FERN GROWING 163 



several of the largest were unmistakably N. spinulosum. Year 

 after year a greater number of N. spmulosum appeared, and in 

 six or seven years every plant on these two beds was N. spinu- 

 losum : there was not a single plant of iV. cBimtlum to be seen. 

 Three years ago Mr. P. Neill Fraser sent the author a dozen 

 Scotch plants of N. csmulum, and this year three of them were 

 N. spimtlosum. None of the plants o{ N. (smuLum grown in pans 

 have changed their character. It has been suggested that plants 

 of N. cB-mulum died, and seedlings of N. spinulosum had sprung 

 up in their place. Were this the case the plants of N. spinulosum 

 would at first be smaller than the well-grown specimens of N. 

 cem-ulum. ; instead of which, wherever a plant of N. spinulosum. 

 appeared, it was always fully grown, and larger than the plants 

 of N. (Bmulum. With these repeated proofs, it is more difficult 

 to believe that N. spinulosum had taken possession of these 

 beds, than that the plants had changed their character. The 

 above plants grow best in almost pure leaf mould. 



The Ophioglossums and Botrychium,s are small, not very 

 conspicuous, and do not keep in good order for any length of 

 time ; and, moreover, they only succeed when planted amongst 

 the grass in a meadow. Take this hint, and keep them in their 

 favourite fields. 



Polypodium vulgare is easily managed if grown with an 

 abundance of leaf mould and half-decaying wood ; but the 

 fronds are apt to be disfigured by the frog-hopper. 



Pteris aquilina succeeds well if placed in the Fernery as an 

 established plant, although it is difficult to remove it from its wild 

 habitat. It is a greater success to have slate or slabs of stone 

 enclosing a space, three feet in diameter, and one foot deep ; by 

 this means the underground rhizomas keep within the desired 

 limits, and form a handsome close bush, instead of single fronds 

 appearing here and there all over the Fernery, often smothering 

 other Ferns. 



Cryi>togramma crispa and Polypodium Robertianum should be 



