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CARL PURDY, UKIAH, CALIFORNIA 
Aspidium munitum, var. imbricans. Dark green Sword Fern 
CALIFORNIA NATIVE FERNS 
California has a number of most excellent Ferns, and nothing is easier than to 
succeed with the hardier ones, such as Aspidiums (Sword Ferns), Woodwardia (the 
Chain Fern), or Pteris (the Brake). I have noticed them thriving in shaded corners in 
almost any class of soil, and they will stand considerable summer drought after they 
are once established. 
The shadiest place that you have, whether under trees or shaded by buildings, and 
a soil well mellowed with either old manure, spent tanbark, sawdust, old leaves, or any 
other material which will rot into leaf-mold, makes them thrive. As to watering, of all 
things the Fern likes a fine spray, and that frequently. The most frequent reason of 
failure to grow the Five-finger Fern well is that they are watered with a hose or coarse 
spray, and the foliage beaten down. The finer the spray the better for them. 
In pots, all of the Ferns will do well if given a cool position, spraying, or water at 
the roots, and a soil well made, with leaf-mold in abundance. Never allow Ferns that 
are grown in pots to become entirely dry at the roots, else the small leaflets (pinnse) 
will turn yellow and soon die. Do not water too often, but when you do, thoroughly 
soak the pot in a bucket of water. Spraying in cold, cloudy weather turns fronds black. 
Hardy Ferns About the Veranda 
From the time in earliest spring when the uncurling fronds greet us until late winter, 
there are few things that grow which afford as much genuine interest and satisfaction 
to the home-owner as our beautiful native Ferns. Plant them about the porch or veranda 
and beside foundations of a house, in fact, in almost any cool, shady nook. They thrive 
year after year. Their graceful fronds serve as a shield to the barren ground, hide 
the foundation, and connect the lawn and house in a most charming way. 
A Few Native Ferns of Merit 
When a wild Fern is moved into a garden, it takes fully a year for it to get to growing 
thriftily. I have a good stock of garden-grown Ferns. Prices include postage or ex- 
pressage. Ferns are best moved just as they are starting into growth, which is in Feb- 
ruary or March, and at my gardens it is later than in the Bay region. 
