^08 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



place of the meadow and the woods, the hardy ferns, wTrilliums, 

 Anemones, May Apples, and Hepaticas have to go. But there are 

 quite a few of us who after awhile are no longer satisfied with so- 

 called cultivated things, and even on a small place and with just a 

 little work, hardy ferns and other so-called native favorites can 

 be made not only to feel at home, but also to add a great deal to the 

 beauty of the grounds themselves. 



Again, frequently a patron will ask your advice as to what to 

 do in order to cover up a bare spot on the north side of a residence 

 where it is impossible to grow anything in the way of flowers, or 

 there may be shady places under trees where no grass will grow. 

 It may be that it is desired to retain a part of the grounds in their 

 natural state where a few Hazels, Thorns and native Crab Apples 

 thrive; for such effects the native Cherry, Plum, Dogwood and 

 Elder are as much thought of as all else on the grounds. 



In all such locations ferns may be used to advantage for ground 

 covering and what will do well with them are some of the Spring- 

 flowering bulbs — Narcissi, Scillas, Snowdrops, and Iris and Mer- 

 tensias as well, which while not grown from bulbs, are appropriate 

 because of their early Spring flowering character. 



The following list is of course not a complete one, but it will 

 help the beginner get busy. With the fifteen varieties named a 

 great showing can be made. Here again, of course, the size of the 

 grounds, the location, the money to be expended, and the effect 

 desired, all play an important part. Furthermore, I don't mean 

 to say that a florist should bother about trying to grow on any 

 of these ferns himself. It can be done of course, just as we grow 

 on other ferns, but there are specialists in the country from whom 

 you can obtain good heavy plants of just what you want and some 

 even carry potted stock. Let them furnish you with what you 

 need each Spring and Fall. 



Personally I prefer Spring planting, but good results can be 

 had with most ferns by planting them in Fall. There are times 

 when you must fill an order whenever your patron is ready or not 

 fill it at all; that may mean to do it almost at any time, and if you 

 have potted plants so much the better. However, others moved in 

 early Spring, or just before they start to grow will do nicely also. 



Adiantum pedatum (Hardy Maidenhair Fern) 



The hardy Adiantum or Maidenhair Fern is one of the most 

 desirable in the long Ust of good ones to select from. We find it 

 in shady places and often in soil where even the much coarser 

 varieties and those that form heavy crowns, such as Aspidium 

 Goldieanum, are hardly ever seen. 



