28 
CHOICE BRITISH PERNS. 
mixed, and left a little lumpy. In potting, observe again 
Nature’s procedure by spreading out tbe rootlets carefully, 
and not pressing down tbe soil harder than is necessary to 
keep tbe crown upright ; and finally, when tbe plant is duly 
installed, water well, and leave it alone, bearing in mind 
that any meddling with tbe soil when wet, however light it 
may be, is apt to cause it to cake together, and thus check 
root-growth, and imperil the well-being of the Fern. 
So much by way of general pot treatment, which will apply 
to all the Buckler Ferns (Lastrea), with the exception of the 
Marsh Buckler Fern {L. Thelypteris), which revels in mud ; 
Lady Fern {Athyrium Filix-fcemina), the Shield Ferns {Poly- 
stichum), and Hartstongue {Scolopendrium vuLgare) ; also 
the Oak and Beech Ferns {Polypodium Dryopteris and P. 
Phegopteris). Polypodium vulgare, as is evidenced by its thriv- 
ing in the hollows of trees and similar places, where only 
leaf-mould or decayed wood collects, prefers an open mass 
of leaf -mould, with a little sand. The Hard Fern {Blechnum 
Spicant) thrives best in leaf-mould with an admixture — say 
one-eighth — of small lumps of clayey loam scattered through 
, it. This Fern has such an antipathy to lime that every care 
must be taken to avoid its presence, either in the compost or 
the water used. The Scaly Spleenwort {Ceterach officinarum^) 
only grows on very old walls; hence an admixture of old lime 
rubbish is requisite. The same remark applies, more or less, 
to all the Spleenworts {Asplenium). The Parsley Fern {Allo- 
sorus crispusf) will only thrive when it has to make its 
way through loose stones. It will always be found in greatest 
abundance pushing through the debris of weathered rocks. 
With the exception of the Sea Spleenwort {Asplenium mari- 
num) and the Maidenhair {Adiantum Capillus-Veneris), which 
require protection from severe frosts, the British Ferns im- 
peratively demand perfectly cool treatment in winter, other- 
wise they fail to become quite dormant, and in the ensuing 
season grow weakly, and become the prey of vermin of every 
description. 
Syn. Asplenium Ceterach. 
t Syn. Cryptogramme crispa. 
