MOUNTAIN SHIELD FEKN. 21 



the Marsh Fern (Aspidium Tlwlypteris). Over every 

 portion of the under surface lie numerous small, 

 round, shining, bright-yellow glands, which give 

 the young fronds a golden tinge, and when rubbed 

 or bruised emit a pleasant resinous odour. The 

 fronds make their appearance about the beginning 

 of May, and before they unfold look like little silver 

 balls amidst the grass. They attain a height of two 

 or three feet, and sometimes even of five feet, accord- 

 ing to situation. It delights in exposed and heathy 

 places, and dry pastures, and is found more or less 

 throughout Europe in open districts. It grows on 

 Hampstead Heath, Wimbledon Common, and Black- 

 heath ; also at Tunbridge Wells, and is abundant in 

 Scotland. A special characteristic of this fern is men- 

 tioned by Mr. Newman, which is worthy of observa- 

 tion. He says : " Immediately the fronds begin to 

 unroll, they exhibit the pinnae placed at right angles 

 with the main stem, and are not convolute, as in the 

 allied ferns." 



Many persons complain of great difficulty in rearing 

 or establishing Aspidiutn Oreopteris, which after a 

 time fades and dies, and it is almost impossible to cul- 

 tivate it with other ferns in a closed case, as it re- 

 quires so much more moisture than most others. The 

 best plan to secure its continuance is to transplant it 

 with some of its native earth into a pot with pure 

 loam, and to keep the soil wetted during the winter, 

 either by a constant flow of water from a siphon, or 

 by a saucer full ot water, in which it may stand. 

 The first plan appears the best, and might be 



