276 THE FERN PARADISE 



to a strand that would have been inaccessible 

 at high tide. On our right the river bank 

 shelved in, and formed a sort of overhanging 

 projection, crowned with large shrubs, and 

 sheltered by trees rising on the high ground 

 above. On the soft red sandstone rock, and 

 just above high-water level, we came upon a 

 number of tufts of Asplenium marinum. It 

 was a matter of considerable difficulty to get 

 them out intact. The roots were positively 

 imbedded in the solid rock ; and it was only 

 by dint of persevering labour with a chisel that 

 we at length succeeded, by chipping away the 

 surrounding rock, in getting out our plants 

 entire. We carefully preserved our specimens; 

 and we have them now, green and vigorous, in 

 our glass case. 



The Sea Spleenwort will rarely be found to 

 grow, it is said, on the open rockery, away 

 from the sea, as it needs the sea air. But in 

 a glass case it will grow luxuriantly. It should 

 be planted between fragments of rock red sand- 

 stone if possible in soil composed of sandy leaf- 



