

108 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
rockwork, the conditions of its natural growth being duly borne in 
mind. “Many persons think,” he observes, “that if they put the 
root of the plant into soil and water it, they have done all that is 
necessary; but the wall and the rock Ferns require something more 
than this. The thin succulent extremities of the wiry roots, insinu- 
ating themselves into every crevice, and absorbing on all sides the 
scanty moisture retained by the coarse material upon which they 
vegetate, are in removal generally left behind, and yet the plant is 
expected to live and flourish for the simple reason, that as it must 
have been half starved upon the dry wall and now has plenty to 
feed on, it ought to do so. The decayed mortar and the mouldering 
brick, while they afford the potash, lime, and other mineral sub- 
stances necessary to fern structure, ensure the grand requisite of 
drainage, and admit no accumulation of moisture beyond that which 
is essential to vegetable life. Stagnant water, and especially when 
lodged in soil abounding in decomposing organic matter, is fatal to 
most of the species of this genus." 
In endeavouring to account for the difficulties which occur in 
cultivating Ferns such as the present, which sometimes prove to be 
rather shy growers under artificial treatment, the natural conditions 
under which the plant occurs should be well studied. Here is a 
Species naturally abundant and apparently free, which yet oftentimes 
refuses to maintain its natural vigour under cultivation. Why is 
this? In most cases it will be found that there is something wrong 
at the foundation: the roots of the plant are damaged or suffering. 
Indeed, this appears to be the principal source of failure in cultivating 
this species. In a natural state it grows on some perpendicular or 
sloping face of wall or rock, inserting its roots into the crevices and 
fissures, and there it finds enough nourishment. Even when it is 
growing on banks, the soil is generally of an open sandy texture, so 
that water cannot stagnate. It should, therefore, never be planted 
in large masses of soil retentive of moisture; and in planting, the 
crown should be elevated between fragments of stone, the pots should 
have an extra amount of drainage, and sand, or fine broken brick, 
or broken sandstone, or the rubbly portions of mortar from old build- 
ings, should be freely used. In short, above that portion which is 
kept free for drainage, the pot should be filled up with coarse pieces 

