86 BRITISH FERNS. 
A difficult plant to establish, and even, when ap- 
parently established, often disappointing the cultivator. 
Still nothing can exceed the vigour which it displays 
when grown in the open air in some parts of Ireland, 
perhaps, indeed, throughout Ireland; but I may speak 
of Belfast and Dublin as places in which I have par- 
ticularly observed it: on rock-work in the sister island 
it forms strong permanent masses, often displaying 
fifty fronds at once. In Scotland and the North of 
mixture of peat and sandy loam, and shake it gently 
down until the interstices of the Stone are thoroughly _ 
filled. In watering this fern it is best to keep the 
water entirely from the leaves, unless, by thorough 
ventilation, you can ensure rapid evaporation, - i 
