FERNS 181 



but requires a sheltered nook, free from draught, 

 in order to develop its fronds in summer. 



The fine ostrich-feather fern (Struthiopteris ger- 

 manica) is one of the flowering ferns so-called, 

 and of very different habit from the last. It is 

 not hard to establish, and is well suited to positions 

 where there is ample room to show off its hand- 

 some shuttlecock-like proportions. There are a 

 few other foreign ferns available for the outdoor 

 fernery ; but a fine lomaria (L. chilensis) may com- 

 plete the present list. It is of somewhat stiff habit, 

 but forms a grand contrast to other ferns, and is 

 generally evergreen. A very severe winter may cut 

 it to the ground, but fresh fronds come up in spring. 



It is not always easy in ordinary gardens to 

 find the right position for ferns. They may some- 

 times be planted, either singly or in groups, with 

 good effect in sheltered borders associated with 

 flowering plants; or they may find a suitable posi- 

 tion on a low rock bed; but the fashion of lump- 

 ing a number of species together on rock-work 

 in some neglected, out-of-the-way corner of the 

 garden is happily passing away. It is not often 

 that a glen with a rushing stream is to be found 

 within two minutes' walk of the garden walls; 

 though I happen to know of just such a spot, where 

 all kinds of ferns luxuriate in the most picturesque 

 way on the steep rocky banks, and almost under 

 the misty spray of a natural waterfall. 



It is quite true that a fern will occasionally grow 

 and look well where nothing else will succeed, 

 and also that it will often take up quarters for 

 itself which no one would suppose to be congenial 



