  this  way  that  they  would  ho  the  most  useful  in  the  nnjority 
of  gardens,  hut  rather  when  associated  with  other  j)lants;  in  some 
instances  for  clothing  the  soil  in  which  pot  plants  are  growing,  in 
others  for  forming  an  edging  or  groundwork  to  conservatory  beds  or 
borders,  as  well  as  in  the  infinite  variety  of  ways  in  which  the 
decorator  can  make  good  use  of  them. 
Small  Ferns,  {)laced  in  china  j>ots  or  other  ornamental  rcce{)tacles 
of  various  sizes, are  now  largely  emjdoycd  in  hoiue  decoration.  It  these 
are  given  a  groundwork  of  Selaginella  apoda  or  donticu'ata  aurea  how 
pretty  and  finished  they  look  ! — tasty  little  ornaments  worthy  of  linding 
a  ]>lnce  in  any  boudoir  or  drawing-room.  Tulips,  Daffodils,  Lily 
of  the  Valley,  and  Hyacinths  are  at  the  present  time  the  jirincipal 
flowers  at  command  for  dinner-table  decoration.  Tf.these  are  arranged 
in  shallow  bowls,  or  on  thick  pieces  of  brown  jiaper  cut  into  any 
required  shajie,  with  Lycopodium  denticulatum  forming  a  groundwork, 
a  few  trails  of  K.  ctesia  laid  upon  the  cloth,  and  small  specimens  of 
S,  Martensi  variegata  used  as  “  dot'’  plants,  a  pretty  aud  characteristic 
effect  may  be  prcduced  which  would  be  hard  to  .beat  in  the  depth  of 
winter.  Dinner  fables  are  made  much  handsomer  than  formerly,  and 
where  jilants  of  Selaginellas  are  grown  ample  material  cculd  easily 
be  obtained  to  cover  the  whole  available  surface  of  the  table  with 
them,  the  outline  being  fashioned  in  flowing  curves,  with  mounds 
raised  at  suitable  points  surmounted  by  graceful  foliaged  plants. 
Denticulata  would  here  again  be  the  most  suitable  for  forming  the 
groundwork,  and  some  of  the  upright  growing  variegated  species 
could  be  introdnerd  at  irregular  intervals;  tlun  if  scarlet  Tulips 
were  arianged  in  masses  and  little  groups,  with  chains  and  waving 
lines  of  the  same  flowers  connecting  the  masses  in  some  instance.s,  in 
others  forming  broken  lines  between,  we  should  form  a  pleasing 
picture  of  Tulips  as  seen  in  the  wild  garden  springing  from  a  carpet 
of  the  rich  gnenery  of  sjiriug. 
The  above  brief  illustrations  arc  simply  intended  to  show  a  few  of 
the  many  ways  in  which  these  lovely  evergreen  plants  may  bo  used 
with  eflect,  and  also  with  the  object  of  perhaps  stirring  the  imagina¬ 
tion  of  some  Journal  readers  sufllciently  to  cause  them  to  set  about 
the  work  of  projiagating  a  good  stock  of  Selaguicllas,  as  I  know  from 
experience  that  when  dc'^oiations  on  a  large  scale  are  continually  being 
carried  out,  one  is  often  inclined  to  lament  the  fact  that  efforts  were 
not  previously  made  to  w(  rk  uj)  a  sufficient  stock  of  such  useful  material. 
Those  who  are  iu  such  a  dilemma  at  the  pre.sent  time  cannot  do  better 
than  begin  jiropagating  at  once  to  secure  immunity  from  similar 
inconvenience  in  the  future. 
Fortunately  nearlv  all  the  Selaginellas  are  very  easily  propagated. 
hen  jilenty  of  close  frames  are  at  command  in  the  jiropagating 
house  the  cuitings  may  he  rooted  very  (juickly,  but  during  the 
sjiring  months  such  frames  arc  generally  required  for  the  immense 
number  of  jilants  winch  do  not  succeed  well  unless  kejit  close  for  a 
time.  Having  often  been  jiressed  for  room  of  this  descriiition,  1  have 
been  led  to  adopt  another  jilan  for  raising  Selaginellas  which  I  find 
answers  equally  well,  the  only  difference  being  that  the  cuttings  do 
not  root  quite  so  quickly.  In  nearly  all  houses,  especially  if  they  are 
old,  a  comjiaratively  shady  corner  can  be  found  ;  this  is  just  the  jlace 
for  the  raising  the  jJants  under  notice. 
