6 PARSLEY FERN. 



maturity until June, and becomes disfigured by the 

 first morning frosts of autumn. 



It is confined exclusively to Europe, and in Great 

 Britain is rather a local than a rare fern. Its favourite 

 place of growth is among rugged masses of stones and 

 broken rocks, which lie at the base or slopes of moun- 

 tains in the north of England, and in Wales. On the 

 rocks of Snowdon it may be seen covering the other- 

 wise bare surface, and growing luxuriantly in the 

 clefts and ledges of the slate and trap masses which 

 there abound. In Scotland it is abundant ; and it is 

 to be found in Ireland, though more sparingly. In 

 cultivation, this charming little fern succeeds well. 

 Nothing can be better adapted by natural habit to 

 the rock-work and masses of dark granite or basaltic 

 rock, on which it should be placed in the fernery. In 

 a closed case it also does well, if protected from the 

 direct heat of the sun, and supplied with fragments of 

 stone, or mortar, or bits of slate. A peaty bog-earth 

 is the best soil for it ; and, as in the case of all other 

 ferns, its natural circumstances should be as much as 

 possible regarded in its artificial treatment. 



