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sub-species L. spinuloses and cristata forms a sort of inter- 

 mediate link, since though the fronds drop down as a rule, 

 they retain their verdancy until the spring. The varieties 

 of all these species retain their specific habits in this 

 respect. Hence we see that, provided the plants have been 

 healthy and free from vermin, there remains a large group 

 of evergreen ones for the decoration of the fernery during 

 the otherwise dead season. As under nature all these 

 species occupy moist habitats in the winter, occasional 

 watering, as we have said, is essential; but it is not 

 advisable to keep the frondage wet under glass by overhead 

 water. 



In the open, under the stress of frost, wind and heavy 

 rains and snow all the ferns, whether evergreen or other- 

 wise, are apt to get beaten down and rendered unsightly, 

 but it is not wise for mere neatness' sake to remove the 

 fronds, even the dead ones, as they constitute the natural 

 protection of the crowns from the weather, and it is better 

 to give them generally a liberal mulching of dead leaves 

 such as they usually get in their native habitats. This 

 protection should be left until the end of March, when the 

 risk of drying winds and sharp frosts is reduced, and even 

 then it is well to leave the mulching close around the 

 crowns, and for this special reason, each budding frond 

 commences operation by emitting a fascicle of roots on its 

 own account from its base, and until these have well 

 penetrated the soil under such protection, they may be 

 injured by its removal and seriously check the growth for 

 the season. 



The principle, indeed, to be borne in mind throughout is 

 that the roots are alive and it may be actively active, 

 though the visible growth is at a standstill, and the main- 

 tenance of this vitality by avoidance of drought is a sine 

 qud non of successful culture. 



C. T. Druery. 



