FERNS AS DECORATIVE OBJECTS. 91 



species, or those tliat produce fronds which admit of being sepa- 

 rated into small, yet natural-looking divisions, tliat are most 

 suitable. The former are preferable, because the latter in many 

 cases would be deficient of stalk, and this deficiency would be 

 apt to render them not only moi'e difficult of adjustment in 

 bouquets, but also in a greater degree short-lived. Larger 

 bouquets, such as are placed in drawing-rooms, admit of the 

 introduction of somewliat larger growing kinds, provided they 

 possess the necessary and indispensable elegance of contour. 



To be practically useful for either of these purposes, the kinds 

 of Ferns selected must be such as are naturally of a rigid or sub- 

 rigid texture, or at least sufficiently firm or fleshy to bear up 

 against the parching influences to whicli, in the dry atmospliere 

 they would be likely to be placed in, they would be more or less 

 exposed. 



iMany of tlie more beautiful species of Ferns are thus wholly 

 excluded from tiiis association, because of the delicacj' of their 

 texture, beautiful only whilst confined to the close damp atmos- 

 phere which conduced to their development. Exclusive of these, 

 however, there exists a considerable variety, botli as to size and 

 form, in every way suited for the purpose of ornament, and some 

 of these will presently be more particularly referred to. 



The plan of placing bouquets in vases covered by a close- 

 fitting dome-glass is greatly conducive to the preservation of 

 the flowers. If such a plan were adopted with those bouquets 

 in which Ferns preponderate, the freshness of the latter would 

 be retained for an incredibly long period. Ferns might, in fact, 

 often entirely take the place of flowers, and no more elegant or 

 ornamental group could be devised. In such cases, the close 

 covering would render the Ferns almost permanent, their duration 

 would be so greatly prolonged. 



In the lists which follow will be found not only species that 

 are evergreen, but also some whicii lose their fronds in the 

 winter season. In those plants which have the latter habit the 

 fact is expressly mentioned. 



PoLYPOBIEiE. 



1. Notholcena (Lepichosma) lendigera. — One of the most ele- 

 gantly divided of all the smaller Ferns. It is a small growing 

 plant, the fronds growing in tufts, and usually attaining 8 or 10 

 inches in length, and becoming elaborately divided, in a tri- 

 pinnate manner, into small roundish segments ; the entire fronds 

 are somewhat pubescent. This is a native of Centi'al America, 

 and requires a sub-tropical climate. The full-grown, well- 

 matiired fronds may be cut for small bouquets ; younger ones 



