JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  June  22,  isoa. 
with  it,  and  at  other  times  quite  failing.  Why,  I  do  not  know, 
because  I  have  always  adopted  the  same  treatment,  but  I  am  afraid 
it  is  one  of  those  plants  about  which  there  is  no  certainty.  As  it 
seeds  freely  many  seedlings  are  offered  for  sale,  but  as  a  rule  I 
do  not  think  they  are  equal  to  the  type  in  the  brilliancy  of  their 
colouring  or  compactness  ot  their  habit.  There  are  some  places  wheie 
it  has  been  grown  most  successfully.  I  may  instance  the  Cambridge 
Botanic  Gardens,  and  The  Briars,  Reigate,  while  on  the  other  hand 
I  know  some  of  our  largest  Orchid  growers  have  quite  failed  to  keep 
it.  My  plants  now  look  well  and  seem  likely  to  flower  splendidly. 
Mv  stages  are  now  completely  full,  and  it  may  be  perhaps  asked. 
What”  will  be  the  condition  ofVmir  house  when  these  are  removed  ? 
Will  the  stages  not  be  bare  ?  Well,  I  hope  not.  On  the  shelves  above 
I  have  a  fair  supply  of  Streptocarpi,  which  I  hope  will  then  make  a  fair 
show,  while  in  my  annexe  I  have  a  number  of  Begonias,  double  and 
single,  which  will  no  doubt  take  the  place  of  the  Pelargoniums. 
Green  Fly. 
Of  course,  as  I  have  already  said,  I  cannot  claim  all  the  credit  in 
this  success;  the  plants  of  Pelargoniums  which  my  gardener  has 
produced  this  year  seem  to  me  models  of  good  culture.  There  is  one 
thing  about  which  we  are  very  particular,  that  is  not  to  allow  aphides 
to  bother  us.  We  can  now  avoid  the  nastiness  of  tobacco  smoking  by 
using  Macdonald’s  fumers,  which  do  the  work  effectively. 
I  have  still  a  couple  ot  plants  of  Calla  compacta  nana  in  flower, 
but  I  should  not  mention  them  save  for  the  reference  which  was  made 
in  last  week’s  Journal  to  my  request  for  information  about  Calla 
Pentlahdi  and  Elliottiana,  which  I  regret  to  say  confirms  my  suspicion 
that  I  have  not  sufficient  heat  to  grow  them  successfully.  Mine  is  not 
an  intermediate  but  a  cool  house,  and  I  thus  must  give  up  all  hope  of 
growing  it.  It  is  most  thankless  work  when  time  and  labour  are 
expended  upon  plants  which,  although  they  may  keep  alive,  have  yet 
no  prospect  of  flowering. — D.,  Beal. 
THE  VINE  IN  AUSTRALIA. 
In  the  course  of  a  paper  read  before  the  Australasian  Association  for 
the  Advancement  of  Science,  Mr.  P.  B.  Kyngdon  stated  that  the  first 
Grape  Vine  in  Australia  was  planted  at  Castle  Hill,  near  Sydney,  in 
1791,  by  Colonel  de  la  Campe,  a  Prench  emigre.  The  first  Grape  Vine 
near  Parramatta,  a  few  miles  from  Sydney,  and  famous  for  its  orangeries, 
was  planted  in  1801.  After  the  fall  of  Napoleon,  in  1815,  Mr.  John 
Macarthur,  a  spirited  colonist,  while  in  Europe  obtained  a  number  of 
cuttings  of  the  finer  varieties  of  Vine,  but  the  nurseryman  to  whom  they 
were  entrusted  for  despatch  to  Sydney,  substituted  others  of  an  inferior 
kind.  The  trick  was  not  discovered  until  several  years  afterwards,  the 
soil  and  climate  of  the  colony  being  in  the  meantime  blamed  for  the  failure 
of  the  experiment. 
In  1825  cuttings  of  the  Muscat  and  Madeira  varieties  were  sent  to 
Sydney,  and  thrived  splendidly.  Other  cuttings  followed,  but  the  British 
Government  refused  to  grant  passages  to  Continental  Vine-dressers,  and 
it  was  not  until  1844  that  such  men  found  their  way  into  tUe  colony. 
Thenceforward  the  progress  of  Vine  cultivation  was  rapid,  and  with  its 
increasing  spread  the  production  of  wine  became  a  recognised  industry. 
In  1861  there  were  in  New  South  Wales,  Queensland,  South  Australia, 
Victoria,  and  Western  Australia  7009  acres  under  Vine  cultivation  ;  in 
1896  the  area  had  become  increased  to  58,642  acres,  the  product  being 
5,60(),035  gallons  of  wine,  7901  gallons  of  brandy,  63,665,280  lbs.  of  table 
Grapes,  and  2,145,360  lbs.  of  raisins. 
