158 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL ill STORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



exposure. It is therefore necessary, in the construction of artificial 

 homes for plants to try as far as possible in these to obtain atmos- 

 pheric conditions similar to those prevailing in such localities, where 

 the plants these homes are destined to contain, flourish in a wild 

 state. The plants cultivated in Bombay Ferneries do, however, as 

 shown above, differ considerably in their requirements. A structure 

 which unites the greatest number of peculiar advantages for any of 

 these plants will therefore be the most suitable, and to obtain all 

 advantages will only be possible where it is intended to devote a 

 separate structure to each particular class of plants. Modern 

 Bombay Ferneries do, as far as possible, answer all purposes. I am 

 unacquainted with the facts regarding the introduction of coir- 

 matting for the use of ferneries, and regret not to be able to record 

 the name of the person to whom the credit of this innovation is due. 

 It was, however, a most happy idea, by which the character of Bom- 

 bay Ferneries has been considerably improved, not only in respect to 

 usefulness, but probably also in appearance, as I have little doubt 

 1 hat coir matting in Bombay was preceded by the very ugly and 

 unsightly roofing of split bamboos, which still is commonly used 

 in Poona and other places, and, as I learnt the other day when visiting 

 a rather interesting native garden in Matoonga, has not yet entirely 

 disappeared in Bombay. The great advantages of the use of coir 

 matting are, that it is possible, according to the mesh chosen, to 

 obtain more or less subdued sunlight, that a free circulation of air is 

 <marauteed, while at the same time sufficient shelter from strong:. winds 

 is provided; that the force of a heavy downpour of rain is lessened, 

 though the quantity of water is not considerably reduced ; that mois- 

 ture is absorbed from the air, and the escape of vapours arising from 

 the ground, tanks and plants inside the structure is checked ; finally, 

 a Fernery covered with coir-niatting, neatly fixed and well kept in 

 repair, has a fairly good appearance. The only serious drawback of 

 this material is its very limited durability, which in Bombay rarely 

 extends over more than two years. Several kinds of coir-matting, 

 (which I need hardly state is manufactured from the Cocoa-nut 

 fibre) are used for Ferneries. The cheapest kind, which is the 

 only one sold in the bazaar, and is imported from the Malabar coast, 

 is rather too closely woven to be useful for ordinary ferneries, 



