DECIDUOUS FERNS 21 



natural condition. Take our British Lady-Fern, (Athy- 

 riurri) they usually get more moisture while they are 

 dormant than when they are in a growing state, the driest 

 period being (usually) when the fronds are ripening off. 



The species and varieties named below may not include 

 all the deciduous Ferns that are found under cultivation, 

 but are among those most generally known and appre- 

 ciated. 



Adiantums. — Of these one of the most beautiful is 

 A. digitatum, more generally known as A. speciosum (this 

 should not be confused with A. athopicum alatum, which 

 is sometimes erroneously named digitatum). It has large 

 spreading fronds with large pinnules, which are of a soft 

 greyish green. It requires a warm green-house or stove 

 treatment, and should be kept fairly moist while dormant. 

 It usually remains inactive until late in the Spring, but 

 makes rapid growth when it does start. A. palmatum is 

 of somewhat similar habit ; the deep green pinnules are 

 widely distant on very slender black stipes. This will 

 succeed either in the stove or green-house. It should 

 be kept in the cool-house when it is ripening off, and 

 may be started in heat early in the Spring. A. lunulatum 

 requires to be grown in baskets or suspended pots. It 

 remains dormant for a considerable time, and the pots 

 may remain suspended to the roof in the stove during 

 the dormant period, or they may be placed on a shelf, 

 and given just sufficient moisture to prevent the slender 

 roots from perishing. A. Henslovianum is another distinct 

 stove species, which grows freely but requires careful 

 winter treatment. Ad. pedatum : this beautiful North 

 American species, though hardy, is often treated as a 

 green-house Fern, and when grown in pots should always 

 have some protection during frosty weather. Started in 

 a little warmth early in the Spring, it will soon develop 

 the beautiful soft green fronds. It is a favourite Fern 

 for growing in sheltered nooks on the rockery. Davallia 



