42 



IRISH GARDENING. 



Amateur Fern Growing. 



hj II. D. 

 (Continued). 



About the middle of February, especially in 

 open seasons, the ferns begin to make their new 

 ;-ools. but nothing is yet to be seen in tl)e crown 

 jr^rowth. Karly in iSIarch some loosening will l>e 

 seen in the crown of curled-up young fronde 

 wliich soon then begin to unfold. Just at this 

 time we frequently have a clear sky and bright 

 sun, but cold, dry east wind. Some glints of the 

 sun reach portions of the glass house, heat rays 

 as well as light rays pass through th glass, but. 

 heat rays cannot pass out again, and tlit- atmo- 

 sphere within rapidly warms. The day is, how- 

 ev(!r. still short, and the evening, night and early 

 morning, are l>itterly cold. If we aie not carefiU 

 the temperature will rise rapidly everj sunny 

 day, but every night ^"ill fall as lov/ as that 

 outside. The warmth induces the ferns to start 

 into growth, and once started they tend to con- 

 tinue growing, but the young delicate succulent 

 fronds will be perislied and distorted if subjected 

 to the cold at night. If we opon wide the venti- 

 lators during the suimy hours, the cold wind 

 entering will cause worse havoc. How can we 

 get rid of these dangers. First, do not stari the 

 ferns too early — by premature watering and 

 getting the temperature up too early. .Second, 

 when th>' season is more advanced, endeavour to 

 keep the teniperature moderate during sunny 

 hours, and box up the heat for the other hovirs. 

 To do this, keep all the lower ventilators tightly 

 closed day and night ; during the sunny hours 

 keep the top (roof) ventilators open about one 

 inch. Ifented air tends to rise, and so it rushes 

 ou- thnnigli the small apertures \ ou have given 

 it at the ventilators. <^lirough which little, if any, 

 draught will make its v.ay in to cause damage. 

 The heated air which rushes out is replaced by cool 

 air filtered in througli innumerable chinks under 

 and over the door and a entilators. between the 

 panes of glass, I'v.c. so no draught is caused, but 

 i.lie tfiiiperature is kept moderate. As soon as 

 the sun is going oIT the glass the t,Gp ventilators 

 are closed, and the heat bottled up as much as 

 possible. Though it falls appreciably, it remains 

 above that outside, for a long time, probably 

 unless there is cold high wmd, till the sun of next 

 day warms it uj) again. Fvcn on a du'l day, it 

 will be found tlia.t the tempevatiu-e inside the 

 house will lise, for still some heat-rays make 

 their way in, though they are Tuuch enfeebled, 

 the temperature in consequence does not tend to 

 become excessive, therefore on a dull day we keep 

 all ventilators closed, and bottle up all the heat 

 we can. This course is adojjted all tlie time of 

 active growth, and as the sun grows stronger, we 

 further moder.ite the heat by frequent wetting 

 of the floor, which promotes evaporation, and 

 evai)oration always jneans cooling. Before mid- 

 summer it may be necessary to further pre\ ent 

 overheacing by shadiag. This must be done on 

 the outside of the glass, and if the house has a 

 north aspect, the ro(,f alone requires to l>e done. 

 Do not use an oil paint — that is, a permanent 

 shading, as it is unnecessary, and becomes dirty 

 and opaque. 



When the growth has become mature, the days 

 have become long and tlie nights short, the top 



ventilators may be left open one incli day and 

 night, and during the hotvest part of tlie day the 

 lower ventilators may be opened ijretty freely on 

 the sheltered or non-windy side ot the house, and 

 the floor still kept wet. As the days shorten in 

 autumn we give It-ss water, and so gradually get 

 the hovise drier, Die floor water is g-ven up. air 

 still gi\'en and left on longer, to harden the 

 foliage against the winter struggle. By the time 

 November has arrived we have given uj) watering 

 altogether, the lower ventilators are kept closed 

 day and night. The upper ventilators remain 

 open about half an inch day an.l night. Ihis is 

 not for the purpose of reguhiting temperature, 

 which keeps practically tlie same as that outside, 

 Vnit to promote- further drying and so diminish 

 the tendency for moisture to condense on the cold 

 glass, and drip down on the ferns, where it woidd 

 at once set up decay. By this time, if we desire, 

 we ran take a trip ourselves to sunny climes and 

 revel in their warmth. The ferns will look after 

 themselves and be quite contented and happy 

 till we come back at the end of .lanuary. But it 

 instead we spend Xnias at home, and wish to 

 deck our dinner table with something of fairy 

 lightness, to relieve the customary holly and ivy, 

 we go to the greenhouse, as we have often done 

 in other winters, and pluck a handful of maiden- 

 hair, fresh and green and dainty. 



A word may be said about artificial nourish- 

 ment. If the dii"ections as to furnishing good 

 soil for the plants have been followed, they will 

 continue to flcmrish for many years without any 

 additional nourishment. If. however, it is seen 

 that here and there the soil has become washed 

 away, or the roots are exjiosed by the upward 

 growth of the rootstock, a top-dressing of one 

 pai't loam and two parts leaf-mould, will be 

 advisable. In the case of strong vigorous growiiig 

 kinds, a few waterings once a week during the 

 growing season with water to which some Clay's 

 Fertiliser has been added overnight, in the pro- 

 portion of a small teaspoonful to a gallon of 

 water — that is, a very weak application— will 

 give great stimulus to gro\Atii. .'ind will diminish 

 the robliery of nourislnnent ]iy tliis strong 

 grower from its weaker neighlicurs. But if tlie 

 plan for collecting rain-water from the roof is 

 adopted, no additional artificial stimulant will 

 ever be required. The soot and dirt washed from 

 ihe roof will supply all that is necessary ; it is 

 given constantly in ver> weak solution, and will 

 cause a healthy vigorous growth. and rich green in 

 the foliage, that cannot be surpassed by any 

 other line of treatment. If. however, the supply 

 pipe is depended on rather than tlie roof-water, 

 then fill a bag with soot, tie a brick to it. to sink 

 it, and put it into the dip]>ing tub. Kenew it 

 every six months or so. This is tl>e finest of all 

 " manures " for ferns. 



We now liave our fernery going splendidly, and 

 there seems little to do except to go and admire 

 the plants and wish them to grow more ((uickly. 

 But there are things to be done. Every bit of 

 withered foliage should bo snipped off with a 

 scissors as soon as seen, and deiiosited always 

 oi'lsidc the house. T'o not try to pull it nlT. 

 Some \\ithered stalks are very tougji. and the 

 attempt may disturb the plant in tlie soil, or 

 even partly root it up. Keep down growths of 

 everything tliat is not a fern. When you plant 

 the rock-work first it looks bare, and one thinks 



