574 



FERN 



in our garden soil planted with Polypodium vidgare, 

 which natui'i- plants ann'iitj: tin- nn-ks mid (Mi great 



boulder- v.. 11 u-r 111.' 1 n,;;Hi, -,.;. .ilii,, pn.^•■l,-^. ns 



that it i- : . ■ . ' ' . .>iil in 111- ^: Ml- 



UatiOU a- ■ • • -I ■ ■,. I . ■ 'M. \ ^ .1 i-'i:. . '.■ . :_,•! Ilir 



best ri-MJii - ■..Mill |.i.nili -:i:;u.'. ;, -I I li.Tc' .'iM- -miir 



exception.^, like i.-)i.■k.•^.lUla, uln.li i., sueli a pioiiiiiielit 

 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 i 

 to select rather young o 

 Perns in the wild. Wh 

 persist and thrive for yt 

 It is much better to m. 

 autumn, when not in gr. 



ves. It is best 

 when hunting 

 lid, these will 



I ■ > sprmgoriate 



in wish to plant 

 I'll: III .:i<>wth. In this 

 latter case cut off all tin- m . inui.;-: iliis will retard 

 evaporation, or keep the j^lam u--iii willing. 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 





l\. 



'■^ 



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 jVoveboracense, 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 Pleris aquilina 



ill siiiilii;Iii. _T,i ;, ini'i-1. I -liii.iii..ii ami a heavier 

 Miiilrli ilian m' iiaii 'i',_ 'ii \, i/. ■\ ' •ai ,,,| j^ prcfer- 



alil'a lull. I ■ ■■ ■ • ■ n.otstocks, 



I- lait iM'ia'^-a I , , ill. -. a I laa ■. i ..• . a ii-' a . 'i with any 



iiiaiiiire ii"i j4i\i-ii i... Iiiatiiiig. 1 ..r ^i...-uk-s imtive only 

 of limestoue 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 : 



Adiantum pedatiim 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 aerostie7i"i'r: s slamld be given shade both 

 summer and winter fm- lia-r rf-iilts, and in no case can 

 shade in summer be ..mitt. . I. 'I'lii- jilants will endure 

 sunshine for a few yeara l.iit will ii.>t be thrifty, and will 

 eventually die. 



Aspidium Bootti 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. 



i pidium Goldianiim prefers deep, moist, rich soil 

 m cool shade 



Aspidium maiginaU wants rich soil in rather deep 

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

 shade and endure even full sunlight, though not grow- 

 ing so luxuriantly. 



Aipidium Noieboracense does best in rather moist, 

 rich soil in partial shade, but will endure full sunlight 

 with good soil conditions. 



Aspidium fhelypteris prefers quite moist situations 

 with at le 1st partial shade. 



Asphnium angustifolium thrives on rich rather 

 moist soil in shade. Avoid complete removal of fronds 

 whtu planting in early fall, as this Fern quickly sends 

 up ne\^ tionds to the weakening of the following sea- 

 son _i wth 



I I in ebeneum prefers partial shade. Care 



t il en to prevent smothering by leaves and to 



I e the least likely to be heaved by frost. It is 



I t plentifully as a native on banks growing 



1 and other plants in partial shade. The 



ii I iM evergreen, but become discolored in severe 



Filix-fmmina prefers rich, moist soil 



shade. It will not eh.iuic imi. ii .>ui,. at i.a.>t ii.jt a 

 removal to a sunny position. 



Cj/stopferis fragilis should be planted in shade in 

 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 dry 

 in midsummer. It forces well in a coolhouse. 



Dicksonia pilosiuscuia prefers shady, moist situa- 

 tions where it does not receive any covering by falling 

 leaves of large size. Grows well in sunshine. May be 

 transplanted at any season, and takes kindly to heavy 

 enrichment. 



Onodea sensibilis prefers a rich, moist soil in partial 

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



Onoelea Struthiopteris should be given a rich, moist 

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

 in fierce sunlight. 



Osmiinda cinnamomea prefers moist, partially shaded 

 situations, but will grow well in full sunshine in rich 

 soil not exceedingly dry. 



Osmunda Claytoniana, a native of low ground, both 



