92 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
water, and to be allocated a dry position. One 
often hears complaints about the dilticulties in con- 
nection with the culture of the lovely A. tenerum 
Farley e7ise. Heat and moisture are the essential 
requirements, and where either is deficient this plant 
will fail to flourish. For all that it may be safely 
wintered in a temperature of 60deg., occasionally 
falling to 55deg. Fastidious it is also supposed to 
be in regard to compost; but two parts iibry peat 
and one part fibry loam and silver sand constitute an 
ideal potting mixture. 
Many unsuccessful attempts have been made to 
grow the North American Maidenhair (A, ^edatum) 
outside in this country. They are due to the fact 
that the rhizomes are kept too close to the surface, 
and have no protective covering — snow, for instance 
—as in their native country. To see it in its beauty 
it must receive glass protection. Even our native 
A, Capillus-V eneris will not withstand a very cold 
temperature. Still it is one of the most accommo- 
dating Ferns known, flourishing alike in a heated 
frame, in a greenhouse, or in the moist shady part of 
a stove. When growing it as a pot-plant, provide 
ample drainage, and a compost of equal parts turfy 
peat, leaf mould, and lime rubbish, keeping the 
rhizomes 07i the surface of the soil. 
Of species easy to manage A. cuneatum is very 
high on the list. Almost any rich light compost 
will suit it, and the temperature matters but little 
so long as its roots are kept well supplied with 
moisture. Properly treated, it will furnish an im- 
mense quantity of fronds; while so readily does it 
reproduce itself from spores that young plants may 
always be found in the vicinity. When dividing 
this species it is a good plan to discard the old 
centres; water carefully the newly potted-up pieces 
until growth is evident. Worthy also of mention 
on account of its ease of culture is A, Henslovianum : 
its chief requirement is a period of rest from 
November to February. A word of warning 
here may be uttered against the pernicious practice 
of w^eakening Maidenhairs by robbing them of prac- 
