106 THE FORCING GARDEN. 
but never to face full south. Let amateurs and young 
gardeners take a walk along some lane or by-road where 
Ferns grow naturally, and they will no doubt see them 
on both sides of the lane, growing on the banks; one 
side may be facing the sun all day, the other will be 
facing the north, where no sun cancome tothem. Now 
just observe the difference of colour in the same species! 
Those growing where the sun plays upon them are 
stunted and brown ; the others on the opposite side are 
so far different in character and colour that one is ready 
to conclude that the same varieties are two different 
species. Now this should be a lesson in the culture of 
all Ferns, whether hardy or not. I have always found 
that when Ferns under glass are much exposed toa 
strong light,they are of aless deep green in colour than 
when shaded. 
The Fern tribe may be partly compared to the Heath 
family in the matter of water. If a Heath gets 
thoroughly dry through the ball, nothing can save that 
plant from death; but it is not quite the same with the 
Fern, for if one of the latter gets thoroughly dry a few 
times, it is ten to one if it lives; certainly the present 
Fronds will die off, and perhaps the root too. Ferns 
luxuriate in a brisk moist heat ; but they may be grown 
without much heat—I mean the greenhouse sorts—but 
itis necessary to be provided with some means of heating 
the house, to ward off frosts. 
When a fernery is to be built, if it must be facing 
the south, which sometimes cannot be avoided in the 
case of amateurs, the top of the house should be double 
glazed, the top or outside layer of glass being of a pale 
green colour, and the under layer being of white glass. 
I recommend double glazing, because then, amateurs 
