F£/iXS. 265 



Cliff Brake— /'<7Ag^ atropurpurea, (Link) 



A very attractive plant of small size, found in the crevices of dry 

 rocks and cliffs ; it should transplant easily, and, with care, would suc- 

 -ceed in artificial rockwork where there was not too much moisture. 



Chain Fern — Woodward la Virgi'm'ca, (Sm.) 



This would perhaps hardly succeed so well in cultivation as many 

 of our other ferns, as it is a vigorous-growing, coarse plant, with large 

 and long root-stocks, which grows in peat-bogs and Tamarac swamps. 

 Its fine appearance, however, makes it worthy of a trial. 



Ebony Spleenwort — Asplenium ebeneio/i, (Ait.) 



Great care must be taken in the removal of this and all the Spleen, 

 worts of the same class from their native rocks. These rock-loving 

 Spleenworts will, however, generally succeed well if their roots arc taken 

 up intact, and if they are planted in crevices of rock-work, or even in 

 flower-pots if well drained. In rock-work they should have an upper 

 position, but should not be kept too dry. They generally succeed 

 better if planted in a horizontal manner between two stones ; when 

 grown in pots, the soil should be a light sandy loam mixed with leaf- 

 mould, and among this, about the roots, should be placed some pieces 

 of old mortar or sandstone. 



Narrow LEAVED Spleenworj' — Asplenium angustifolmm (Michx.) 



This is an exceedingly handsome fern, well suited for conservatories. 

 It requires good rich leaf-mould or peat and plenty of moisture, when 

 the large, delicate, light-green, fronds would be produced in abundancg 

 and form a charming contrast with the darker hue of other ferns. The 

 name of this fern is perhaps a little deceiving. Although narrow-leaved 

 it is one of our largest Spleenworts, the fertile fronds frequently 

 exceeding two feet in length. 



Sii.\'kry Spleenwort — Asplenium thelypteroides (Michx.) 



This is another of the large-fronded moisture-loving Spleenworts 

 Its natural habitat is in the deep forest or in swampy woods. It is well 

 fitted for conservatory and greenhouse culture, and like the preceding, 

 should have deep leaf-mould and plenty of mo.isture. The fronds are 

 very handsome, of a deep green, and, as the name implies, the plant has 

 much t'^e appearance of the Marsh Fern {Aspidium Thelypteris) and 

 grows much in the same manner, throwing up clumps or clusters of tall 

 graceful fronds. 



