LANCEOLATE SPLEENWORT. 3? 



This plant was well known to John Ray and the 

 older botanists ; it is one of the few species that have 

 escaped all confusion in nomenclature. 



It is a very local fern, and though not confined to 

 the seacoast, must be considered chiefly a maritime 

 species ; for, with the exception of Tunbridge Wells 

 and Snowdon, it does not appear to have been found 

 far from the sea. In the south of England, near the 

 coast, it is seen springing out of almost every wall. 

 Among the damp rocks of Lizard Point, in Cornwall, 

 it attains great luxuriance. In the Channel Islands, 

 Jersey especially, it is very abundant. 



Like other maritime species of ferns, it is not 

 adapted for out - door cultivation, especially near 

 London. In a hothouse, under a frame, or in a 

 Ward's case, it does well, if properly managed. Pro- 

 bably there may be a little difficulty in a closed case, 

 from its objection to continual moisture without 

 evaporation ; but this can be obviated by securing good 

 drainage, and by occasionally admitting the air into 

 the case. 



Mr. Newman gives directions for the cultivation of 

 this fern in a greenhouse, which, if properly attended 

 to, would, we doubt not, secure success. He says : 

 " Fill the flower-pot to the depth of four inches with 

 small pieces of charcoal, in pieces not larger than a 

 hazel-nut, clean silver-sand, fibrous peat chopped into 

 bits, and light friable loam sifted fine, so as to get rid 

 of pebbles ; these ingredients, after being mixed well 

 together, should be passed through a coarse sieve. 

 Hold the fern in the middle of the pot, with the roots 