Wo  have  a  Fern  house,  one  end  of  which  is  somewhat  darkened  by 
a  building  at  the  bock,  and  when  a  large  number  of  Ferns  has  been 
potted,  those  jJaced  in  this  position  never,  even  in  the  summer, 
make  such  satisfactory  jirogress  as  those  in  other  j  arts  of  the  house. 
I  jiow  devote  this  sjiace  entirely  to  Selaginellas,  and  find  they  succeed 
admirably.  The  cuttings  are  made  in  the  ordinary  way,  from  the 
creeping  stems;  these  are  inserted  thickly  in  jiots,  almost  half  filled 
with  drainage.  Light  sandy  soil  is  used,  with  a  little  rough  jieat  over 
the  crocks.  After  being  arranged  in  the  house  on  a  stage  with  an 
ashed  bottom  a  thoiough  watering  is  given,  ami  daily  syringing  is 
practised.  At  this  season  no  shading  is  given,  but  during  the  summer 
months  sheets  of  jiaper  aie  laid  over  the  cuttings.  AVith  such  treat¬ 
ment  very  satisf.actory  results  are  obtained,  and  a  ccmpnratively  u.seless 
part  of  a  house  lor  other  purjwses  turned  to  good  account. 
The  following  sjiecies  and  varieties  include  mottof  the  best  in 
commerce,  and  are  all  worth  growing  — albo-nitens,  dwarf  trailing, 
leaves  streaked  with  white;  argentca  (silvery)  jmtty,  and  useful  lor 
small  pots  ;  atro-viridis,  rather  erect  in  habit  of  growth,  sometimes 
attains  a  height  of  .1  foot ;  Brauni,  erect  growing,  stems  1  foot  in 
length,  of  a  soft  yellow  colour;  ctesia,  beautiful  lor  baskets,  or  for 
planting  in  pockets  on  the  walls  of  a  fernery,  as  the  trailing  shoots 
attain  a  considerable  length,  and  are  of  a  peculiar  blue  shade  of  colour; 
conferta,  dwarf,  trailing;  denticulata,  and  d.  variegata,  two  well 
known  gems,  largely  used  for  edgiiigs,  and  covering  the  soil  in  which 
pot  plants  are  growing ;  plumosa,  Griffith],  involens  variegata,  a 
beautiful  tufted  variety,  with  wiry-like  drooping  stems;  Lyalli  ;  Mar- 
tensi,  a  well  known  greenhouse  species,  erect  in  haf  it  of  growth,  and 
a  good  growler;  the  stems  sometimes  attain  a  height  of  1  foot;  the 
variegated  form  is  exceedingly  attractive  for  arranging  in  a  fernery 
patula  pilifera  A'ogeli,  a  well  known  stove  species,  which  jiroduces 
stems  from  1  to  2  feet  in  length,  these  are  often  tinted  with  jrink. 
There  is  also  a  variegated  form  which  is  highly  attractive,  an'd 
AVildenovi.  This  is  a  useful  stove  climber,  which  is  not  often  met 
with  now,  although  it  was  a  favourite  some  years  ago.  It  requires- 
jilenty  of  syringing  to  keep  it  free  from  insects. — H.  1). 
A  (UMMON  ERROR. 
There  can.  I  think,  be  no  doubt  that  wo  have  Icng  pursued  the- 
jiractice  of  training  many  jilants  and  trees  grown  in  houses  too  close 
to  the  glass.  We  see  it  frcqueutly  in  the  case  of  A''ines,  Peaches,  and 
Figs,  with  the  result  that  the  greatest  difficulty  is  experienced  in 
keeping  red  spider  and  other  insects  in  check,  when  the  general  treat¬ 
ment  is  such  that  there  ought  to  be  no  difficulty  in  the  matter.  The- 
wonder  is  that  we  olten  succeed  as  well  as  we  do,  seeing  how  terribly 
high  the  temjierature  is  just  under  the  glass  in  very  bright  weather, 
and  how  rajiidly  it  changes  during  cold  nights. 
