104 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



of Lake Superior. It is also found in similar situations in Central Europe, 

 in the mountains of Jura and Dauphine, in tlie Swiss and Austrian Alps, and 

 on the Pyrenees. It is, however, as a British species that it is most 

 interesting, inasmuch as its discovery is of comparatively recent date ; for it 

 was only in 1836, when it was first found by Mr. W. Wilson on Ben Ljjjwers, 

 that it w^as accepted as a British species, though it has long been known as 

 a Fern peculiar to the high alpine districts of Europe. The history of the 

 Mountain Bladder Fern is so very interesting that we cannot do better than 

 quote the observations made by the late Thomas Moore : " The head-quarters 

 in Britain of this very rare and local Fern are the Highlands of Scotland, 

 where it grows on mica schist, and where it was first found on Ben Lawers 

 by Mr. W. Wilson, in company with Professors Hooker and Grraham, in 1836, 

 and subsequently by Messrs. Gourlie, Adamson, Borrer, and Little, and 

 Dr. Walker Arnott, in 1841, 1850, and 1851, in a ravine called Corrach 

 Dh'OufiUach, or Corrach Uachdar, between Glen Dochart and Glen Lochay, 

 in the Mhiel OufiUach Mountains, in Perthshire. It is reported to have 

 also been found in North Wales by Plukenet, and we are informed that the 

 existence of the species in Wales has been recently confirmed, though the 

 information is incomplete. It is not, however, improbable, as the species is 

 met with in the Alps of Europe, occurring most frequently in the North, and 

 generally on rough, stony ground. This is strictly an alpine plant, and 

 requires treatment similar to that recommended for other species, with perfect 

 rest in winter." — Hooker^ Species Filicum, i., p. 200. Nicholson, Dictionary 

 of Gardening, i., p. 429. Lowe, Our Native Ferns, ii., t. 68. Eaton, 

 Ferns of North America, ii., t. 53. 



As will be seen from the above remarks, C. montana is essentially a local 

 Fern, which cannot, it is believed, be well grown in the hardy Fernery. 

 This behef is probably owing to failures through having only small plants to 

 begin with. The species is still so scarce that large plants of it cannot easily 

 be obtained, and small ones require particular care for some time. In trying 

 it, a sheltered, moist, and sunless part of the hardy Fernery must be chosen. 

 Devote to it a level spot 1ft. square, remove the soil about lOin. deep, half- 

 fill the hole thue formed with broken bricks, or other porous material, and in 

 the remaining space put some very fibrous peat, mixed with a Httle loam and 

 silver sand. Plant in this, and cover with a bell-glass, having its rim raised 



