THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 253 



and marantas, associated with ferns without the least injury to either. Yet in the 

 full blaze of sunshine, where a croton or an ixora would thrive, it would be almost 

 impossible for a fern to live, except in the form of a disgrace to its possessor. So 

 far we see that compromises are possible. There is yet another mode of associating 

 ferns and flowering plants in the same house, and that is to make banks and 

 rockeries beneath the stages where shade and humidity will favour the growth of 

 ferns, and render positions otherwise useless and unsightly as attractive nearly as the 

 stages themselves, on which the amaryllids or the pelargoniums are blooming bravely. 

 A bank of peat faced with large burrs answers admirably for a fernery of this sort, 

 and the varieties of cystopteris, woodsia, scolopendrium, and selaginella, are pretty 

 sure to take it readily, while in the most select spots, hymenopbyllums, tticho- 

 manes, todeas, and maidenhairs, will soon become established, and, acquire a 

 luxuriance of growth without the least care, such as to make a mere mockery of all 

 our closed cases and bell-glasses, and curious caves constructed expressly for the 

 cultivation of these gems of the fern garden. 



" A spacious fernery adapted for ferns of all climates, and for the display of 

 them under circumstances which we may justly describe as natural, forms one of 

 the most valuable embellishments a garden can boast — enjoyable at all seasons, and 

 especially so in winter, when rough weather forbids our seeking open-air enjoy- 

 ments, and when, perhaps, if weather permitted, we should find but little in the 

 garden or the field to interest us. 



"Although, as explained above, ferns and flowering plants may be grown 

 together, those who would do justice to the former must appropriate a house to 

 them exclusively. It is possible to adapt a south aspect to the purpose, but it is 

 not advisable to encounter such a difficulty. A north or north-west aspect is the 

 best. The house should have a roof of not very steep pitch, a sufficient service of 

 hot-water pipes, and ventilators near the pipes to afford warmth to the fresh air as 

 it enters, and others in the roof at each end, but none elsewhere unless the house is 

 a large one. A frequent change of air is essential to the health of the ferns, but 

 we do not want a rushing wind or so much ventilation as to render the air of the 

 house so dry that the fronds will lose their freshness and health. 



"Thousands of villas are now furnished with what are called "conservatories," 

 which would answer admirably for ferneries where they happen not to be exposed 

 to burning sunshine all the summer long. The sunniest of these little glass 

 annexes answer admirably for grape vines and succulent plants, such as cactuses 

 and echeverias ; the shady ones would answer admirably for ferns, whether in pots 

 or planted out in miniature rockeries. 



"In the management of greenhouse and stove ferns the most important matter 

 is to secure a suitable temperature for each department or group of plants. The 

 greenhouse kinds require a temperature of 40' to 50' all the winter, but from the 

 middle of April until the middle of October artificial heat may be dispensed with 

 altogether, unless the weather is exceptionally cold ; and stove ferns require a 

 temperature ranging from 60° in winter to 90' in summer. 



" In every case the amount of moisture must be proportioned to the tempera- 

 ture, the more heat the more water, both above and below. When the plants are 

 growing freely the syringe should be used to produce a fine shower over them once 

 or twice a day, and water should be sprinkled on the floor to cause an abundant 

 evaporation. They will also require plentiful supplies of water at the roots. 



" There is no large class of plants in cultivation for which we may so safely 

 give general cultural directions as for ferns, yet certain kinds require exceptional 

 treatment both in heated houses as in cool ferneries and the open air. The gold 

 and silver ferns, such as gymnogrammas, are for the most part highly susceptible 

 of injury through excess of water, especially when administered by means of the 

 syringe. All the tree fern?, such as Dicksonias, require abundant supplies of water, 

 especially over their ample fronds. Most of the kinds which have thick succulent 

 leaves, such as Nipbobolus, require drier positions if planted out, and extra careful 

 drainage if in pots, than others that are of flimsy texture. 



" The cultivator must be ^careful to regulate heat and moisture in such a 

 manner as to ensure to the plants regularly recurring seasons of activity and rest. 

 When new growth commences in spring there should be a gradual augmentation of 

 temperature and humidity to afford needful stimulus and support. When in 

 autumn growth should naturally cease, the supplies of heat and moisture should be 



