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HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 
branched, crisped, and tasselled. These, which are, strictly 
speaking, monstrosities, have retained their characteristics 
for many years in cultivation, and are very elegant plants, 
and great favourites in the garden. 
The common Lady Fern is abundant in warm moist 
woods and hedgerows throughout Great Britain, and espe- 
cially so in Ireland ; it also occurs throughout Europe, 
and in Asia, Africa, and North America. The monstrous 
varieties were first found in Ireland ; though the parsley- 
like one has also been found in Scotland, and in the Lake 
district ; and some fine forms, in the way of multijidum, 
have been gathered in Guernsey. 
None of our native Ferns are more easily cultivated 
than this. A rather boggy soil suits it best, and it loves 
shade and moisture ; indeed, these latter conditions being 
fulfilled, soil becomes a secondary consideration. The 
moisture, however, though abundant, should not be stag- 
nant. The Lady Fern is occasionally seen planted in the 
mouth of a cave or recess, by water, among shady rockwork ; 
nothing is so lovely as a finely-grown plant of it so situated. 
As a pot plant it requires plenty of room, both for its roots 
and fronds, and must be liberally watered. 
By the older botanists this plant was called Polypodium 
