70 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



sequence of their free growth, require to be thinned out. There 

 should be sufficient planted in the first instance to make a good 

 effect, but yet room for growth be allowed. It is of great im- 

 portance to keep ferns in these cases only moderately moist, and 

 to give air carefully, so that the thin textured ferns will not be dis- 

 tressed. It is the custom with amateurs who have not had much 

 experience, to kill their ferns by giving too much water and too 

 little air. They do not want much of either when grown in cases, 

 but they want both in moderation, and should be regularly looked 

 at, for when neglected or forgotten, they are in danger. It is often 

 the case, too, that ferns in cases are deprived of sufficient light, and 

 become attenuated and sickly in consequence. A little sunshine is 

 good for them, although they will not endure to be roasted. 



In selecting ferns for cases, it is a good rule to confine the 

 selection to evergreen greenliouse kinds. The hardy ones can be well 

 grown without the aid of cases, and the very tender kinds, such as 

 are called " stove ferns," are likely to perish in winter, through 

 insufficiency of warmth. But all the greenhouse ferns can be win- 

 tered safely in cases kept in apartments that are only moderately 

 warmed during winter, and, if kept with some care, they will be 

 scarcely less beautiful in winter than in summer. S. H. 



ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PAEEOTS. 



BX THE PRISONEB'S FHIEND. 



" A parrot turns 

 Up, thro' gilt wires, a crafty, loving eye, 

 And takes a lady's finger with all care, 

 And bitea it for true heart, and not for harm." 



Tennyson's " The Peincess." 



LETTER has been handed to me, with a request that I 

 will answer it in the pages of the Floral World. The 

 writer has, during many years past, taken some interest 

 in parrots, but has few opportunities of gratifying her 

 love of these interesting birds. Now, however, the 

 case is altered. With improved means, and increase of leisure, 

 there comes a new desire to enjoy somewhat of the society of these 

 beautiful and intelligent creatures, and I am asked to advise on the 

 selection and management of a parrot family. 



As a considerable number of parrots (I use the term in a col- 

 lective sense) are unfit for a household, because of their ugly 

 manners, discretion must be used in making a selection. The merits 

 of the common Grey Parrot are well known, and it seems scarcely 

 necessary to say that it is the very best bird for enlivening and 

 embellishing a dwelling-house. It is, of course, generally under- 

 stood that individual parrots differ in capacity and docility ; but in 

 the case of grey parrots the differences are not so great as with 

 other kinds. They are all clever if well taught and they are all 



