198 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



hair Fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris, and then pass on to the Asple- 

 niums. A. adiantum nigrum is very dwarf, and does best on a dry 

 part of the rockery. A. marinum thrives anywhere in the shade. 

 The Lady Ferns are remarkable for the elegauce of their light- 

 green feathery fronds. Select Athyrium filix-fceviina, A. f.f. 

 conioides, A. f.f. corymb if erum, A. f.f. difjisum, A. f.f. Fieldice, A. f.f 

 Frizellia;, A. f.f. gra/ndiceps, A. f.f. lu/ifolium, A. f.f. plumosum, 

 A.f.f. ramo-cristatum, A. f. f thyssanolum, A. f.f Vernonice, A. 

 f.f. Victories. 



The Hard Ferns are dwarf and free — Blechnum spicant, and its 

 varieties imbricatum and ramosum, being equal to any amongst 

 them. 



The Bladder Fern, Cystopteris fragilis, and its variety Diclcieana, 

 are also beautiful. 



In the Buckler Ferns we have plants of upright habit and 

 stronger growth than any previously named. The following are 

 indispensable to all hardy ferneries : — Lastrea dilatata collina, L. 

 fili.e-mas. Baruesii, Jj.f.m. Bollandice, L.fm. cristata, L.fm.furcans, 

 L.f.in. grandiceps. 



The Boyal Fern, Osmunda regalis, and its beautiful variety 

 cristata, should be planted at a low part of the fernery, where it can 

 get plenty of moisture at all times. 



The genus Pok podium gives us plants that do well for growing 

 in shallow soils. P. dryopteris, P. pliegopteris, P. vulgare are indis- 

 pensable. The last-named will grow on blocks of wood, with the 

 aid of a layer of moss. P. cambrieum and P. semilacerum are fine. 



From the free and elegant-growing Shield Ferns, select Poly- 

 stichum acideatum, lobatum, P. annulare cristahim, P. a. Elworthii, 

 P. a. grandiceps, P. a. proliferum Wollastonii. 



Lastly, we come to the Hart's-tonjjue Fern, and from this alone 

 we might select a hundred varieties. We shall here be content with 

 half-a-dozen : — Scolopendriwm vulgare, 8. v. crispum, S. v. fissum, 

 8. v. oidiviafoliinn, S. v. macrosuvi, and S. v. undulato-lobatum. 



I shall not name many Hardy Exotica, but we cannot do better 

 than begin with Adiantum pedatum, and follow on with Asploimm 

 angust /folium, Gyrtomiumfalcalum (valuable for hot, sunny situations), 

 Lastrea opaca, L. Sieboldii, Pulysticl/itm sclosum, Struthiopteris Ger- 

 manica, 8. Pennsylvanica, JVoodioardia, orientalis, and W. radicans. 

 The two latter should be planted in a situation that will admit of 

 their large graceful drooping fronds spreading out in a natural man- 

 ner. Grown in pots, and elevated on the stump of an old tree, they 

 have a magnificent appearance. 



"When the amateur has succeeded in establishing these, more 

 will be desired. It will not be difficult to find many noble species 

 adapted for the unheated fernery, in addition to the group here 

 especially recommended to the notice of beginners. 



