70 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
Hartstongue is to be found in almost every con¬ 
ceivable form, from a tiny thing of half an inch in 
length, when growing on a bare, dry wall, to a 
plant which is one rich, thick mass of delightful 
curling fronds, each one a yard long, when grow¬ 
ing in a moist bed of leaf-mould in the dark recess 
of some hedge. 
Far out of our reach on the top of the high 
hedge-bank, are some noble specimens of the Male 
Fern (Lastrea filix-mas ), so called from its erect 
and robust manner of growth. From the crown, 
densely covered with rust-coloured scales, spring 
a close circle of beautiful fronds, whose under 
surface is thickly covered with the scales which 
are so prominent a characteristic of this noble¬ 
looking Fern. There it grows, perched shuttle¬ 
cock fashion on the top of the hedge, the points 
of its fronds gracefully turned outwards, its crown 
resting just above the surface of leaf-mould, into 
the depths of which its long fine rootlets are 
plunged. The whole plant rests under the cool 
shadow of the trees. For years this hedge-bank 
has evidently been left untouched, and the annual 
crops of leaves falling from tree and bush, have 
