The Fern House. 41 



P. phegopteris, Platycerium alcicorne (suitable to sus- 

 pend on a block of wood ; it is almost hardy) . Todea 

 pellucida (this grows finely in a cool house, if in a damp, 

 shady, and still place ; wind it cannot endure) . 



For Elevated Positions in the Fkonts of Rock- 

 eries — that is to say, to grow as wall ferns, and all 

 requiring plenty of air : Asplenium trichomanes, A. 

 adiantum nigrum, A. marinum, Ceterach officinarum, 

 Allosorus crispus (a sunny position near the door will 

 suit this ^,nd Asplenium trichomanes), Polypodium 

 vulgare and its varieties, especially Cambricum and 

 Hibernica. 



The most hardy of the tree ferns is Dicksonia 

 antarctica, which is as easy to grow as a common 

 lastrea, provided it has enough water.. 



Fob Baskets, take Pteris scaberula, Adiantum setu* 

 losum, Asplenium flabellifolium, Camptosorus rhizophyl- 

 lus, Davallia pyxidata, Niphobolus lingua, and any of 

 the free- growing hardy ferns that run about freely, such 

 as Lastrea thelypteris and Onaclea sensibilis. 



If you should wish to create in your house or out of 

 doors a constant trickling of water for the benefit of 

 some fountain-loving ferns or mosses, take any large 

 vessel, in the bottom of which you can break or bore a 

 small hole. Cover the hole with a flat tile, and over 

 that put two inches of the finest sand. Fill the vessel 

 with water daily, and it will run gently as long as there 

 is a drop left at the fountain head. If an ornamental 

 vase should be used for the purpose, it might be utilized 

 by placing in it a pot containing some semi-aquatic 

 plant. 



