38 FERNS 



but from a landscape gardener's point of 

 view more striking effects are produced by 

 massing one or perhaps two species. A row 

 of well-developed ostrich ferns in front of 

 a broad veranda or following the foundation 

 walls of a stately mansion is truly imposing. 

 More permanent beauty is insured if the 

 maidenhair is associated with it. The situ- 

 ation, however, must be taken into consider- 

 ation, for accessories that are befitting to a 

 cottage are not of necessity in harmony with 

 pretentious architecture. 



A practical idea is suggested by Mr. New- 

 man's story of the impression which fine 

 specimens of the royal fern (Osmunda regalis), 

 fringing the river between the Lakes of Kil- 

 larney, made upon Sir Walter Scott. Scarcely 

 a word had the novelist uttered in praise of 

 the scenery, but at this point he stopped the 

 rowers and exclaimed, "This is worth coming 

 to see." Few of us are fortunate enough to 

 possess a river to fringe, but fine specimens 

 are also seen on the uplands, which is con- 

 clusive evidence that the flowering fern, 