Air.  AAL  Taylor  showed  us  long  ago  the  advantages  of  training 
Vines  a  few  feet,  instead  of  inches,  from  the  glass,  for  the  Amines  on 
which  he  grew  his  marvellous  Alnscats  at  Longleat  years  ago  were  at 
the  extremities  of  the  rods  5  or  G  feet  from  the  roof.  Hany  good 
fruit  growers,  who  at  various  times  visited  Longleat,  saw  the  advantage 
of  the  jilan,  and  mexlified  their  practice  as  far  as  circumstances, 
allowed  in  houses  already  existing,  and  in  others  constructed  under 
their  directions  fixed  the  trellises  18  inches  or  2  feet  from  the  glass, 
with  imjiroveel  results.  It  is,  however,  to  be  regetted  that  the  jiractice 
is  not  more  generally  followed,  because  it  is  a  great  step  toward 
making  Grape  growing  easy,  as  keeping  the  leaves  clear  of  red  spider 
is  yet  one  of  the  most  troublesome  matters  connected  with  Grape 
culture.  * 
Some  may  advance  as  an  objection  to  the  jdan  that  where  it 
followed  the  houses  must  necessarily  be  built  more  lofty,  bilt  the  *' 
front  stages  in  vineries  might  often  be  made  a  little  lower  wlthoh't 
inconvenience,  and  in  vineries  little  used  'for  jdant  growing  the 
above  objection  would  not  apjiiy.  Another  pcint  to  bo  considered  is 
that  the  front  of  a  lean-to  or  the  sides  of  a  span-roofed  house  are 
just  the  jilaccs  where  for  convenience  the  trellis  may  be  closer  to 
the  glass  than  under  other  jarts  of  the  roof,  because  the  morning 
atmosphere  as  it  becomes  heated  rises  to  the  apex  of  a  house.  If, 
then,  wo  fix  our  trellises  15  inches  from  the  glass  at  the  front,  and 
allow  from  2  to  3  feet  at  the  toji,  wo  make  a  compromise  which  is 
satisfactory  from  every  point  of  view.  AATth  Poses,  again,  we 
may  olten  see  the  evil  efficts  of  training  too  close  to  the 
glass — jiersistent  attacks  of  mildew  and  green  ajihis;  young  growth 
aud  tfower  buds  jnishing  r  gainst  the  glass  and  being  damaged,, 
are  all  the  evil  results  of  the  system.  AVhen  Poses  are  trained  to  the 
roof  of  a  conservatory  or  greenhouse  there  is  generally  [denty  of  head 
room  to  allow  the  tn  llis  to  bo  fixed  15  inches  from  the  roof,  and  this 
distance  would  suffice. 
There  are,  however,  other  instances  in  which  such  a  space  could 
not  be  allowed.  As  an  examjde,  let  me  give  that  of  a  house  I  have 
lately  dealt  with.  This  is  a  low  sjian-rooftd  stiucture  with  Tea 
Poses  jilanted  in  beds  on  each  side  and  trained  to  the  roof,  the- 
wires  being  fixed  only  8  inches  from  it.  Throughout  last  summer 
tluse  Pose  trees  weio  a  constant  source  of  annoyance,  as  the  shools- 
weie  continuously  pressing  against  the  glass.  Many  Pose  buds 
were  deformed  in  consequence,  and  the  money  spent  in  insecticides 
to  keep  tho  trees  clean  was  double  what  it  should  have  been.  A 
few  weeks  ago  this  house  was  overhauled,  the  trres  were  pruned, 
borders  dressed,  and  a  new  trellis  fixed,  not  from  the  roof,  but  from 
tho  ground.  Stakes  were  driven  into  the  border  4  feet  ajrart. 
Strong  wires  stretched  the  length  of  the  house  and  fastened  to  them 
so  as  to  foim  a  convex  surface,  a  foot  from  the  glass  at  the  sides 
of  the  house,  and  4  or  5  feet  from  the  .apex.  At  intervals  of  5  feet  a 
strong  shoot  was  taken  from  this  trellis  and  fastened  up  to  the  roof, 
not  with  the  object  of  training  them  any  further,  but  in  time  to  foim,. 
as  it  were,  pillars  on  each  side  of  the  central  walk.  Tho  trees  so 
treated  bioke  strongly,  are  now  growing  freely,  and  I  look  forward  to 
securing  far  better  results  this  season,  with  less  trouble  to  boot. 
By  tho  time  these  notes  apjiear  in  jrrint  many  will  prrhajis  be 
engaged  in  pruning  and  retying  Ro.seB  in  late  houses,  and  in  some 
instances  may  find  it  to  their  advantage  to  adopt  the  jdan  above 
outlined,  or  to  modify  it  according  to  the  circumstances  of  their  own- 
cases. — Observer, 
