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differs from the type in having distinctly narrower pinnae 

 and pinnules. While all these five forms might be taken 

 for P. v. cambvicum by a casual observer, they are really 

 distinct in the eyes of the Fern lover who has patience to 

 form a close acquaintance with them. This applies in a 

 similar way to every other class of plants liable to vary in 

 details of structure or form. 



{To be continued.) 



BLECHNUM SPICANT. 



(The Hard Fern.) 

 Considering the tough evergreen nature of this pretty 

 fern, which justifies fully its common name, and its 

 abundance in many parts of the country, it is very curious 

 that it so rarely figures among the common ferns of the 

 garden, for if given a shady moist station it is fully 

 capable of taking care of itself, and forming a distinct 

 feature among the other common species. In nature we 

 find it abundant in humid shady woods, on sloping hedge 

 banks, and often on exposed heaths among heather and 

 other low-growing vegetation which gives it some pro- 

 tection, while in boggy situations it may be seen among 

 the sphagnum. It has two particular aversions — viz. 

 drought at the roots and lime in either the soil or the 

 water supplied to it, hence a condition of success under 

 culture is provision of rain or quite soft water, as hard 

 water contains lime, and inevitably kills it in time. The 

 writer years ago lost the bulk of a collection of forty 

 varieties through this cause, but as evidence of survival 

 for a long period under pot culture with rain water he has 

 several surviving finds dating nearly twenty years back 

 which are still in fine condition. The soil should be an 

 equal admixture of leaf-mould or peat, and good friable 

 loam lightened with some coarse silver sand. The Hard 

 Fern or Blechnum is 