The  Grapes  grown  m  New  South  Wales  are  equal  in  size  and  flavour 
to  the  finest  grown  in  Continental  Europe,  but  both  their  cultivation  and 
the  production  of  wine  from  them  remain  imperfectly  developed  as  a 
whole.  In  1897  the  area  under  wine  cultivatiou  in  the  colony  was  8061 
acres,  producing  794,256  gallons  of  wine,  7134  gallons  of  brandy,  and 
6,462,400  lbs.  of  table  Grapes.  The  raisin  manufacture  is  still  one  of  the 
industries  of  the  future  in  New  South  Wales.  In  1893,  with  462  acres 
less  under  cultivation  than  in  1897,  the  quantity  of  wine  produced  was 
931,542  gallons. 
Most  of  the  vineyards  are  of  limited  extent,  but  several  are  of  large 
size.  They  are  scattered  over  the  whole  of  the  colony,  save  on  the  more 
elevated  table-lands  and  in  the  sirb-tropical  regions.  There  are  over  2000 
vignerons  in  the  colony,  the  most  successful  being  Italians,  Germans,  and 
Frenchmen,  or  individuals  having  some  practical  knowledge  of  Vine 
cultivation  as  practised  in  Europe.  The  colony  offers  an  unlimited  field 
for  enterjjrise  in  this  direction,  there  being  many  thousands  of  acres 
eminently  adapted  for  Vine  cultivation  remaining  unutilised. 
It  has  been  stated  by  a  leading  authority  that  New  South  Wales  is 
more  favourably  situated  for  raisin  production  than  is  any  of  the  other 
colonies,  and  that  when  the  industry  has  become  introduced  and  firmly 
established  a  large  intercolonial  and  export  trade  may  reasonably  be 
anticipated.  Of  the  16,695,560  gallons  of  wine  imported  into  Great 
Britain  in  1896  only  6394  gallons  were  from  New  South  Wales,  most  of 
that  produced  in  the  colony  being  locally  consumed.  Such  is  the 
abundance  of  Grapes,  mostly  the  black  varieties,  in  the  colony,  that 
during  the  season  they  are  retailed  at  Id.  ner  lb.  in  Sydney,  the  finest 
Muscatels  bringing  from  3d.  to  fid.  per  lb.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  vine¬ 
yards  they  are  cheaper  still. — J.  Plummer,  Sydney,  N.S,  W. 
FERNS  OUT  OF  DOORS. 
Where  Perns  grow  and  flourish  the  air  in  the  autumn  is  full  of  their 
spores,  which  are  carried  about  by  the  currents  until  they  settle.  I  have 
known  Ferns  come  up  in  the  hollows  of  trees,  on  walls  that  happened  to 
be  damp  through  the  leakage  of  a  water-trough  or  other  cause,  on  the 
walls  of  a  cellar,  or  on  the  floor  of  a  greenhouse,  and  where  they  cnee 
make  a  start  in  that  way  they  thrive  according  to  the  nourishment  they 
receive.  In  some  instances  where  this  has  been  very  limited,  they  live  on 
for  years  without  increasing  in  size.  But  this  is  not  exactly  what  the 
cultivator  wants,  for  they  are  grown  for  ornament,  and  that  consists  in 
the  full  development  of  the  fronds. 
The  position  and  climate  have  an  influence  in  a  certain  degree  on  the 
well-doing  of  the  Ferns,  as  they  do  better  in  some  parts  of  the  country 
than  in  others  ;  but,  generally  speaking,  there  are  sorts  adapted  for 
almost  every  part,  and  there  are  few  places  where  a  fernery  might  not 
be  established  and  the  Ferns  made  to  flourish.  As  far  as  I  have  seen 
the  cause  of  failure  to  do  so  may  be  traced  more  to  the  management  than 
to  anything  else. 
Unless  on  a  large  scale,  it  is  not  advisable  to  attempt  to  grow  Ferns 
alone,  but  to  associate  them  with  American  trailing,  and  alpine  plants  ; 
and  although  the  Ferns  may  form  the  principal  feature,  yet  the  addition 
of  other  plants  will  give  the  fernery  a  more  interesting  character.  Where 
it  is  desired  to  make  a  small  fernery,  it  wull  be  well  to  exclude  the  larger 
and  coarser  kinds,  such  as  the  Male  Fern  (Lastrea  Filix-mas),  and 
Lady  Fern  (Athyrium  Filix-foemina),  although  there  are  more  diminutive 
varieties  of  both  that  may  be  advantageously  introduced.  Lastreas 
cristata  and  dilatata,  and  Polystichum  aculeatum  it  would  be  as  well  to 
leave  out,  although  the  latter  forms  a  noble  plant  ;  but  Polystichum 
angulare  and  lobatum,  with  their  varieties,  look  as  well  and  do  not  grow 
so  large.  Any  of  the  varieties  of  Hart’s-tongue  (Scolopendrium)  may  be 
well  introduced,  also  several  varieties  of  Polypodium,  such  as  dryopteris, 
phegopteris,  calcareum,  cambricum,  and  vulgaris,  the  two  latter  being 
evergreen,  the  others  dying  down  in  the  autumn.  The  Scaly  Hart’s- 
tongue,  Ceterach  officinarum,  make  a  very  pretty  Fern  when  it  does  well, 
which  it  will  do  if  not  interfered  with  by  other  plants,  and  is  planted  in 
sandy  peat  and  has  plent}’  of  room.  Aspleniums  Trichomanes,  viridis, 
ruta-muraria,  septentnonale,  alternifolium,  and  fontanum,  are  all  of  very 
diminutive  habit,  but  make  pretty  little  tults  when  they  thrive,  which  is 
not  always  the  case,  as  I  have  known  them  fail  to  do  so  very  frequently. 
