40 ADIANTUM CAPILLTJS-VENERIS. 



The "Common Maiden-hair Fern," as the Acliantum capillus- 

 veneris is more generally called, is the only British representative 

 of this delicately beautiful family. Although a British Fern, 

 still it grows much more luxuriantly under pot culture than 

 when planted out in the Fernery; a warm humid atmosphere, 

 in a shady situation, being essential to its well-being. In its 

 wild state it is found growing on rocks near the sea. Mr. 

 Moore, in the "Nature-printed Ferns," has given three beautiful 

 illustrations, one from Ireland, another from Devonshire, and a 

 third from Cornwall; the last is from a cultivated plant which 

 I received from Penzance, and which I forwarded to Mr. Moore. 



To grow this Fern properly, use abundant drainage and a 

 light compost of turfy peat, with the addition of leaf mould, 

 sand, and pieces of sandstone; the rhizoma should be kept on 

 the surface of the soil. 



Frost injures the "Maiden-hair Fern," and a severe frost will 

 kill it; the great cold of 1853 destroyed all the plants in the 

 Fernery at Highfleld Flouse. When grown out of doors it is 

 deciduous, and even in a warm greenhouse it should have rest 

 for several months in winter, or the plants will become weak 

 and sickly from the want of rest. Too much stress cannot be 

 laid upon this essential with deciduous Ferns, as the unnatural 

 forced growth of winter only injures them. 



A half-hardy deciduous native Fern, growing upon rocks and 

 in caves where there is an abundant supply of moisture. It is 

 never found except near the sea level. 



The geographic range is considerable, being found throughout 

 the middle and south of Europe, France, in Asia, India, China, 

 Persia, Arabia, Syria, Siberia, (Caucasus and Ural districts,) 

 Algiers, Egypt, Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Bourbon, Mad- 

 agascar, Algoa Bay, Florida, California, GuatemaLa, Mexico, 

 Texas, Parra, Caraccas, Trinidad, St. Vincent, Dominica, Jamaica, 

 Sandwich Islands, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, and the 

 Islands of the Mediterranean, Teneriffe, Madeira, Canaries, Cape 

 dc Verd, and Azores; England, AValcs, Ireland, and Isle of 

 Man and Channel Islands. Dr. Hooker describes the following 

 Indian localities: — Malabar, Ava, Nepal, Simla, Scinde, Khasiya, 

 Bhotan, Assam, Sikkim-lliinalaya, Cashmere, Thibet, Bcloochistan, 

 Afghanistan, Kamaoun, and Khasya. 



In this country it is found in Cornwall at Sir C. Lemon's 



