80 
THE FERN FAMILIES OF BRITAIN. 
is to bury a flat piece of stone slantingly in tbe soil, scatter 
a little compost on it, spread out tbe roots of tbe Fern, and 
just cover tbem witb soil, after wbicb put another flat piece 
of stone over all, thus leaving tbe crown in a cbink. Tbe 
crown must not be buried, as Nature’s own treatment shows 
clearly enough. A hundred feet or so of old wall, starred all 
over with these charming little plants, is a grand hunting 
ground for the careful eye ; and since the Fern, in some localities, 
is rather variable, the chance of a good find is not so remote 
as to deserve ignoring. 
Fig. 19.— Asplenium Trichomanes. 
The best forms yet discovered are the following ; the figures 
in parentheses refer to Plate II. 
A. T. confluens (confluent). Stabler. This is a very 
curious sport, the frond being quite leathery; the pinnsB are 
so close as to overlap at their edges, those near the top of 
frond being all joined together or confluent. It is also barren, 
for though apparently spores are abundant, they are im- 
perfect ; hence it is rare. It is very strong in growth ; fronds 
nearly Ift. long. 
A. T. cristatum (crested). See Plate II., 17, and Fig. 20. 
Beautifully tasselled at tpis of fronds ; some of the forms in 
