WAKE ROBIN FARM 
root creeps and branches in all directions. The Sensi- 
tive Fern is a lush counterfoil to its more fluffy fern 
relatives, good for grouping with denizens of the 
wild wet places. 25c each. 
Spleenwort, Ebony (Asplenium  platyneuron). Pert, 
smart, sprightly, this little fern, 4 to 8 inches long, 
with its rigid fertile fronds, and evergreen sterile 
fronds, adds jauntiness to the rock garden. Adaptable 
to any situation, it chooses, when it may, the vicinity 
of large boulders, and seeks stony or shaly ground, 
however poor, in full sun, in partial or deep shade. 
May be planted in thin layers of dirt on little cliffs 
and rocky outcrops, the upper edges of gravel banks, 
and road berm. On the other hand, it welcomes good 
feeding, strays into shady woods, and luxuriates in 
black leaf mold anywhere, especially if there is a 
stony or shaly admixture. It seems to be a fern of 
complete versatility. The good root system and the 
soft little crowns should be firmly planted at ground 
level. The “Ebony” part of the name applies to the 
stems of the fronds, a dark and glossy brown. 25¢ each. 
Spleenwort, Silvery (Athyrium acrostichoides). When the 
wind blows the fronds of this fern, we see the reason 
for its name. The backs of the fertile fronds have a 
silvery sheen. This is caused by the abundance of 
shining white fruit dots, which are really more like 
dashes, along each side of the mid-veins of the pin- 
ne. Grows to about two feet. Likes any moist, shad- 
ed place, and is indifferent to acidity. The root is 
thick, creeping horizontally, near the surface, and 
should not be covered with more than an inch of soil. 
25c each. 


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