54 
THE FERN WORLD 
so that its crown and rootlets may not be disturbed. If this 
cannot be done, the rootstock and rootlets — the latter of 
which often penetrate a considerable distance into the rocky 
or stony crevices of its habitat — should be dug out uninjured. 
To effect this a hammer and chisel will usually be found 
necessary aids. The difficulty ordinarily believed to attend 
the culture of this little Fern arises, we are convinced, mainly, 
if not entirely, from the circumstance that it is injured in 
removal from its home. When secured in a perfect and 
uninjured state it should be firmly planted, with its crown in 
a horizontal position, projecting beyond the surface, in the 
highest and driest tiers of the rockery, in some little stony 
crevices, and in a compost consisting of leaf-mould, inter- 
mixed with a quantity equal to it of sand, old mortar, and 
broken pieces of brick or soft stone. Its roots must be kept 
moist, but not excessively wet, and the crown should be so 
placed under a projecting fragment of stone as to protect it 
even from rain, but to enable it to receive moisture for its 
rootlets. 
