J25 



others of the gvacillunum type. I think I may, therefore, 

 without excess of pride, conclude that these plants alone 

 have justified the existence of *' My Fernery." 



With reference to the parent plant, I have just been 

 overhauling it ; and although some substantial divisions 

 were extracted from it three years ago, it is still a grand 

 specimen. Its fronds number over sixty, and many of 

 them are four feet long. 



This vigour, of course, is due to planting out. 



As to watering — well, w^hen a plant like this gets 

 thirsty half a drink is worse than none at all ; in fact, 

 these large specimens are terrible dipsomaniacs, and 

 remind me of the farmer who drove up to an inn and after 

 tasting a couple of quarts said **he thought he'd now git 

 down and 'ave some ! " 



From Shield Ferns to Lady Ferns is not a great way, 

 for both are aristocrats in refinement and delicacy of 

 detail. ' But while the Lady Ferns may be regarded as 

 early summer visitants only, the other section is always 

 with us. And although in this case familiarity does not 

 breed contempt, it must be admitted that the deciduous 

 character of a plumose Lady Fern is such as hardly to 

 allow one sufficient time to become "familiar." When I 

 refer to a plumose variety of Athyvium Filix-foemina, I have 

 in mind the unrivalled forms of Mr. Druery's raising. 

 As I possess all, or nearly all, of this snperhum strain — 

 mainly through the generosity of the raiser — I have many 

 opportunities of observing their superiority. They are 

 planted in my border alternately with evergreen varieties. 

 Thus they illustrate, so to speak, a progression of beauty 

 from Axminstevense to Dvuevyii. These are still in fair 

 condition for the time of year (October), which fact again 

 is due to border culture. There are several other Lady 

 Ferns whose condition is improved and prolonged by this 

 treatment. A. f.f. Elwovthii, for instance, is a huge 

 clump with fronds over four feet long; while />ercvistatum, 

 Cousens X Kalothrix, has over forty fronds about three feet 



B 



