ISO 



the hedgerows and stone dykes with its pendulous once 

 divided fronds. All four species have rambling, creeping 

 root-stocks, but those of P. vulgave are thick and fleshy, those 

 of the others are very slender and stringy, in a sort of 

 mat whence the fronds spring, forming a dense clump. 

 P. vulgave is quite evergreen, while the others die down in 

 the autumn. As a result of this habit of growth, a loose, 

 open, leafy soil is essential. 



The Bladder Fern (Cystoptevis) we will merely allude 

 to, they are not be recommended for general culture, 

 not being particularly beautiful, while the fronds have a 

 habit of becoming brown very early in the season. Re- 

 curring to the Spleenworts, of which we have mentioned a 

 few of the ineligibles, the Maidenhair Spleenwort (A. 

 tvichomanes) is a pretty little rosette-forming fern which 

 does well in chinks of rocks, and the Black Maidenhair 

 Spleenwort (A, adiantum nigrum) of very different habit, 

 with upright twice divided fronds, is also a rock lover and 

 forms a pretty relief among the robuster growers. The 

 other Spleenworts (Cetevach officinavum) may do well in the 

 chinks of a wall with sunny aspect. The Royal Fern 

 (Osmunda regalis) is extremely handsome when well grown, 

 but it is a moisture-loving species requiring plenty of 

 water, and is most at home when its roots are in boggy soil. 

 To plant it high up on rockworks is therefore to court 

 failure. The Hard Fern (Blechnum spicant) merits far 

 more attention than it gets. It is a very pretty Fern, with 

 dark green-shining once divided fronds of two kinds, leafy 

 barren ones, which form a spreading rosette, and thinner 

 erect fertile ones, consisting of little more than midribs 

 bearing the spores. It is quite evergreen and thrives in 

 good leafy soil, provided it does not suffer from drought. 

 The Parsley Fern (Allosovus cvispus) is a pretty small 

 growing species, usually supposed to be difficult of culture, 

 but really of the easiest if properly planted. Its normal 

 habitat is on the sloping debris of mountain sides, 



