DESIRABLE HARDY FERNS 209 



It hardly ever grows more than fifteen inches in height but 

 vhen once established it will remain and spread for years. Its 

 graceful habit makes it as popular outdoors as Adiantum cuneatum 

 s under glass. The best time to plant this fern is in the Spring 

 md while, as stated above, we find it in stiff soil, you will have better 

 esults by using as much leafmold as you can in planting. And 

 lon't plant it too deep. 



ASPIDIUM (Hardy Varieties) 



There are a number of most desirable forms or rather varieties 

 )f Aspidium, of which we are best acquainted with the so-called 

 od Fern. All Aspidiums form crowns and when you plant one 

 t is always well to set the top of the crown just about even with 

 he surface of the loose soil so that it will project just a little after 

 he first good watering. A. cristatum Clintonianum is the Crested 

 Wood Fern, growing 30 inches or more in height and almost an 

 evergreen, even in cold sections. A. Filix-mas, the Male Fern, is 

 mother strong grower and a most valuable fern, especially for moist 

 ituations. A. Goldieanum or Goldie's Wood Fern grows three 

 'eet and more in deep, moist soil and a shady position. A. marginale, 

 he Evergreen Wood Fern, is the best for mass effects and ground 

 covering and can stand quite a lot of shade. 



ASPLENIUM (Hardy Varieties) 



Among the Aspleniums there are not only fine varieities for 

 greenhouse culture, but some for outdoor planting as well. While 

 ve will here name but two, there are a half dozen or more all beauti- 

 'ul and useful wherever there is a fern bed or border to be planted or 

 irranged. Asplenium angusti folium (Narrow-leaved Spleenwort) 

 ^rows about two feet in height and has light green, narrow, grace- 

 ul fronds. A. Filix-foemina is the botanical name for the well 

 mown Lady Fern with the finely cut leaflets of its graceful fronds 

 vhich are sometimes fully three feet in length. Shade, moisture 

 md good drainage are what it wants in order to do well. 



Asplenium Trichomanes, the Maidenhair Spleenwort, is a beautiful 

 ittle fern hardly ever growing over five or six inches in height. It 

 s just the thing for small fern plantings or rockeries. As it is small 

 md delicate, you should plant it in a well-prepared bed of leafmold 

 md sand. When once established it will take care of itself, but 

 y^ou have to give it a fair chance to become established first. Watch 

 ,he little crowns so you don't get them covered with too much 

 soil. Have them even with or just a little above the surface. 



DICKSONIA PUNCTILOBULA (Hay-scented Fern) 



There are cases in which the hardy fern bed or border is partially 

 exposed to sunlight at one time or other during the day; this is 



