196 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



measure from l£ft. to ljft. long and from 8in. to lOin. broad. The fertile 

 ones, of similar shape and texture, are smaller and contracted, their edges are 

 turned inwards, and the whole of their under- side, with the exception of a 

 narrow margin, is densely covered with brownish-black sporangia (spore- 

 cases), from which the spores escape at an early date. The barren and fertile 

 fronds are both borne on firm, erect stipes (stalks), 6in. to Sin. long, which 

 are densely clothed with long and very narrow, black silky scales. This interest- 

 ing Fern is a general favourite. See 

 Fig. 25. — Hooker, Species Filicum, 

 v., p. 267. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, i., p. 19. Lowe, Ferns 

 British and Exotic, vii., t. 41. 



A mixture of a spongy nature, 

 composed of two parts peat and one 

 part chopped and partly-decayed 

 sphagnum, is the material which 

 this species prefers j but in such a 

 compost care must be taken that 

 it does not get treated too liberally 

 with water at the roots, as in that 

 case it is not unusual to -find its 

 fleshy fronds covered with circular 

 marks, having all the appearance 

 and transparency of oily spots, which 

 gradually extend over their surface, 

 and completely destroy it. This 

 peculiar disease we have not known 

 to affect any other species, except Platy ceriums (Plat-yc-er'-i-mns), all of 

 which are subject to it to the same extent ; it is invariably due to stagnation at 

 the roots, to which cause many handsome specimens have, to our knowledge, 

 already succumbed. The most efficacious treatment for affected plants 

 consists in entirely removing the soil from the roots, by washing them, and 

 re-potting in a smaller pot ; after this operation very little water should be 

 allowed, and even when in good health, unless growing in great heat, plants 

 of A. crinitum should be watered only when they show signs of flagging. 



