522 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



they can have a certain and continual supply of moisture at the 

 roots, and protection from strong winds, with shelter from trees 

 overhead. Here they will grow luxuriantly, and prove a beautiful 

 and interesting feature. 



Some Ferns, as Osmundas, do well planted by a pond or 

 running stream. They grow naturally in boggy and marshy 

 situations, and attain an enormous size. Others, as Asplenium 

 trichomanes, A. ruta-muraria, Ceterach officinarum, and Poly* 

 podium vulgare, will grow in drier positions, and are usually 

 found wild in places where apparently they get but little water ; 

 but even they grow much more luxuriantly if supplied with 

 moisture to their roots continually. Athyrium filix-fozmina, the 

 Lastreas, Polystichums, and Scolopendriums all like an abundance 

 of moisture in the soil. 



To obtain the best results in the cultivation of hardy Ferns, 

 not only should the above conditions of shade and moisture be 

 attended to, but the soil in which they are to grow must be of 

 suitable kind. Good loam should, of course, form the foundation ; 

 with this a good supply of sand should be intermixed to keep it 

 open and help the drainage ; to this good, well-decayed leaf-mould 

 should be liberally added — for Polypodiums an extra supply 

 being given, and in addition a little peat, with an extra quantity 

 for Osmundas. 



This is a compost in which all hardy Ferns will grow well 

 when planted outside ; but for Ferns in pots, instead of the 

 common peat, the better kind, such as is generally used for stove 

 and greenhouse plants, should be substituted. 



Some of the British Ferns are rather difficult to cultivate, 

 and often fail to grow satisfactorily when in pots, or even on 

 rockwork. Those referred to more particularly are the Parsley 

 (Allosorus crispus), the Ceterach, the WallKue (Asplenium ruta- 

 muraria), the Forked Spleenwort {Asplenium septentrionale), 

 the Alternate-leaved Spleenwort (Asplenium alternifolium or 

 germanicum), the Holly Fern (Polystichum Lonchitis), and 

 several other suchlike. If these Ferns are planted out in a cold 

 frame, in the compost previously recommended, with the lights 

 raised 2 or 3 inches so as to cause a current of air over 

 them during the day, they will be found to grow much more 

 satisfactorily, and quite as freely as in their native homes. 



Among British Ferns there are some exceedingly beautiful 



