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of roots, tucked iu the moss and earth, wliere it will grow, 

 bloom, and often fruit. 



The rattlesnake plantain (incorrectly called adder's 

 tongne), the Hepatica, gold thread, Linnea, all do well, 

 and club mosses, wintergreen, checkerberry, all add to the 

 effect. The larger foreign and native ferns may be grown 

 in an open fernery, Avhich should be in a room with as 

 moist air as possible. 



Do not drown your plants. Persons frequently ask, 

 "How often shall I water my plants?" It is impossible 

 to answer, except to say "whenever they are dry ;" with 

 the same amount of water per day, in a cool room the 

 earth in a flow^er pot would be mud, while in a hot room 

 it would be powder in a few hours. To avoid pests, 

 mould, etc., sprinkle the ferns occasionally and give air 

 an hour or more every day. Wiping off the moisture 

 from the glass will take away many impurities. Cases 

 sprinkled often seldom require watering, and it is sur- 

 prising how long life will last on a small supply of water. 

 I once planted in the bottom of an olive bottle a fern and 

 some moss, corked it, and sealed the top over with seal- 

 ing wax, placed it upon a light shelf, and left it; the fern 

 flourished about a year, and weeds which sprang up lived 

 six months longer; life lasted eighteen months in all, 

 without the addition of a single drop of water. 



Do not place the fernery at the southern window, in the 

 full glare of the sun ; an eastern or western one is better ; 

 turn it around every week that the plants may grow 

 evenly. The case may be filled in August, to be estab- 

 lished by winter. Some fill them as early as June, others 

 not till October, hut August is the best for the tropical 

 fernery ; the natives need not be attended to till Septem- 

 ber, if you like. Not only may ferns be grown in cases 

 but some species are ver}' beautiful as basket or pot plants. 



