COMMON WALL SPLEENWORT. 
in her haste fell over a precipice, her beautiful hair 
becoming entangled in the bushes. Immediately, on 
the spot, a clear spring welled up, and her hair took 
toot and grew into the lovely fern now called 
“Maiden Hair Spleenwort.” The well is called 
Wolfs Spring; and after hearing the legend the 
traveller is expected to take with him as a relic a 
bunch of “ Maiden Hair.” 
A tea or syrup made of the fronds has long been 
recommended as a remedy in pulmonary affections. 
The Common Spleenwort is easily cultivated, and 
is one of the prettiest of our smaller ferns. It is well 
adapted for rock-work or for insertion in the crevices 
of walls or buildings, where the mortar and brick¬ 
work ensures perfect drainage, while it absorbs mois¬ 
ture. In Ward’s cases, where its size is suitable, it 
should have the upper and dry portions of rock-work. 
From the experiments of Mr. Wollaston it was found 
that a soil of sandy loam is best adapted for its 
success, as it requires less moisture than most other 
ferns ; in fact, the crown or centre of growth should 
never be wetted. 
A variety of this fern, believed by many botanists 
to be a distinct species, Asplenium Trichomanes viride 
(the Green Spleenwort), is known by its stem being 
green instead of black or dark-brown at the base 
only. 