They  should  have  a  good  depth  of  sandy  peat  and  loam,  be  well  drained, 
and  have  plenty  of  room,  so  as  not  to  be  overgrown  by  other  plants. 
They  ought  to  be  in  a  rather  shady  spot,  but  not  under  the  drip  of  trees, 
and  if  a  bell-glass  be  put  over  them  in  the  winter  they  wilt  be  all  the 
better. 
Aspleniums  marinum  and  lanceolatum  grow  rather  larger  and  some¬ 
times  do  well  ;  they  may  be  more  elevated  but  sheltered.  Allosorus 
crispus,  the  Parsley  Fern,  makes  a  beautiful  little  tuft,  but  it  is  sometimes 
apt  to  die  off  unaccountably,  and  will  be  better  for  a  little  shelter  in 
winter  to  protect  the  crown  from  excessive  wet.  Blechnum  spicant  and 
its  varieties  are  very  hardy  and  will  stand  any  rough  weather,  and  they 
sometimes  make  fine  patches.  They  require  a  good  depth  of  soil  and  may 
be  planted  low  down.  The  Maidenhair  Fern,  Adiantum  capillus-Veneris, 
succeeds  tolerably  well.  Adiantum  pedatum  is  also  hardy  to  a  certain 
extent,  and  is  a  beautiful  Fern,  but  it  dies  down  in  winter.  Asplenium 
Adiantum  nigrum  makes  a  very  pretty  plant,  always  retaining  a  certain 
freshness,  and  is  very  hardy.  Woodsia  hyperborea  is  a  pretty  little  Fern, 
but  requires  protection  from  rain  in  winter.  All  these  Ferns,  and  several 
others  that  I  cannot  call  to  mind  just  now,  may  be  grown  successfully 
in  a  small  outdoor  fernery  ;  but  let  there  be  no  stint  of  good  porous 
soil  ;  let  each  plant  havejplenty  of  room,  be  shaded  but  not  covered,  and 
have  plenty  of  moisture  in  spring  and  summer,  with  good  drainage.  The 
crowns  of  most  of  them  will  be  better  if  a  little  elevated,  but  not  too  much, 
as  some  persons  are  in  the  habit  of  carrying  this  point  to  the  extreme. 
There  are  several  hardy  Ferns  which  are  well  worth  a  place  if  room 
can  be  spared.  What  I  have  named  may  be  grown  in  a  very  small  space ; 
but  on  a  rather  larger  scale  such  as  the  following  may  be  introduced, 
being  larger  in  habit  than  most  of  the  above,  but  less  so  than  the  Male 
or  Female  Ferns.  The  Ostrich  Fern,  Struthiopteris  germanica  and 
S.  pennsylvanica  are  handsome  species,  coming  up  rather  earlier  than 
more  strictly  native  Ferns,  and  dying  down  earlier.  Onoclea  sensibilis 
has  creeping  roots,  which  render  it  difficult  to  keep  it  in  its  proper  place, 
but  it  may  be  surrounded  with  slates,  which  will  have  that  effect.  The 
same  may  be  said  of  Lastrea  thelypteris  ;  these  both  require  extra 
moisture,  and  may  be  planted  near  the  ground  line.  Lastrea  rigida 
makes  a  very  handsome  Fern,  but  where  it  grows  freely  it  becomes  too 
large  for  a  small  fernery.  The  same  may  be  said  of  Osmunda  regalis, 
although  the  roots  may  be  kept  within  certain  limits,  which  will  prevent 
the  plant  growing  too  large.  They  require  plenty  of  moisture.  Cystop- 
teris  alpina,  fragilis,  and  montana  are  suitable  for  a  small  fernery,  and 
should  have  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  Polypodiums. 
Hymenophyllums  tunbridgense  and  Wilsoni  may  sometimes  be  seen- 
doing  very  well  out  of  doors  when  protected  with  a  bell-glass,  but  I  cannot 
say  that  I  ever  saw  them  in  such  a  satisfactory  state  as  I  should  like  ; 
however,  I  once  saw  a  mass  of  the  former  in  splendid  condition  in  a  small 
greenhouse,  where  no  fire  heat  was  ever  applied,  it  having  stood  all  the 
frost  that  ever  entered  there.  ■  I  have  grown  both  these  and  the  Tricho¬ 
manes  very  fine  under  a  bell-glass  in  a  greenhouse.  The  bell-glass  seems 
necessary  for  the  latter,  and  for  both  when  grown  out  of  doors.  They 
grow  well  in  equal  portions  of  silver  sand  and  peat,  with  plenty  of  pieces 
of  sandstone  broken  up  and  intermixed. — F.  C. 
