32 FERNS 



use is Mr. Dodge's hybrid (Dryopteris cristata 

 X marginalis). It has the rich colour and 

 texture of the marginal shield fern but is 

 more erect in habit, resembling in this res- 

 pect its other parent. 



The simple elegance of Boott's shield fern 

 (Dryopteris Boottii) attracts attention in any, 

 collection. It is really one of the finest cul- 

 turable ferns. Unlike Dryopteris cristata, var. 

 Clintoniana, with which it is often associated 

 in wooded swamps, it retains its dignity of 

 pose outside its natural environment. 



The spinulose shield fern (Dryopteris spinu- 

 losa) and its varieties are among the most 

 beautiful of our ferns. They are indispen- 

 sable indeed, for the fern garden depends upon 

 them for its most effective lacework. The 

 broad spreading variety (£). spinulosa, var. 

 dilatata) is especially handsome. 



A TALL FERN FOR SHADED SPOTS 



In shaded situations where tall species 

 with simply pinnate fronds are not common, 



