THE FERN PARADISE. 



Hartstongue is to be found in almost every con- 

 ceivable form, from a tiny thing of half an inch in 

 length, when growing on a bare, dry wall, to a 

 plant which is one rich, thick mass of delightful 

 curling fronds, each one a yard long, when grow- 

 ing in a moist bed of leaf -mould in the dark recess 

 of some hedge. 



Far out of our reach on the top of the high 

 hedge-bank, are some noble specimens of the Male 

 Fern (Lastrea filix-mas), so called from its erect 

 and robust manner of growth. From the crown, 

 densely covered with rust-coloured scales, spring 

 a close circle of beautiful fronds, whose under 

 surface is thickly covered with the scales which 

 are so prominent a characteristic of this noble- 

 looking Fern. There it grows, perched shuttle- 

 cock fashion on the top of the hedge, the points 

 of its fronds gracefully turned outwards, its crown 

 resting just above the surface of leaf-mould, into 

 the depths of which its long fine rootlets are 

 plunged. The whole plant rests under the cool 

 shadow of the trees. For years this hedge-bank 

 has evidently been left untouched, and the annual 

 crops of leaves falling from tree and bush, have 



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