46 HAEDY FERNS. 
same size as the up^Der ones. Uliginosa seems to 
approach nearer to L. rigida than any other Fern, 
and yet on placing the two side by side it would 
be impossible to mistake one for the other; the 
entire growth of uliginosa being taller and much 
more robust, while the pinnae are much farther 
apart. 
Lastrea rigida I have never found, so I have 
been reduced to the necessity of buying one ; and 
of all my Ferns I have found rigida the most 
tormenting to deal with; its likes and dislikes 
are as many and as unaccountable as those of a 
wayward child. When I bought the plant of an 
amateur dealer for 3s. 6d., it consisted of a nest of 
brown fronds, with one withered one about half 
a foot long, and two little deformed ones by its 
side. It was very unpromising, and my friend, 
the dealer, assured me it was an ill-natured sub- 
ject that repaid all your care by giving you nothing 
but those black looks. I did all I could for the 
ne'er do weel." I made it a lovely home with 
well-drained fine leaf mould for its food ; but a 
