6 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs* 
still more useful section; for the Ferns coming under 
this designation that need protection, call for less 
pretentious structures than those required for their 
giant relatives. Compactness and neatness of habit, 
as well as small size, are found in many of the 
genera that fall under this heading. Acrostichum, 
Adiaiiturn, Aspl'eiiium, Davallia (Fig. 3), Actinio- 
pteris, Cheilanthes, Doodia, Nothochlcciia, Pellcea, 
Polypodium, and Woodsia, for instance. Nor are the 
Fig. 3. A pretty dwarf Fern (Davallia heierophylla), and one 
of the most distinct of the large family, as except D. an= 
gustata it is the only species with entire fronds. 
representatives of such genera necessarily of exotic 
origin : on the contrary, we find some of the best 
of all small-growing Ferns amongst the natives of 
Britain. Necessarily, therefore, such Ferns would 
appeal to a wider section of the public. Delightful 
species and varieties for the hardy Fernery that 
readily come to mind are Asj^lenium Ceterach 
(Fig. 4), A. fontanum, A. germajiicum, A. Ruta- 
miLvaria, A, Tricliomanes, Cystopteris alpina, C. 
fragilis and its vars. Vichieaiia and sempervirens ; 
