74 FERNS 



The spreading shield fern (D. spinulosa, var. 

 dilatata) is big and plumy, beautiful in the 

 right place. 



D. marginalis is of a rich blue-green 

 colour, good for contrasting effects; it bleaches 

 quickly in shaded rooms, but holds its own 

 for many months in stronger light. 



The Christmas fern (Polysticbum acros- 

 tichoides) is especially effective potted with 

 the maidenhair or the hardy shield fern. A 

 long, drooping specimen sweeping the air from 

 the top of a bookcase or other elevation is very 

 striking. The endurance of this fern depends 

 largely upon whether the roots were disturbed 

 in transplanting and on the advance of fruc- 

 tification. I never knew a matured specimen 

 with heavily fruited tips to be of much service 

 indoors, but sterile plants often keep in fair 

 condition six or eight months. 



THE MAIDENHAIR FOR SECOND CHOICE 



The native maidenhair {Adiantum peda- 

 tum) is second only to the hardy shield fern 



