HARDY FERNS AND MOSSES. 
311 
position and a compost of two parts leaf-mould and one of 
fibrous loam and silver sand. A. Trichomanes is the Maiden- 
hair Spleenwort, a pretty dwarf evergreen native species, with 
fronds 4 to 6in. long and $ to Jin. broad ; the midrib is dark 
chestnut and the little oval divisions dark green. A. viride 
(Green Spleenwort) is a similar plant, but a lighter green 
throughout. These like a light airy position and a compost 
of loam, broken sandstone, or brick and lime rubbish. A. 
thelypterioides is a deciduous N. American fern, i8in. high, 
dull green and downy. A. Ruta-muraria (Rue-leaved Spleen- 
wort) is a tiny plant, making itself at home in old walls and on 
rockwork if given a mortary soil. 
Botrychium (Moonwort). — Curious ferns, producing 
one stem from an underground bud, this bears two divisions, 
one leafy and barren, the other fertile and spike-like, resem- 
bling a cluster of flower buds. They require sandy loam, and 
are most at home amongst grass and other field herbage. Our 
native kind, B. lunaria, and a United States species, B. virgini- 
cum, represent the hardy kinds. 
Cryptogramme (Parsley Fern or Rock Brake). — This 
is a genus of but one species, and that a native fern variously 
known as the Mountain Parsley fern, Rock Brake, and Parsley 
fern (Cryptogramme crispa). It is probably much better 
known by its older botanical name of Allosorus crispus. It is 
a mountain fern affecting stony districts in the mountainous 
parts of England, Scotland and Ireland. It is of tufted habit, 
not a little resembling a poor type of parsley. It is deciduous ; 
the spring fronds are barren, the second and later crop are 
fertile and distinct in appearance to the former, and are useful 
for cutting. In height it averages from 2 to 4m., or if very 
strong, 6in. It likes a cool, moist, but well-drained situation, 
and a compost of loam and peat in equal parts with a plentiful 
supply of broken brick or stone added. It has a strong anti- 
pathy to lime either in the soil or water. Propagate by divi- 
sion in spring when signs of growth are first apparent. This 
species is a very invariable fern, the only variety of note being 
the geographical one of C. c. acrostichoides from N. America. 
This is a larger, bolder and stronger plant than the type. 
Cystopteris (Bladder Fern).— Pretty dwarf ferns with 
finely divided fronds of easy culture. A compost of fibrous 
peat, loam and leaf-mould suits them. They are deciduous ; 
propagated by spores and bulbils. C. bulbifera is a N. 
American kind, g to min. high, remarkable for bearing large 
bulbils on the upper surface of its fronds. C. fragilis is a 
native plant of free growth. Height 4 to Sin. ; grows in summer 
shade ; in the former it takes on a reddish colour. Dickieana 
