34 



be so thin as to shrivel up rapidly when taken from the 

 saturated atmosphere of their forest home. Again, in habit, 

 some are tufted, others have far-creeping stems, and others 

 climb high up the lofty trees or live perched upon their 

 boughs. There is obviously then a rich material upon which 

 to draw, so that ferns may be found suitable for almost any 

 condition, whether of extreme moisture or dryness. All the 

 same, it must be borne in mind that the majority are forest- 

 dwellers, and that in consequence they demand a moist 

 atmosphere, shade, and absence of wind. Positions of this 

 kind in most localities are not available in ordinary gardens, 

 so that our ferns must be grown either as pot-plants for the 

 cool greenhouse, the conservatory, or the room, or special 

 structures may be erected as ferneries where the necessary 

 conditions are provided. 



Ferns are easier to ship for long distances than flowering- 

 plants. Tree-ferns, their leaves cut off, travel admirably, even 

 in the hold of the vessel ; the constant moisture-demanding 

 filmy ferns can be sent for a certainty in tins by parcels- 

 post ; small specimens of Todaea superba and T. hymeno- 

 phylloides should be forwarded in a similar manner, and larger 

 ones, if the leaves are to be preserved, in close boxes ; in 

 fact, a good many ferns appear to travel excellently in this 

 manner. Ferns with small trunks may be treated similarly 

 to tree-ferns, but they should be placed in boxes with some 

 moist Sphagnum. Finally, Wardian cases, as already men- 

 tioned, may be used for purposes of shipment. 



(a.) Ferns suitable for growing in the Open without Special Shade. 



Ferns of this class have either thick or stiff leaves or 

 moisture-containing rhizomes. The following are suggested : 

 Paesia (Pteris) scab end a ; Doodia media; Asplenium obtus- 

 atum ; thick-leaved erect A . flaccidum ; Polystichum Richardi ; 

 Cyclophorus (Poly podium) serpens. 



(b.) Ferns suitable for growing in Shady Moist Sheltered Parts 

 of the Garden. 



Cyathea dealbata (silver tree-fern) ; C. medullaris (black tree- 

 fern) ; Dicksonia fibrosa (8-20 ft. high) ; D. squarrosa (6-8 ft. 

 high); Leptolepia (Davallia] novae-zealandiae ; Adiantum affine. 



