530 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



elsewhere, the tenderest kinds may also be protected by the 

 judicious grouping of the more robust sorts, which, when planted 

 in masses, considerably help in procuring the comfort necessary 

 to the well-being of the smaller and more delicate species. 



In planting the hardy fernery, the distribution of the 

 evergreen and of the naturally deciduous species should be care- 

 fully considered, and the plants disposed in such a way as to 

 avoid at any time a bare appearance, and allow the whole place 

 to remain covered with foliage during the resting season. The 

 introduction of North American and certain Japanese Ferns, which 

 have proved quite hardy under our climate, has materially added 

 to the great diversity of size and habit as represented by the 

 British species and their numerous varieties. The plantation of 

 the hardy fernery may safely take place at any time from October 

 to March ; but if it is tolerably sheltered it is preferable to plant 

 in autumn, as root-action in most hardy Ferns commences long 

 before there are any visible signs of vegetation, and in that case, 

 the plants moved in the autumn will, if kept sufficiently moist 

 during the winter, make a quantity of fresh roots, upon which 

 the new growth is mostly dependent. If, however, the place 

 where the hardy fernery is situated is exposed, it is preferable to 

 plant only in the spring, and just before vegetation commences, 

 say about the end of March, as the plants are then full of 

 vigour, the ascension of sap enabling them to take every 

 advantage of the new soil, the nutritive properties of which are 

 readily assimilated by the roots. Special attention to the nature 

 of the plants employed in the plantation of the hardy fernery is 

 indispensable, and of much greater consequence than the 

 preparation of the compost or material in which the plants are 

 to grow, and which, for general purposes, consists of two parts of 

 fibrous loam, one part of half-decayed leaf-mould, and one part 

 of coarse silver-sand. 



In the following list an endeavour has been made to place in 

 their respective positions the British and the hardy exotic Ferns, 

 according to their dimensions, and it is hoped that it will serve 

 as a guide to amateurs intending to plant a collection of Ferns 

 out of doors. With a view to insuring to each plant a position 

 suitable to its requirements, we have marked with an asterisk (■^) 

 the kinds requiring more than ordinary moisture at the roots, 

 and with a dagger (t) those kinds which prefer a somewhat 

 exposed and airy situation ; all others thrive m naturally shady 

 and moist places, as previously stated. 



Dwarf species and varieties growing from 4in. to i2in. high : 

 Allosoriis crispiis and A. acrostichoides ; the various Spleenworts, 

 such as Asplenium Adiantum-nigriun^ ebejtum^ foiitanuni (Fig. 334)*, 

 lanceolatum^ Ruta-niiwaria^, Trichomanes^^ viride ; several prettily- 

 crested forms of the Lady Fern, Athyriinn Filix-foeinina : 

 Blechiuiui Spicant ; Ceterach officinariun (Fig. 335) 1/ Cystopteris 



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