106 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



cool house, as it is nearly hardy. There is a pretty crested variety 

 of it. 



65. Asplenium lucidum. — An exhibition fern, nearly hardy, and 

 therefore first-rate for the cool house, and especially fine for the 

 indoor rockery. The fronds attain a length of four (or more) feet, 

 if well grown. They are pendulous, brilliant green, and glossy. 

 A 1 for everybody, except those who only have cases, and to these 

 it is useful only when young. 



66. Asplenium myriophyllwm. — A fern for the fairies, and certainly 

 too good for any human being who ever frowned, spoke harshly, or 

 treated a grandmother with disrespect. Its name denotes that it is 

 like the water milfoil, finely cut, and divided into the loveliest of 

 lace-like segments. As the fronds attain a length of nearly two feet, 

 and are proliferous at the apex, a fine specimen affords plenty to look 

 at. A. rhizophyllum, A. dubium, A. striatum, A. bifissum, A. clado- 

 lepton, are either the same specifically, or so slightly removed, as to 

 be regarded as varieties only. 



67. Asplenium prcemorsum is a geueral favourite. It is a variable 

 fern, the nominal form having arched, thrice-divided, tapering, spare- 

 looking, smooth dark green fronds. It forms a splendid fern for a 

 vase, and is first-rate for exhibition. The greenhouse is the proper 

 place for it, but it will go through a mild winter in an unheated 

 house, if it has a little care, more particularly to guard against 

 excess of moisture. 



68. Asplenium rhizophorum. — A charming fern, with light green 

 arching fronds, every one of which takes root at the point, and pro- 

 duces a young plant. Its object, evidently, is to cover all the world 

 with itself by this mode of travelling ; it only fails because not 

 equal in the struggle for life to some of the circumstances which 

 oppose its progress. A pretty fern for suspending. The proper 

 place for it is the stove, but Mrs. Hibberd has kept it, and multiplied 

 it largely, in her cool cases during full ten years, and with few losses. 



69. Asplenium viviparum. — A lovely small-growing, bluish green, 

 fennel-like fern, but more sublime than fennel, as a bird of paradise 

 is more sublime than a crow, though both are handsome. The upper 

 surface is freely covered with young plants. It is one of the best 

 possible for the front of a case, where, however, it is the first to die 

 if anything goes wrong with the drainage. Mrs. Hibberd tells me 

 she would never care to keep it in a case without the aid of artificial 

 heat in winter, as, in the event of severe weather occurring when 

 the case happened to be slightly more damp than usual, it would be 

 like the tree, the flower, and the " dear gazelle " of the " trembling 

 maid" in the " Fire Worshippers." 



70. Asplenium serra. — The grandest of all the Aspleniums, and 

 adapted only for large ferneries, where it requires stove heat. It is 

 a first-class exhibition fern, with rich dark green, leafy, arching 

 fronds, the pinnae of which are deeply serrated. Being evergreen it 

 is well adapted to plant on a rockery in the stove. This completes 

 our selection of the most distinct and useful Aspleniums, omitting 

 Britishers, on which enough has been said in former papers. 



S.H. 



