I 10 



THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



they are dry at the roots. They must have a damp, sheltered and shady position, a 

 niche in the rockwork about a dripping waterfall, where the spray dews them over 

 frequently, answering well. The soil that suits them is a mixture of peat and sand- 

 stone in lumps, kept sweet by ample drainage. 



For open positions, including mixed flower borders, the most reliable and effective 

 are the male fern (Lastrea filix-mas) in variety, the lady fern (Athyrium filix-foemina) in 

 variety, the spring buckler fern (Lastrea spinulosa), the bracken fern (Pteris aquilina), 

 and the common scolopendrium. These will all thrive in ordinary garden soil, but 

 during the growing season ought to be kept in a thoroughly moist state at the 

 roots. 



NOTEWOKTHY BRITISH FeRNS. 



Allosorus CRisrus (Parsley Fern). — Deciduous ; 

 attains a height of 6 to 9 inches, and succeeds best 

 in a dry, stony situation. 



ASPLENIUM (Spleenwort). — A. adiantuni nigrum (Black 

 Sjileenwort) in variety; height G to 12 inches. 

 Should have sandstone freelj- mixed with loamy 

 soil. A. ruta-mui'aria (wall rue), A. trichomanes 

 and A. viiide, all growing about G inches high, are 

 evergi-een, and ought to have a niixtui-e of loam 

 and leaf soil. 



Atiiyrium. — A. filix-fcemina (Lady Fern) in variety. 

 These are among the best of hardy deciduous 

 ferns ; height 1 to l^- feet ; sheltered, moist 

 position ; loam and leaf soil. 



Blechnum SPICA.NT (Hard Fern), of which there 

 are six or more varieties ; evergreen ; height 

 6 to 12 inches; exposed position; loam and 

 peat. 



Ceterach officinarum. — Sjni. Asplenium officuuuum 

 (Scaly Spleenwort) ; evergreen ; height 4 inches ; 

 crevices in rockwork; loam, lime rubbish and 

 rock chippings. 



Cystopteris (Brittle Fern). — C. fragilis and forms 

 of it are deciduous, also C. montana ; height G 

 inches. Succeed in a shady jiosition and a drj-, 

 stony bottom ; sandy peat and loam, with stones 

 freely intermingled. 



Lastrea. — L. filix-mas (Male Fern) in variety ; free- 

 growing hardy ferns, and nearly evergreen ; height 

 2 to 3 feet ; ordinary soil or strong loam and leaf 

 mould. L. remula (hay-scented buckler fern), 

 evergreen ; height 9 to 12 inches. Shady position ; 

 loam and leaf soil. L. dilatata, in varietv; 1 to 3 



feet ; nearly evergreen ; partial shade and rich 

 loamy soil. L. montana, 2 to 3 feet, and L. 

 thelypteris, 1 to 2 feet, both deciduous, ought 

 to have a cool, moist position, and loamy 

 soil. 



Osjxunda. — O. regahs (Eoyal Fern) is the best-known 

 species in this family, and attains a height of 

 3 to 4 feet. Loam, peat, and river sand, with 

 abundance of moisture during the growing 

 period. 



PoLYPODiUM (Polypody). — A large genus, comprising 

 many popular species. P. alpestris, 2 to 3 feet, 

 and P. a. flexile, 12 to 18 inches, are deciduous, 

 thriving in cool, moist, sheltered positions ; loam 

 and leaf soil. P. dryopteris (oak fern), G to 9 

 inches ; P. Eobertianum, 9 to 12 inches ; and 

 P. phegopteris (beech fern), 9 to 12 inches, also 

 deciduous, and should have cool, shadj-, moderately 

 moist positions ; loam and leaf soil. P. vulgare, 

 in variety, 9 to 18 inches ; delights in drj' posi- 

 tions ; strong loam and leaf soil. 



POLYSTICHUM (Shield Fem).- — Another popular family. 

 P. aculeatum, in variety, 2 to 2i feet ; and P. 

 angulare, in variety, lo inches to 2 feet, are ever- 

 green, and should have a moderate amount of 

 shade, a dry, stony bottom, and a rich loamy soil. 



Pteris aquilina (Common Bracken). — 2 to 4 feet ; 

 any jJosition where there is room to spread ; com- 

 mon soil. 



Scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue). — S. vulgare, in great 

 variety, including numerous crested forms, are all 

 evergreen, and succeed in dry j)ositions ; strong 

 loam and leaf soil. 



