244 THE FERN PARADISE. 



and in a saturated soil. We found it in Devonshire, 

 in a bog which lay under a wood at the bottom 

 of a hill. There it was growing at the foot of 

 the mounds of moss surmounting the roots of the 

 sedge-grasses. 



In cultivation it must have incessant moisture, 

 especially at its roots, where it should be sodden. 

 Peat and leaf-mould should compose the soil 

 peat preponderating. It is a really beautiful fern, 

 and will thrive in the open rockery, in the green- 

 house, or indoors, if grown under the conditions 

 which have been described. 



6. THE MOUNTAIN BUCKLER FERN, 

 Lastrea montana. 



Two peculiarities, strongly marked, distinguish 

 this beautiful and symmetrically-formed species 

 from the rest of the group amongst which it is 

 ranked. Ordinarily, when ferns are bruised in the 

 hand, a strong starchy odour is emitted. It has 

 been already mentioned, however, that in the case 



