532 THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



and the beautiful varieties of P. angulare, such as divisilobum, 

 multilobicm, froliferum Crawfordianum, Lomaria chilensis, Pteris 

 aquilina, and Struthiopteris pennsylvanica* ', which grows very 

 luxuriantly, and attains a large size when planted in a damp, 

 shaded, and sheltered position. 



From the above lists it will be seen that the outdoor natural 

 fernery is, or should be, quite as interesting as the warm or cool 



houses devoted 

 exclusively to ten- 

 der exotic Ferns, 

 and that it should 

 always form an 

 attractive part of 

 the garden ; for 

 if all Ferns are 

 beautiful, some of 

 the hardy kinds 

 are so cheap as 

 to be within the 

 purchasing powers 

 of all, while others 

 are- so scarce as 

 to be worthy com- 

 panions of all that 

 is rich and rare 

 among the gems 

 of the conserva- 

 tory. When a 

 hardy fernery is 

 once established, 

 very little attention is required to keep it in good order. The 

 whole work in connection with such a place is limited to 

 occasional waterings during the summer, while during the winter 

 a slight covering of old leaves or other light material placed over 

 the plants will enable the more tender sorts to withstand the 

 rigour of our most severe winters. 



Unheated Fernery with Glass Protection. — Besides the 

 outdoor plantation, as already described, a very interesting and 

 most pleasant fernery (in which all the year round there is a 

 certain attraction) may, at very little expense, be erected. It 

 should consist of a span-roofed structure, simply provided with 

 glass protection, but without any means of heating; and it is 

 surprising to note to what extent, through such a simple con- 

 trivance, the plants differ from those grown in the open ground. 

 Being protected from the extremes of heat and cold, from 

 excessive wet and from . draughts, storms, and other injurious 

 influences, their foliage acquires a more perfect development, 

 and lasts much longer in good condition. Through judicious 



Fig. 336. — Polypodium Dryopteris. 



