THE FERNERY. 
25 
common, and occasionally found on old and decaying 
trees. The Royal or Flowering Fern (Osmunda regalis ): 
this noble and graceful fern is found in all parts of the 
British Islands; it prefers bogs and swampy ground, 
but occasionally occurs in drier localities. 
Having thus given a slight clue to the general habi¬ 
tats of most of our common British ferns, the subject of 
their culture must be considered. A Fernery, or, as 
some persons prefer to call it, a “ Rockery ” (!), is not so 
easily made as commonly imagined. It is not sufficient 
to cast up a bank of earth, and here and there embed 
a few pieces of stone ; it requires to be made on scien¬ 
tific principles. All ferns, though they love moisture, 
require good drainage. A plan which I have success¬ 
fully followed is to obtain five or six old tree roots or 
trunks; if decaying, so much the better. On the 
required site for the fernery place the largest in the 
centre, and at a distance of three or four feet the others 
round it; between these, and also where you wish to 
bank up, throw a quantity of stone-chippings or broken 
bricks ; if near a sandstone district, sandstone is best. 
Cover this with a layer of red sand about four or five 
