FERNS AND LYCOPODS 397 



that they will continue to be employed for a long time. Some of the 

 better known are Campyloneuron, Cryptosorus, Drynaria, Gonio- 

 phlebium, Goniopleris, Lepicysiis, Niphobolus, Phegopteris, Phle- 

 bodium and Pleopeltis. There is a great number of exceedingly 

 beautiful plants among the species. The varieties, especially those 

 of the common Polypody, P. vulgare, are among the handsomest of 

 hardy Ferns, but they are not so much grown in America as in 

 Europe, where they do grandly in outdoor ferneries. 



P. (Phlebodium) aureum should be more grown for decorative 

 purposes, as it will stand a dry atmosphere and is very graceful. 

 The fronds are from 2 to 4 feet in length, and from 9 to 18 inches 

 broad, simply divided. It grows most luxuriantly among Fern root, 

 peat and moss. There is a form called P. a. sporadocarpum with 

 fronds very glaucous, almost blue, usually growing from 12 to 18 

 inches high — a handsome plant, showing up well under gaslight. 

 It needs more heat than the type. P. a. Mandaianum is a superior 

 variety with wavy leaves. The spores on a small frond will raise 

 thousands of plants. They should be sown on very finely chopped 

 Fern roots mixed with screened moss. The rhizomes may also be 

 divided. 1 



P. Phymatodes is a rhizomatous species of very rapid growth, 

 with exceedingly graceful leaves. The fronds are deeply pinnatifid, 

 the fertile ones narrowest. One of the uses to which this Fern may 

 be put is in training against damp walls or on the dead stems of 

 Tree Ferns. It is easiest propagated by taking pieces of the rhizomes 

 with fronds attached and pegging down in 4- or s-inch pots of sandy 

 soil. 



P. {Drynaria) rigidulum is a species too seldom seen. It has 

 two kinds of fronds very different from each other; the barren ones 

 are about 9 inches in length, divided half way to the midrib, form- 

 ing blunt lobes. The fertile ones reach a height of from 2 to 4 feet, and 

 are 12 to 18 inches broad. A very handsome plant for collections. 



P {Goniophlebium) sub-auriculaium makes one of the finest 

 basket plants for a warm greenhouse. The fronds are several feet 

 in length and drooping. This Fern is not difficult to grow, provided 

 it be given a fibrous soil and an abundant supply of water during 

 the period of growth. It is helped along wonderfully by adding to 

 the soil some finely crushed bone with the minute particles washed 

 out, only saving the rougher material in the process of washing. 

 This substance, by the way, is of great service as permanent food 

 for many of the Ferns, but the deleterious matter must be removed 

 by washing. 



