THE FORKED SPLEENWORT. 133 
vania, to Spain, Portugal, and Italy. In Asia, it is found in 
Northern India, at Kashmir, Kumaon, Kunawar, and Gurwhal; 
in the region of the Caucasus; and in the mountain ranges of the 
Ural and the Altai in Siberia. It occurs also in New Mexico ! 
As in the case of the allied species, many persons fail to cultivate 
this Fern with success. The failure probably arises from the use of 
fine soil in too large masses. Naturally this is a rupestral plant, and 
this condition should be imitated by its being planted among masses 
of porous sandstone, in the interstices of which only, a little sandy 
soil should be placed. It would no doubt be also an advantage to 
plant somewhat horizontally rather than too strictly vertical ; and to 
allow the upper fragment of stone employed, to be large enough to ` 
serve as a shade to the crown from the sun's rays, these latter in 
summer acting too powerfully on. the soil contained in small pots. 
This amount of shade would admit of the plants being kept in a 
more exposed situation than is usually safe, from the cause just 
referred to; and thus the evils arising from close dampness and 
want of ventilation would be remedied. The exposure, however, 
must be modified judieiously : for instance, a greenhouse where the 
atmosphere is dried and moistened daily, would probably be found 
congenial ; or a cold frame, well aired and slightly shaded, might with 
advantage be substituted for the closer frame and denser shade, which 
is more usual Certainly many Ferns do not need so much shade as 
isgiven in a general collection, to suit the more tender kinds ; and the 
partial shade afforded by a lump of stone on the sunny side of the 
crown of a small Fern would be more congenial to many of the 
mural or rupestral species, than a more general exclusion of the 
sun's rays. Mr. Watson has noticed that the young fronds are 
easily damaged by frost. 

