FERNS IN THE GREENHOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 10 (Supplement)

FERNS IN THE GREENHOUSE

(~)NE is inclined to think, perhaps. that what holds a special interest for himself, should be appreciated bv all, but it does seem strange to keen lovers of choice ferns that so few greenhouses are devoted to their culture in these days. Some twenty or thirty years ago, it was not uncommon to find where three or more glasshouses wern possessed, that one would be occupied chiefly by ferus, and that house would be of interest all the year round. At the shows, the amateur classes would be well filled by these magnificent specimens, but now it is seldom sufficient entries are obtained to make a class for ferns worth while in the schedule. Can it be, that massive blooms and bright colours are the only things which appeal to modern taste? Nurserymen are usually the barometers of public taste in horticulture, and will state that they do not go in for ferns, as there is no demand. There are many small greenhouses which are never fully furnished. The owners are unable to spare the time required for the frequent repotting and continuous attention to watering, ventilation, shading and uncovering the roof required by the majority of greenhouse subjects. To any such, a collection of ferns should appeal. These, when one© in a pot of .fair dimensions, will demand repotting only once in three years. The fernery may be on the side of the house where tho sun never reaches it, or if more exposed, may be permanently shaded,_ thus dispensing with the daily attention needed in this respect. During the summer a house

devoted to a collection of cool house ferns may have the ventilators left open dav and night. There was a time when growers wont to a lot of trouble in the preparing of special composts for different kinds of ferns. Most of this has been proved to be unnecessary. A good fibrous loam, some loose-textured peat or leaf soil, with some sharp sand and granulated charcoal is good enough for almost all the ferns an amateur would wish to grow. Pots should invariably be well drained, for the ferns require abundance of water during their growing season, and the greater the quantity of water used, the more essential is perfect drainage. Except for small pots, the loam and peat should be hand pulled to pieo-s, avoiding sifting, which robs the loam of its fibre. Generally speaking too hard potting is not advisable, as the roots of ferns are accustomed to ramify through soft, rather spongy masses of absorbent material. Among the most favoured of ferns are the adiantutns, popularly known a* maidenhair. Some people having failed to keep maidenhair in good condition, have assured me that they are hard to grow. This is not so if the one simple fact is realised that they like a humid atmosphere, but do not appreciate water on the fronds. They are not happy in rooms heated by fires or lit by gas, neither do they like to be hosed over every day, but in a cool greenhouse, where the floors and walls are damped every day, and ventilation afforded without cutting draughts, adiantums will thrive splendidly.