crevices of old trees, and among the rocky debris of 

 secluded glens. In exposed situations it holds its own with 

 short stunted fronds of an inch or two in length, and in 

 congenial shade and moist situations we have found it with 

 fronds nearer two feet, hanging in pendulous bunches. 

 Normally, its fronds are long and narrow, consisting first of 

 a somewhat long bare stalk, which, continuing through the 

 frond, bears a row on each side of long smooth-edged, 

 tongue-shaped side divisions tapering to a bluntish point. 

 At the back of these fronds, if fertile, we may find each side 

 division to bear two rows of bright golden spore heaps, 

 looking under a lens like symmetrical heaps of ripe 

 oranges, the seeming oranges being capsules full of golden 

 spores, a beautiful sight to see. Occasionally, especially in 

 Wales, we may find the side divisions saw-toothed and 

 pointed, and even more or less subdivided, and in some 

 localities the tips of the side divisions are often divided into 

 two or three (P. v. hifidum), though rarely all of them. 

 Examining the plant more narrowly we shall find that the 

 fronds rise singly from a thick fleshy creeping rootstock 

 covered with brownish scales, something on the lines of the 

 Haresfoot fern {Davallia Canaviensis), this being firmly 

 anchored into the crevices or soil by a number of roots 

 proper. 



No one, to see this simply constructed fern, could 

 imagine into what wonderful forms it has sported and what 

 splendid evergreen ornamental plants they constitute. In 

 our own Fernery we have the cream of these, numbering 

 about forty distinct types, all but one of which was found 

 as a wild plant, some in old pollard trees, some in walls, 

 some in hedges, and some in rocky crevices. Let us 

 walk round and take them as they come. Here is a 

 beautiful group in a hanging basket, one of the best ways 

 to grow the plant. It is a basin-shaped galvanized wire 

 one, about 15 inches in diameter and 8 inches deep, 

 suspended by four strong wires from a hook in one of the 

 roof supports, for it is very heavy. This was lined with 

 living moss to retain the soil and was filled up with a 



