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the ferns are having their beauty sleep. If we wake them 

 too soon, they will slumber again, but if disturbed towards 

 the end of March, like Macbeth, they will "sleep no more," 

 but will start into growth two weeks earlier than would 

 have been the ease had they been undisturbed. 



Some of the so-called hardy exotic ferns are less immune 

 from the effects of severe frost than are our native ferns. I n 

 the cold fernery under glass the crowns of large 5 feet 

 specimens of Lomaria Magellanica, which for 20 years 

 have come safely through the winter, have this (10/17) 

 winter been killed, but the underground rhizomes have 

 survived and have produced quite a thicket of strong 

 sturdy plants 2 feet high. 



Dennsto&dtia punctilobula and Pteris scaberula although in 

 great measure killed, have just managed to pull through. 

 Asplenium monanthemum perished. 



Polystichum Ilicifolium and Lastrea Standishii although 

 badly punished, are still alive. The N. American Osmundas 

 are hardier than our own O. regalis, and are quite happy 

 with a zero temperature during winter. The Brazilian 

 0. palustris, although usually reckoned hardy, has suc- 

 cumbed to the frost although under glass and otherwise 

 slightly protected. Polystichum setosum and P. Braunii 

 are both early risers. They are uninjured by the most 

 severe frosts in winter, but nothing can induce them to 

 remain in bed until all danger of frost is at an end. The 

 proverbial wisdom does not appear to accompany early 

 rising in this case. It may be possible by a process of 

 selection, to breed a race of sluggards who can be persuaded 

 to remain in bed till "somewhat nearer to the stroke of 

 noon " (June 21st). Until then we may expect to see these 

 lovely ferns cut down by the frosts of May. 



