DESIRABLE HARDY FERNS 209 



It hardly ever grows more than fifteen inches in height but 

 when once estabhshed it will remain and spread for years. Its 

 graceful habit makes it as popular outdoors as Adiantum cuneatum 

 is under glass. The best time to plant this fern is in the Spring 

 and while, as stated above, we find it in stiff soil, you will have better 

 results by using as much leafmold as you can in planting. And 

 don't plant it too deep. 



AspiDiuM (Hardy Varieties) 



There are a number of most desirable forms or rather varieties 

 of Aspidium, of which we are best acquainted with the so-called 

 Wood Fern. All Aspidiums form crowns and when you plant one 

 it is always well to set the top of the crown just about even with 

 the surface of the loose soil so that it will project just a little after 

 the first good watering. A. cristatum Clintonianum is the Crested 

 Wood Fern, growing 30 inches or more in height and almost an 

 evergreen, even in cold sections. A. Filix-mas, the Male Fern, is 

 another strong grower and a most valuable fern, especially for moist 

 situations. A. Goldieanum or Goldie's Wood Fern grows three 

 feet and more in deep, moist soil and a shady position. A. marginale, 

 the Evergreen Wood Fern, is the best for mass effects and ground 

 covering and can stand quite a lot of shade. 



AsPLENiUM (Hardy Varieties) 



Among the Aspleniums there are not only fine varieities for 

 greenhouse culture, but some for outdoor planting as weU. While 

 we will here name but two, there are a half dozen or more all beauti- 

 fid and useful wherever there is a fern bed or border to be planted or 

 arranged. Asplenium angustifolium (Narrow-leaved Spleenwort) 

 grows about two feet in height and has light green, narrow, grace- 

 ful fronds. A. Filix-famina is the botanical naine for the well 

 known Lady Fern with the finely cut leaflets of its graceful fronds 

 which are sometimes fully three feet in length. Shade, moisture 

 and good drainage are what it wants in order to do well. 



Asplenium Trichomanes, the Maidenhair Spleenwort, is a beautiful 

 little fern hardly ever growing over five or six inches in height. . It 

 is just the thing for small fern plantings or rockeries. As it is small 

 and dehcate, you should plant it in a well-prepared bed of leafmold 

 and sand. When once established it will take care of itself^ but 

 you have to give it a fair chance to become established first. Watch , 

 the fittle crowns so you don't get them covered with too much 

 soil. Have them even with or just a little above the surface. ' 



DiCKSONiA PUNCTiLOBULA (Hay-sccuted Fern) 



There are cases in which the hardy fern bed or border is jjartially 

 exposed to sunlight at one time or other during the day;"^ this is 



