96 Dickie's fern. 



wild state ; they become more cleilexed, crowded, and overlap- 

 ping under cultivation : the pinnte of fragHis are generally as- 

 cending, separate and distinct in a wild state, and they become 

 more ascending, distant and divided under cultivation : Dickie- 

 ana is of a bright glossy green in a wild state, and fragilis of 

 a dull somewhat glaucous green ; this difference of colour is 

 not only maintained but increased under cultivation : finally, 

 and this is a botanical diagnostic, Mr. WoUaston assures me 

 that the seeds of fragilis are always echinate, those of Dickie- 

 ana simply verrucate. The reader is requested to try the plant 

 by these tests, and if they fail, the species fails also. 



€\\Mt 



These little ferns grow freely and luxuriantly in the usual soil 

 of gardens in the counties where they are indigenous, requiring 

 only shade and moisture : on the north side of loose stone 

 walls, provided purposely, fragilis seems especially to flourish. 

 In pots it appears still more at home, if they stand in a cool and 

 well-ventilated greenhouse, and the soil composed chiefly of 

 peat, with a small portion of thoroughly decayed leaf-mould 

 and fine sand : the caudex to be fixed in an erect position 

 between stones, as recommended for the Woodsias. Wr. Wol- 

 laston, whose judgment in all such matters is most excellent, 

 recommends the addition of loam. The pots should stand in 

 water, half an inch deep ; and the reader must recollect, when- 

 ever this is recommended, that it is indispensable that there 

 be lumps of charcoal at the bottom of the pot : this corrects 

 the tendency to impurity which water, when still, is so apt to 

 exhibit. Dickieana, like fragilis, is remarkably easy of culture, 

 but, like all other sea-side ferns, enjoys the protection afforded 

 by glass. 



