THE ROCK-WALL IN SHADE 29 



bended from the diagram at p. 61, in which the groups 

 of each kind of plant are represented by the different 

 ways of hatching. 



It would be well to get into the way of this kind of 

 planting as a general rule, though here and there one 

 isolated plant of very distinct character would have 

 a good effect. 



At the foot of the wall would be grand tufts of the 

 largest of the British Ferns, Male Fern, Lady Fern, 

 Harts-tongue, Osmunda, and Shield Fern, and with 

 these, handsome foreigners such as Struthiopteris ger- 

 manica and several North American kinds. The cool 

 pale fronds of Harts-tongue (Scolopendrium), in form 

 and texture so unlike most other Ferns, are valuable 

 not only for their own sake but for fostering the feel- 

 ing of shade and coolness that is the main character 

 of this portion of the garden. When established at 

 the wall's foot they are of all Ferns the most willing 

 to increase by the sowing of their own spores, though 

 this can easily be helped by shaking a frond whose 

 fructification is mature along some joint where a young 

 growth of it is desirable. Be it remembered that 

 though most Ferns love a bit of peat, Harts-tongue 

 rejoices in a strong loam, also that Polypodium cal- 

 careum, as its specific name says plainly, will be thank- 

 ful for lime. The little Ruta muraria is also a lime 

 lover. The common Polypody is hardly ever so hand- 

 some as in a cool wall, while its relatives the Oak and 

 Beech Ferns will be quite at home in wide joints. 



If a specially cool and moist spot is noticed while 

 the wall is building it will be well to leave out a block 



