CETERACH OFFICINARUM. 
93 
Tlie metropolitan cultivator is told that London air disagrees 
with it, and yet the only plant of it I possessed in my early 
career, lived in a nook of an old wall, in a back area in 
Hatton Garden, for several years, and may be there still, 
unless eradicated by repair; sun never reached it, and 
ancient mortar, which, constantly moist, had somewhat the 
consistence of paste, probably agreed with its constitution ; 
a very necessary point to be studied in planting, as when 
left to its own selection, or in the wild state, it seems 
universally to prefer a calcareous habitat. Whether planted 
in the open fernery, or grown in pots, great care must be 
exercised as to drainage, and in the latter ca3e especially to 
avoid wetting the fronds in watering." 
The first writer who describes it as an English plant 
is Turner. In the first part of his “ Herbal,” published 
in 1551, he says, “ it groweth muche in Germanye, in 
old moiste walles, and in rockes; it groweth also in 
England about Bristowe (Bristol).” Ho adds, “ I have 
heard no English name of this herbe, but it maye well 
be called in English Ceteracke, or Miltwaste, or Finger 
Feme, because it is no longer than a raanne's finger, 
or Scale Feme, because it is all full of scales on the 
innersyde. It hath leaves lyke in figure unto Scolo- 
pendra, the beste, which also called Centipes, is not 
unlike a great and rough palmer's worme.” 
There is no doubt that it is the Asplenium mentioned 
by Dioscorides and others of the old Greek writers, who 
attributed to it a marvellous influence over the spleen ; 
so marvellous that Vitruvius tells us it destroyed that 
organ in the Cretan swine which fed upon it. This 
opinion of the “ Miltwasting ’’ power of this Fern lasted 
