236 POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM. 
drained. During its growing season it must be supplied 
rather freely with water, although not to make the soil 
marshy. It bears exposure to light pretty well when 
once established, but will become much finer if in the 
shade. It is perfectly hardy, and will bear very severe 
weather unless the roots are too much exposed, for in 
that case it is apt to perish. If grown iu pots, a. slight 
protection of some kind is desirable, for it will bear in- 
door treatment much better than many others of the 
British Ferns. The fructification is ripe by the end of 
the summer, and from the fructification it may be 
increased in the same wav as directed for other Ferns. 
