September 12. iSSS.] 



Garden and Forest. 



o 



41 



are not at present in the writer's collection or otiier accessible 

 ones. Ail species not otherwise designated are indigenous 

 to New Plngland, 



According to Professor Eaton, tliere arc 149 spec-ies of 

 Fei'ns indigenous to the United States. Of this number tiftv 

 or more-species and manv vru'ieties mav lie t'ultivatetl in this 

 vicinity in the open gi-ourul o)- with tlie ]irotection of a cold- 

 frame in winter. 



Tlie list of Ferns which are hards-, or nearly so, could doubt- 

 less he much extended bv species and varieties from the north- 

 western States, Europe and Japan. In this dii'ection there is 

 a good (leld for experimenting. 



Polypodiiiin vulgare. This common evergreen Fern does 

 not grow very luxuriantly in cultivation. Transplant in tufts 

 or sheet-like masses from the rocks or logs on wliich it 

 grows naturally and plant under similar conditions in the gar- 

 den. In planting do not bury the running root-stocks Ijeneath 

 the sm'face of the soil. Leaf-mould. Eight to eleven inches. 



Polypndium Califoynicuin. A handsome species which does 

 well with the pi'otection of a frame in winter at the Botanic 

 Garden in Cambridge. Nati\-e of California. Nine inches. 



Pelhea gracilis. A tiny gem, one of the rarest, and most 

 ditticult Ferns to cultivate. Plant in pots with plenty of 



.■liliaiitiiiii pi'ilaluiii. Tl 

 is already in high repule 

 praises. The ebony blai 

 known everywhere. This 



itul I- 



leautitul 

 so thert 

 k stem and 

 species is easil 



rn, the ]\Iaiilriiliair, 



no need to sound its 



exquisite foliage are 



cultivated, and the 



frcjuds attain their greatest lieauty in moist, shady Sjjols. It 

 is a very useful Fern foi' cutting, and a s\ipply is easily main- 

 tained for any moderate ilemands. Lcat-nioiild. Fronds, 

 twelve to sixteen inches broad. 



Loinaria Spicant. This verv striking and handsome ever- 

 green species is easily cultiyated, but, unfortunately, is not 

 perfectly hardy. A native of the far north-west. Peat and 

 leaf-mould. Frame. Ft.'ilile fronds, thirteen to eighteen 

 inches; sterile fronds, shorter. 



\Voodiva7-dia angustijolia. A rare and very handsome 

 Fern, with bright green, distinct foliage. It is hardy, but is 

 not very easily grown, and is safest witli the protection of a 

 frame in winter. Peat and leaf-mould. Fifteen inches. 



Woodwardia Virginica. Dark foliage, handsome. Culture 

 as for the last species, but is more easily grown. One to three 

 feet. 



Aspieniuiu viride. A rare, charming, dwarf Fern. Close to 

 the following species, requiring the same culture. Plants at 

 Canibridge measure four inches. 



Fio;. 54.— Lyriiirn pallidum. — See page 340. 



drainage, or in niches of rocks in a cool, moist corner of rock- 

 work frame. This species woLild probably do well in a Ward- 

 ian case in a cool green-house. Specimens at the liotanic 

 Garden in Cambridge measure three inches. 



Pellaa atropiirpurea is a very distinct and attracti\-e ever- 

 green Fern. Easier to cultivate than the last species, Init 

 thrives under tlie same conditions. Eleven to thirteen inches. 



Cryptogramnie acrostichoides is a rare, attractive, little Fern, 

 easily grown in pots with old mortar. It would doubtless 

 do equally well in a frame. Indigenous to the far north 

 and north-west. Sterile fronds, three to four inches ; fertile, 

 six to seven and one-half inches. 



Pteris a(juilina, or Brake. This commonest of all Ferns 

 is capable of the most splendid results under cultivation in 

 rich, highly manured soil. It has Ijeen grown to the height 

 of nearly six feet, and the frondsTaid flat would probaljly 

 have exceeded that length. Unfortunately, the bed was 

 moved last autumn, so that measurements of finest growths 

 cannot be given. It is a little dilficult to transplant, but xyhen 

 it gets established it spreads tremendously, and becomes a 

 nuisance in thickly ]jlanted borders. Give it plenty of room, 

 with high culture, and it will become one uf the prides of the 

 garden. Fifty-six to sixty-four inches. 



A.^pleiiiuii! Tricliomanes. One of the most exquisite of all 

 our dwarf species. It docs not do well in the open border; 

 but thrives in cool, damp niches of rocks and in pots. Ever- 

 green. Peat and leaf-mould. Frame. Four to four and a half 

 inches. 



Aspieniuiu ebeneum. Narrow and comparatively tall ever- 

 green fronds. A very attractive species. Peat, leaf-mould, 

 and a frame in winter, as it is not very hardy. If planted in 

 the open border give abundant drainage. Eight to ten inches. 



Asplenium angiistifoliiini. This rare and handsome species 

 is one of the most distinct of our native Ferns. Fronds, 

 tall, light green, once pinnate. The most desirable of the 

 large Aspleniums, and of easiest culture. Twenty-four to 

 thirty-three inches. 



.Asplenium Riita-muraria. One of our tiniest Ferns and 

 difficult to grow. The finest seen in cultivation was at Kew 

 (lardens, where some rocks, with specimens growing in 

 [lockets, had been moved bodily from the woods to the gar- 

 den. It may be grown for several years by potting carefully, 

 with plenty of broken limestone drainage. One t,i t-u't> ,i/id ti 

 Iialf inches. 



Asplenium thelypteroides. A tall, dark green species. 

 Desirable, and grcnys very freely. Thirty to thirty-four inches. 



