where there is a little shade. Notwithstanding the difference in their natural habitats, it appears to submit to cultivation equally freely with P. dryopteris. They both thrive well with me in dry and exposed situations. Root also creeping.

4. P. CALCAREUM. Some years ago, when we were comparatively strangers to each other, I found this Fern rather shy and impatient under cultivation; in fact, I had been in the habit of losing my entire stock for several winters in succession, until I found out that the roots were disposed to resist both my fingers and the knife, which, I confess, were at times unsparingly applied to them; I would therefore recommend its being planted out in unbroken masses, if from its habitats, and if out of pots, with the balls of earth entire. It requires a more sheltered situation than either of the preceding, as it is generally furnished with longer stems.

I have now arrived at that part of my remarks on this genus, where it may be expected that I should say something relative to the distinctive characters of the last species, more especially as it has often been suggested to me that they were no more than different forms of the same plant. To this I can only reply, that I have cultivated them for many years, and always found them to retain their respective characters. Notwithstanding that P. calcareum is usually found upon chalk and limestone formations, it appears the same after many years' cultivation as when taken from its habitats, indeed if it had been disposed to run into either of the two, I think I must have observed the transition.

R. SIM.

WINTERING THE CARNATION.

As winter will soon approach us, perhaps the following plan of wintering the Carnation may prove acceptable. My frame stands on legs, and has a false bottom eight inches from the ground, well drilled with a 14-inch auger. On this bottom I put a layer of potsherds and brick-rubbish, and on these my pots (48's, each containing two plants) are placed. I then fill up to the rims with a compost of three parts cinder-ashes and one part sawdust, with a small quantity of powdered charcoal, all well mixed. In this mixture the plants may be watered without the least fear of injury from mildew, &c., as the water passes off freely, and no damp is generated in the frame from the earth beneath. In this way I have grown Carnations, &c. for a number of years, and have always had an extremely healthy stock. I have false bottoms in my frames, because I use them for other purposes, such as working Dahlias and growing Cucumbers in, &c.

Bermondsey.

ALPHA.

230

on the Rose. All the to insure a good bloo rality of Roses no mix but some of the No: more tender, require Another essential I aphides; and this is diluted tobacco-liquo

REM.

THIS genus is read
by the absence of
1. P. VULGARE
the cultivation of
in almost all soil:

most on the dec

banks.

The fron

P. VULGARE, the P. cambricum

lobes or segmen margins, charact cultivation. A British Fern is 1 of any other k easily account stations afforde may have had

P. VULGAR their extremit. it and the no tum, and son scarcely wort

2. P. DR tion; if plan increase rap. in the north and masses weather; it calculated f

3. P. P.

and genera rocks and 1

LESCHENAULTIA FORMOSA.

WILL any of your readers kindly give me a hint respecting the best way of cultivating this fine plant? Although a great favourite with me, I have as yet been unable to grow it to any thing like the perfection in which I have seen it at other places. Last year I had two plants which I paid particular attention to. They grew freely, were kept stopped back, and allowed to flower a little, but not so much as to weaken the plants; which, however, died when they were in 11-inch pots, and well established, measuring fifteen inches through and ten inches high. They were not over-watered, but kept moderately damp. In watering, I gave a sufficiency to soak the ball of earth through. The house in which they were grown is a very light one, and was shaded when the sun was powerful. Plenty of air was given; but with the above treatment, the foliage all at once assumed a yellow appearance, which gradually increased, and ultimately the plants died.