THE FERNERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6712, 27 November 1889, Page 4

THE FERNERY.

i Almost immediately the visitor outers the Exhibition he obtains a view oc the Fernery, beyond the dome, through tha large plate-g1&33 window. Opposite this, in the wall of the Fernery, is another window, permitting a glimpse of the gardens to be seen. Tho ferns have been so arranged na to Inave a fairly cJear space between the two wimlomi. Tho Fernery may be reached either from the building or the gardens, and, aa tho writer of the description in the official catalogue says, it presents a truly New Zealand eylvan sctne. In tho cejitre a picturesque pile of rocktvork rises, of which every crevice and cranny affords roothold for some fair fern, and verdant moss, whilst; from its summit there deecsmis by small cascades oud rippling rills a constant stream of falling water which finds a resting place in a miniature pool bolow. Oa this rocky cairn, as iv many other parts 01 the fernery, may be found tho most beautiful of tiio filmy ferns, tho curiously-shaped kidney fern, clender-stemmed maidenhairs, and maDy others of varied form and 3hade. Turning away from this fairy fountain, the visitor may stroll round the winding paths amidst groves cf stately tree ferns of divevs species, including tho umbrageous silver ; 'tree-fern, whose far-reaching fronds oil the brightest green are lined with a silvery I hue, intermingled with numerous plants I of ofchor specieo, as well as a few specimens ! 0? the manuka oi: the South Island Maoris, I which was utilised by them before the j advent of the pakehs, as a source of food EUpply. Beneath thowide-Bpreadingfronds oi' the tree-ferns, and on roclry banks, there grow a profusion of ferns of lowlier stature, of many species and divers hues and habit. Ia a tiny glade near the South - eastern angle the lover of ferns may feast his ' eyes oa. the richly beautiful fronds of the double cr&pej or Prince of Wales' feather fern where — as well as by a little waterfall near — he may see this lovely fern growing as if in its native habitat. To one who has never had the good fortune to behold some richly-decked ferny gully in the New Zealand bush, this little glade will convey some idea of the rare beauty of our forest dells. Besides ferns, the bush flora is represented by lycopodo, &c, while on moss-covered walls and posts amongst epiphytic ferns such plants as tho commoner orchids may be observed. Although the flowers of these orchids are small, yet as they grow in maeseß they form a sferiking feature of the forest vegetation, and at least one species has a very sweet perfume . The majority of the fern a and plants here displayed have been obtained from tho immediate neighbourhood of Dunedin, but a few have been sent from other places. At the East end of the fernery is a bed o£ plants contributed by the Town Council of Invercargill, amongst which are some rare plants. Between thirty and forty varieties of veronica are to bo seen in this bed. This genus, now widely cultivated all over the world, is represented in New Zealand by some sixty species, including fully eighty marked varieties. In tho early years of this century only one (from Hungary) was cultivated in English gardens. Among the plants in this bed are several brought by Captain Fairchild from the Auckland Islands, one of tho southern dependencies of the Colony. Here, too, will be noticed a magnificent foliage plant which throws up a handsome spike of purple flowers. It is probably allied to the asters. Here will be found specimens of tho New Zealand edelweiss, which resembles the species found in the European Alps, though the flower is not quite so handsome. At the West end of the fernery ia a bed of plants exhibited by Mr Matthews, of Dunedin. This contains some of our rarest Alpine plants from the mountains o£ Western Otago; Among these are several species of celmißia,popularlyknown as mountain daisies from their flowers, or as cotton plants from tho mass of cottony tomentnni on the back of tho leaves of moat specie 3. The great majority of these plants have handsome marguerite flowers, and at least a dozen of them are easily cultivated at the sea level, and well repay the little attention they require. Some fine specimens of another of our Alpine plants, which, strange to say, appears to have been overlooked by British floriculturistn, may be seen in this collection, namely, the mountain lily. Amongst the shrubs end j young trees in the rockeries and other part 3of the gardens are to be seen specimens of the celery-topped pine, confined to New Zealand, Borneo, Tasmania and i New Caledonia ; some of the olearias, v/bich are among the most beautiful shrubs n New Zealand, and several species of the formidable spear-grass. Curiously enough the roots of the latter are greedily sought after by swine, and the writer quoted above states that the economical , Chinese on our treeless goldfieids use the dried leaves as fuel, whicfy give out an agreeable scent from the aromatic gum secreted in them. As we have said before, tbV> gardens do not make any great show yet, bat it iB undeniable that a great deal of ciwe and labour has been bestowed on themv j