222 STATE rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



says: ''The feru is a trailing vine, \ritli starlike leaves, having stems au incli 

 long, and about two inches apart on tlie vine. The fruitage is on au extension 

 of the vine, some twelve inches long, and appears like a line spray of leaves.'' 

 Still another answer: "A law has been passed in Connecticut for the protec- 

 tion of this beautiful fern; but this does not prevent large quantities of it 

 being pressed and dried, and sent to all i)arts of the United States. In Gray's 

 Manual of Botanv. the Lvgodium is nienlioned as being found from jVIassachu- 

 setts to Virginia, Kentucky, and southward, tiiough not at all common." By 

 the above we find that the demand for the best and most acceptable means of 

 house adornment, viz. : the arrangement of something that shall take off the 

 bareiiess of white or pale walls, and that shall harmonize Avith all pictures, all 

 colors of carpet, curtains, or furniture, has brought, and is still bringing, 

 prominently before the public the beauties of this fern. 



It was not my intention to take all the time and s])acc allotted to me for the 

 Hartford Fern. I wished to speak of other ferns and their uses ; but doubtless 

 could only add facts and uses already known to yourselves, especially to my lady 

 hearers and readers, who are the ones, generally, to make the subject of house and 

 home decorations their study. This is one of ou7' missions and we cannot tell 

 how far the inlluence of even a small effort may extend. An acquaintance, one 

 year, just before the holidays, took unusual pains in trimming her parlor and sit- 

 ting room with autumn leaves (nicely pressed, not varnished) ferns, and Hartford 

 vine (the latter pinned on thelace curtains, in festoons over the top in a very taste- 

 ful nninner), thus making her rooms delightfully attractive to the eye. They 

 remained all winter; but an early spriiuj cleaning necessitated the dismantling 

 of the walls ; my friend's husband, an undemonstrative kind of person, who 

 had not manifested any especial admii-ation of the decorations (being very much 

 engrossed that winter in business), exclaimed, upon seeing the room "i)ut to 

 rights"' without, the former leafy adornments, " What have you done with the 

 leaves and vines? I have enjoyed them so much, and I could rest and enjoy 

 my reading in these rooms. It doesn't seem ItomcUke without the ferns." It 

 is useless to add that, of course, tlie walls were soon trimmed as before, and 



remained so, until replaced with fresher trimmings in the fall, when Mr. B 



proved an active assistant in the gathering and selection of ferns and leaves for 

 pressing. 



In conclusion let me add my persuasions to those of far abler powers than 

 mine, that all, both young and old, may exert every endeavor to make home as 

 attractive as possible. An untutored eye and uncultivated mind can discern 

 the difference between bare walls and those adorned. Nature, liberal in her 

 gifts, withholds not from the humblest or poorest, but lavishly rewards all 

 who seek her bounty, and all who truly love her. 



The essay was illustrated by samples of the feru arranged on the wall so that 

 the audience at the intervals of the meeting could become acquainted with the 

 fern and the method of using it. 



The following topic next engaged the attuuLion of the convention. 



THE WINTER HOUSE GARDEN. 



T. T. Lyon. — In the absence of Mr. W. K. Gibson, who was to open this 

 discussion, I take the liberty to call upon tlie Secretary, who I trust, will be 

 willing to leave his work at tlie ta})lc, and at least lead us into the discussion. 



