42 THE FLOEAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



hardy ferns, for they are admirable subjects for a ladies' garden, and 

 as I happen to know they afford pleasure to many, I hope this 

 notice of them will be the means of their giving pleasure to still 

 many more ; but the reader must not think that the cultivation of 

 ferns will involve an expensive rockery, or that they are difficult to 

 manage. As to rockeries in small gardens, I always think them out of 

 place ; but that is no reason why the many elegant varieties of hardy 

 British ferns should not have a place ; indeed, they are proper sub- 

 jects for those for whom I write, because they will thrive and grow in 

 positions where flowering plants would not. Thus, by adding the 

 ferns to our stock of plants, we add another feature to the garden, 

 and increase its delights. Now it becomes a question where are we 

 to place them ? I can soon decide that question by sayiug they 

 like a cool, shady spot ; and if there should be a spare corner on the 

 north side of the house, or under the shade of trees, that will be 

 admirable for them, but they will do well in any place where they 

 are not exposed to strong sunshine or rough winds. They will 

 thrive in any common garden soil if it is not a stiff clay ; but a turfy 

 mellow loam suits them best if the soil has to be made for the pur- 

 pose. Many people fail in growing ferns out-of-doors through 

 affording them an insufficiency of soil and water. They get 

 together a few stones or burrs, and give to each plant a handful or 

 two of peat, and then expect them to thrive. Ferns will bear much, 

 and continue to live ; but they never grow satisfactorily under such 

 treatment, because they have neither soil nor moisture sufficient. As 

 ferns always show their characters best when the ground is slightly 

 raised above the level of the garden, the elevation should be made, 

 first, by a body of earth, not more than three feet high at back, or 

 at the highest point. It should present an uneven surface, and in 

 outline be rather irregular ; but not cut up into zig-zag pieces, or 

 fancy shapes. Small evergreen shrubs will sometimes be useful in 

 forming a background. I refer more particularly to the ferns this 

 month, because it is a capital time to get such work done before 

 the more busy season comes on. It is a very good time, too, to select 

 the ferns ; for as many of these can be got from the woods and way- 

 sides, those selected this month will be evergreen species, which 

 are the most valuable. If removed in mild, open weather, they 

 may be planted without delay. 



As every locality has its varieties of ferns peculiar to it, a list 

 would not be of much assistance to the reader; the better plan, 

 therefore, is to secure as many varieties as possible from your own 

 district, and then, as opportunities offer, add to their number, as 

 the greater the variety the more interest wilL they afford. I have 

 said that I object to rockwork in small gardens ; my reason is, 

 that the surroundings are in no way in character with them, they 

 are, therefore, out of place ; but if ferns are grown in such positions 

 as I have alluded to, there is no objection to the use of stones or 

 burrs, as they rather add to the beauty of the ferns by contrast of 

 colour ; but I am no advocate for elaborate and costly designs in 

 these matters, unless there is full scope for the designer to work 



