574 



FERN 



FERN 



in our garden soil planted with Polypodium vitlgare, 

 which nature plants among the rocks and on great 

 boulders well up the mountain side, thus proving to us 

 that it is not always necessary to plant in the same sit- 

 uation as we find them in the wild. As a rule, we get the 

 best results when planted in shade, yet there are some 

 exceptions, like Dicksonia, which is such a prominent 

 feature on our northern New England hillsides. Many 

 dreary places shut out from the sunlight may be beau- 

 tified by a clump of Ferns, and fill the place as no other 

 plant will do. The native kinds will survive our New 

 England winters without covering, but they are all bene- 

 fited by a mulch of leaves or boughs. Be sure that the 

 Fern border is protected from strong winds (Fig. 810). 

 Against the shady or half-shady side of a house is a 

 good spot, if there is no drip from the eaves. It is best 

 to select rather young and small clumps when hunting 

 Ferns in the wild. When once established, these will 

 persist and thrive for years. 



It is much better to move Ferns in early spring or late 

 autumn, when not in growth ; but we may wish to plant 

 them in summer, when they are in full growth. In this 

 latter case cut off all the new fronds: this will retard 

 evaporation, or keep the plant from wilting. Get the 

 roots into the soil with as little exposure to the air as 

 possible, and (with a very few exceptions) new fronds 

 will spring up, giving nearly as good results as if 

 planted in early spring. No doubt a great majority of 

 failures from planting when in full growth are due to 

 not cutting back. EDWARD GILLETT. 



810. Hardy Ferns against a house foundation The 

 Ostrich Fern. 



Many species will thrive under other conditions than 

 those in which they grow most luxuriantly in a wild state, 

 and, in general, the species are tenacious of life where- 

 ever placed ; but as the beauty of Fern foliage is 

 brought out only by luxuriance of growth it should be 

 the aim to plant only where such may be obtained. 

 Ferns are exceedingly easy to transplant, and with care 

 may be removed from native haunts during the sum- 

 mer, though it is always to the conservation of the 

 strength of plants to move them when dormant. In 

 planting Ferns, especially those of small size, the spat- 

 tering of soil on the fronds by rain must be prevented 

 by covering the earth with material such as gravel or 

 moss for the smaller species and leaves for the more 

 vigorous. The smaller species are easily smothered 

 with leaves, and some of the stronger, as Dicksonia and 

 Aspidium Noveboracense, do not endure coarse covering. 

 The evergreen species should preferably be given a 

 position shaded in winter, such as a bank with northern 

 exposure. The best species for planting in sunlight 



are Pteris aquilina, Osmundas, Dicksonia, Onoclea sen- 

 sibilis and Aspidium Noveboracense. When planting 

 in sunlight, give a moister situation and a heavier 

 mulch than if planting in shade. A light soil is prefer- 

 able, but, except for the species with running rootstocks, 

 is not necessary. The soil may be enriched with any 

 manure not given to heating. For species native only 

 of limestone soils, old plaster should be mixed with the 

 soil. An application of any manure to Ferns growing in 

 turf is apt to stimulate the grass to the crowding out of 

 the Ferns. 



Following are notes, drawn from experience, on the 

 cultivation of some of the common native Ferns : 



Adiantiim pedatum prefers light, loose, rich soil in 

 cool, moist shade, with yearly mulch of leaves. Soil con- 

 ditions are more important than shade. Where estab- 

 lished in a wild state will endure the full sunshine com- 

 ing with the removal of trees until soil conditions 

 change or it is crowded out by stronger plants. 



Aspidium acrostichoides should be given shade both 

 summer and winter for best results, and in no case can 

 shade in summer be omitted. The plants will endure 

 sunshine for a few years but will not be thrifty, and will 

 eventually die. 



Aspidium JBootti is found in a wild state in moist, 

 shaded positions, but will grow well in shade in quite 

 dry positions. 



Aspidium cristatum prefers moist to wet soil in 

 shade. It will not endure strong sunlight. 



Aspidium Goldianum prefers deep, moist, rich soil 

 in cool shade. 



Aspidium marginale wants rich soil in rather deep 

 shade during the entire year, but will grow well in partial 

 shade, and endure even full sunlight, though not grow- 

 ing so luxuriantly. 



Aspidium Noveboracense does best in rather moist, 

 rich soil in partial shade, but will endure full sunlight 

 with good soil conditions. 



Aspidium Tlielypteris prefers quite moist situations 

 with at least partial shade. 



Asplenium angusti folium thrives on rich rather 

 moist soil in shade. Avoid complete removal of fronds 

 when planting in early fall, as this Fern quickly sends 

 up new fronds to the weakening of the following sea- 

 son's growth. ^ 



Asplenium ebeneum prefers partial shade. Care 

 must be taken to prevent smothering by leaves and to 

 plant where the least likely to be heaved by frost. It is 

 found most plentifully as a native on banks growing 

 with grass and other plants in partial, shade. The 

 fronds are evergreen, but become discolored in severe 

 weather. 



Asplenium Filix-foemina prefers rich, moist soil in 

 shade. 



Asplenium montanum does well in continual shade. 



Asplenium pinnatifidum and A. Trichomanes need 

 shade during the entire year. 



Camptosorus rhizophyllus in the wild state is foui 

 in cool, shaded positions not subject to excessive 

 drought or moisture. It prefers a moist atmosphere, but 

 this is not necessary. Avoid any covering of leaves. 



Cryptogramma acrostichoides should be grown 

 shade. It will not endure much sun, at least not 

 removal to a sunny position. 



Cystopteris fragilis should be planted in shade ii 

 positions where it will receive no covering of leaves. 

 The fronds die in early August in the drier situations. 

 It will grow in positions which become exceedingly di 

 in midsummer. It forces well in a coolhouse. 



Dicksonia pilosiuscula prefers shady, moist sil 

 tions where it does not receive any covering by fallii 

 leaves of large size. Grows well in sunshine. May 

 transplanted at any season, and takes kindly to heavj 

 enrichment. 



Onoclea sensibilis prefers a rich, moist soil in partu 

 shade or full sunshine. It will also grow in shade. 



Onoclea Struthiopteris should be given a rich, mois 

 soil with at least partial shade. The fronds will "burn" 

 in fierce sunlight. 



Ostmtndacinnamomea prefers moist, partially shadt 

 situations, but will grow well in full sunshine in ricl 

 soil not exceedingly dry. 



Osmunda Claytoniana, a native of low ground, bot 



