2 76 
THE FEKN PARADISE. 
fronds, and, unlike the latter, they are quite dis¬ 
tinct, being separated by a greater space from 
each other. There is, too, a much longer stem in 
the fertile fronds of the Hard Fern than in the 
barren ones, the leaflets being at first the tiniest 
protuberances from the midrib, and gradually 
extending in length; but again decreasing in 
length as they near the apex of the frond. The 
backs of the fertile fronds in their upper parts 
are densely covered with seed-cases. So soon as 
the spores in these have—in the autumn—been 
scattered, the tall, thin fertile fronds wither and 
drop away to the ground; but the barren fronds 
are evergreen, and preserve their delightful fresh¬ 
ness until the reappearance of spring calls up 
another cluster from the root-stock. 
The Hard Fern is widely distributed and 
abundant, delighting most to grow in damp and 
dripping situations. It should therefore be 
grown in the lowest tiers of your Fern rockery, 
and have abundant moisture. In its wild state 
it is often found growing in somewhat stiff clay 
soils, but it succeeds well in fibrous soils in which 
leaf-mould largely abounds. It will not be too 
