96 THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Asplenium—continued. 
if freely supplied with moisture to its roots. In woodland 
walks, or on the shady margin of ornamental water, no 
Fern can be more appropriately introduced. When 
grown in a pot, it requires one of rather a large size, 
and should be planted in turfy soil intermixed with 
fragments of charcoal, sandstone, and potsherds. To 
attain anything like a fair degree of its ladylike graceful- 
ness, this Fern must under all circumstances be well 
supplied with water. 
Although really a British Fern, the Sea Spleenwort 
(A. marinwm) does not not succeed well in the open in 
many parts of Great Britain; whereas it certainly luxu- 
riates in warmth, and readily adapts itself to the treatment 
allowed even to our stove plants, it grows very well 
and forms splendid specimens in the cool and intermediate 
houses, pits, vineries, &c. It also proves one of the hand- 
somest Ferns in cultivation when planted in the temperate 
Fernery. In its natural state the Sea Spleenwort appears 
to require very little nourishment for its maintenance, 
but when cultivated its young seedlings will often make 
their appearance and, if left undisturbed, grow luxuriantly 
in places where scarcely a particle of soil is to be found. 
It is, however, more satisfactory to plant it in a compost 
of three parts fibrous peat and one of sand, with 
thorough drainage. 
Mention might now fittingly be made to the cultural 
requirements of the well-known Maidenhair Spleenwort 
(Asplenium Trichomanes), found almost everywhere in 
Britain. Hardy as the Fern is it prefers an exposed 
situation to a close or very shady one, in which the 
constant moisture, by collecting on the fronds, soon 
causes them to blacken and decay. If the plants are grown 
in pots, it is essential that these should be well drained, 
and frequent watering over the fronds must be avoided. 
The compost best suited for this species is a mixture of 
porous, loamy soil, lumps of sandstone, and old lime 
rubbish. In the hardy ontdoor Fernery, A. Trichomanes 
is particularly adapted for the formation of a neat and 
pleasant edging where it can take its natural position; 
but in this case it should be planted between stones, and 
the crowns should be kept slightly above the surface of 
the soil. In such a position its graceful, slender fronds 
are shown to perfection. Pvropagated either by means of 
spores, which are generally ripe in August and germinate 
freely, or by the division of its crowns in March. 
Two species which may be regarded as indispensable 
to any good collection of Ferns are A. flabellifoliwm 
and <A. flaccidum. The former is best when grown in 
small hanging-baskets, as then its fronds are very graceful. 
In rustic cork baskets it is grown with most complete 
success, for it takes possession of the most ragged parts 
of them in a remarkably short time. Grown in pots or 
even trailing on the ground in a Fern-ecase, it has a weedy 
appearance. A. fontanwm is another decided acquisition, 
as, on account of its dwarf, compact habit, it must be treated 
as an ordinary greenhouse Fern, have glass protection all 
the year round, and be shaded from the direct rays of the 
sun during the summer months. It is readily propagated 
by careful division of the plants during the spring months, 
when the portions thus obtained should be potted or planted 
in a mixture of sandy peat and broken bricks, or old 
mortar, or both; and particular attention should be paid 
to the drainage, which is best formed of freshly-broken 
bricks. 
Greenhouse treatment should also be meted out to 
A. lanceolatum, another native Fern, though very local in 
its distribution. Like most of its congeners of small 
dimensions, it must be shaded from the hot sun. 
Under such treatment, and provided it be kept mode- 
rately moist, its fronds attain a length of from 10in. 
to 12in., and are of a beautiful dark green. A mixture of 
peat, lime-rubbish, bricks broken small, and leaf-mould, in 
about equal proportions, is what it likes. In planting or 
Asplenium— continued. 
potting, the crown requires to be kept well above the 
surface of the soil. Usually propagated by division of the 
crowns in early spring, but the operation requires rather 
more attention than it is usual to bestow on British Ferns. 
A. Goringianum pictum is another Fern which, though 
hardy in sheltered spots, is best grown in a green- 
house or under the shelter of a cold frame, using a 
compost of two parts of leaf-mould, one of fibrous loam, 
and one of silver-sand. Spores are produced in abundance, 
but the plant is propagated by division. 
Although requiring stove heat to grow and develop 
their handsome fronds properly during the greater part 
of the year, A. Nidus and its varieties stand well out of 
doors in the summer if not exposed to the full sun, and 
they prove exceedingly effective when used in the sub- 
tropical garden. Great care must be taken to keep 
away slugs and woodlice, which are particularly fond of 
the young succulent fronds. These Ferns thrive best in 
a mixture of about equal parts rough, fibrous peat 
and chopped sphagnum. They require very little soil, 
most of the nourishment being derived from aérial 
roots, which are produced freely on the surface of the _ 
pot, and at the base of the fronds, if the atmosphere be 
kept in proper condition. 
In A. Selosii anl A. septentrionale we have two 
species somewhat difficult to manage. The former should 
be firmly potted between pieces of sandstone in loam, 
leaf-mould, rock-chippings, and sand, with good drainage. 
With the latter, as with all other species of delicate 
constitution and slow growth, it is necessary that the 
tufted crowns should be kept above the surface of the 
soil, and in potting it the essential point is to secure 
perfect drainage. A mixture of peat, loam, and old 
mortar, in about equal parts, should be used. Water 
must be sparingly given, taking care to avoid: any 
superfluous moisture. The cold frame is the best place 
in which to keep the plant in good order. 
It is worthy of 
special note that 
all Aspleniums are “y 
particularly free from jo 
the attacks of such 
pests as ‘Thrips, 
Green-fly, and Mealy 
Bug, and are natur- 
ally clean plants, 
their worst enemies 
being Woodlice and 
Slugs, which are fond 
of their succulent 
stalks. The former 
must be trapped by 
means of slices of 
Carrot placed in their 
haunts, and the latter 
with bran or brewer's 
grains. 
To the species and 
varieties described on 
pp. 127-35, Vol. L, 
the following should 
be added: 
A. achillezfolium 
(Achillea-leaved). 
Fronds about 2ft. long, 
including the ey 
stipes, somewhat lan- 
ceolate; pinne nu- 
merous, soft, 4in. to 
6in. long, lin. broad, 
cut throughout to the 
winged midrib into 
numerous __ bluntly- 
toothed pinnules sin. 
long and 4in. broad. 
sort oblong, usually 
Fic. 92. FROND OF ASPLENIUM 
ALATUM. 
