THE HARDY FERN GARDEN. 279 



which the fronds in many instances are as finely cut as those of the Lace 

 Fern, and infinitely finer in effect. The soft Prickly Shield Fern has 

 also produced some remarkably crested forms, all of which are equal 

 in vigour and in dimensions to the typical species. The Holly Fern 

 is also perfectly hardy, and is one of those plants which are usually 

 killed with kindness, through being grown in a temperature higher 

 than is required. As regards 



Exotic Evergreen Kinds, North America supplies the greatest 

 part of those hardy in England. The larger-growing kinds from that 

 country are AspidiumcristatumClintonianum, A. floridanum,Asplenium 

 angustifolium, Lastrea marginalis, Polystichum munitum and P. 

 acrostichoides, all of which sorts attain from 18 ins. to 24 ins. in 

 height. 



Not less effective and quite as interesting as the above, though of 

 smaller dimensions, are the North American Asplenium ebenum, 

 Phegopteris alpestris, Pellaea atropurpurea, Woodsia alpina and W. 

 glabella varying in height from 6 ins. to 12 ins. There are also some 

 remarkably handsome strong-growing sorts, native of Japan, the 

 most decorative as also the most distinct among these being Lastrea 

 Standishi, with fronds 24 ins. to 30 ins. long, and of a lovely and 

 cheerful green colour; Lastrea erythrosora, with fronds 18 ins. to 

 24 ins. long, of a beautiful bronzy red colour when young, and of 

 a deep dark green hue when mature. Lastrea opaca is another hand- 

 some Japanese form, broad and massive, of a fine metallic colour when 

 young, and of a deep velvety green when mature. In Lastrea 

 Sieboldi we have a totally distinct plant, having the general aspect of 

 a somewhat dwarf Polypodium aureum and of the same bluish colour. 

 This and Dictyogramma japonica, which have somewhat bold and 

 broad fronds, are also quite hardy, and so are the Japanese Lastrea 

 prolifica, a species with finely-cut fronds, bearing numerous small 

 plants ; the handsome Polystichum setosum, with beautiful dark green, 

 shining foliage ; Polystichum Tsus-simense, Lastrea corusca and L. 

 aristata. Lomaria chilensis is a large-growing Fern with fronds 

 24 ins. to 30 ins. long and of a particularly deep green colour. Nipho- 

 bolus lingua is a very distinct Fern with entire fronds of a very 

 leathery nature, dark green above and silvery beneath, having some- 

 what the general appearance of our common Hart's-tongue, but in 

 this case the fronds, instead of starting from a single crown, are pro- 

 duced along a slender rhizome of a wiry nature. Perhaps one of the 

 prettiest of the hardy evergreen Ferns is the violet-scented Lastrea 

 fragrans. This charming little plant, seldom more than 4 ins. in height, 

 succeeds well when planted outside, as it is on the outside rockery in 



