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form admirable material, quite imperishable and not un- 

 sightly. The ordinary roof slates, obtainable from any 

 builder, are of two kinds, oblong, about two feet long and 

 over one broad, and longer, narrower and thicker ones 

 which are used at the ridges, about four feet long by six 

 inches. These can be sawn into required dimensions with 

 a rough ordinary saw, or broken after deeply scoring the 

 surface with a bradawl and pierced where required by the 

 same instrument. We give a few illustrations of what 

 can be done with these, which practically explain them- 

 selves. 



Fig. 5. 



Fig. 2 shews how a corner can be filled up with a series 

 of pockets, each of which can accommodate one or more 

 ferns without interference with the others, nails driven into 

 the wall securing them in position ; and Fig. 3 shews how 

 the material for such pockets can be shaped, and also how 

 one can be attached to a slate and be capable of removal, 

 the necessary holes for the wiring and holes for small 

 lateral plants being indicated. In wiring the wire should 

 be bent and passed^through from the outside, the twisting 

 by pliers being 'effected behind or inside for neatness sake. 



