46 WHERE TO FIND FERNS. 



borne in mind in considering the economy of fern 

 life. But this fern food must be supplied under certain 

 essential conditions. There must be moisture and 

 more or less of shade, and, with regard to the great 

 majority of ferns, this moisture must be supplied in a 

 particular way. The soil which contains the leaf-mould 

 must be more or less porous, or at least of such a con- 

 sistency that no stagnant moisture can rest about the 

 roots of the ferns. 



If these general circumstances are borne in mind, 

 there will be no difficulty in understanding what follows, 

 or in adapting them to the particular needs of particular 

 ferns ; and, to give a general and comprehensive review 

 of the subject, we will take the ferns in the order in 

 which they are mentioned in the succeeding chapters of 

 this volume, dealing with them singly or in groups. 



The Bracken is a free-growing, deeply-rooting fern, 

 flourishing in the open sunshine where the soil is deep 

 and rich, but loving most the shade of woods, because, 

 under trees, the soil is both richer and moister than upon 

 forest glades. Hence a shady or half-shady position 

 upon rich, deep, moist soil will suit this handsome 

 fern. 



In its wild state the Hartstongue is so bold and hardy 

 that it will grow almost anywhere, but it especially loves 

 stony habitats, and is small or large according as the 

 stones or rocks from between which it sends up its 

 fronds overlie shallow or deep masses of leafy soil, and 

 are exposed to sunshine and a free circulation of air, or 

 are immersed in shade in a moist atmosphere. Shaded 

 rockery over deep soil is the best position, therefore, for 

 Hartstongues. 



The Lady Fern, the Hard Fern, and the Royal Fern, 

 though sometimes found in sunny positions, revel most 

 in soil that is soft, spongy, and rich, and in such 

 positions as secure to them shade and moist air. By 

 fountains or running water will suit them best where 



