THE STORY OF A GARDEN 1 45 



species, most of which may be trans- 

 planted, if you keep in mind their 

 special needs. This spot is cool and 

 shady, but the soil is dry from care- 

 ful drainage. The aspidiums flourish 

 well; A. acrostichoides, of two varieties, 

 better known as the Christmas fern, 

 with heavy varnished fronds, A. mar- 

 ginale, with pinnate, dull-green fronds, 

 A. cristatum, almost doubly pinnate 

 and with them the fragrant Dicksonia 

 punctilobula, whose straw-coloured lace 

 carpets the autumn woods with sun- 

 light, and the black-stemmed maiden- 

 hair grows larger every year, rearing its 

 curving fronds two feet or more. 



What endless possibilities creep into 

 the garden with every barrow of wood 

 earth ! How many surprises cling about 

 the roots of the plant you hope to 

 transfer uninjured from its home! 

 Bring a tuft of ferns, lo ! there springs 



