THE FERN PARADISE. 



fronds, and, unlike the latter, they are quite dis- 

 tinct, being separated by a greater space from 

 each other. There is, too, a much longer stem in 

 the fertile fronds of the Hard Fern than in the 

 barren ones, the leaflets being at first the tiniest 

 protuberances from the midrib, and gradually 

 extending in length; but again decreasing in 

 length as they near the apex of the frond. The 

 backs of the fertile fronds in their upper parts 

 are densely covered with seed-cases. So soon as 

 the spores in these have in the autumn been 

 scattered, the tall, thin fertile fronds wither and 

 drop away to the ground; but the barren fronds 

 are evergreen, and preserve their delightful fresh- 

 ness until the reappearance of spring calls up 

 another cluster from the root-stock. 



The Hard Fern is widely distributed and 

 abundant, delighting most to grow in damp and 

 dripping situations. It should therefore be 

 grown in the lowest tiers of your Fern rockery, 

 and have abundant moisture. In its wild state 

 it is often found growing in somewhat stiff clay 

 soils, but it succeeds well in fibrous soils in which 

 leaf-mould largely abounds. It will not be too 



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