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THE FERN PARADISE. 
for the Forked Spleenwort will suit its near rela- 
tive Asplenium Germanicum , namely, sandy peat 
and leaf-mould for soil, and an arrangement of 
little pieces of sandstone or freestone in the pot, 
or in the cleft of the rockery where it is grown. 
3. THE RUE-LEAVED SPLEENWORT. 
Asplenium ruta muraria. 
Of all our native ferns the Rue-leaved Spleen- 
wort or Wall-rue is, perhaps, the most unpre- 
tending in appearance. Yet it is a most interesting 
little fern, and will well repay study and care. It 
is very diminutive, sometimes only growing to a 
height of about one inch, but when growing 
under very favourable conditions, in a wild state, 
it will reach a length of several inches. It is 
widely distributed, loving to fasten itself on old 
walls, rocks, or the sides of bridges of all kinds, 
spanning water. Often it is found growing on 
church walls and the walls of dwelling houses. 
It is, indeed, a familiar little fern, and is frequently 
