THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 21 



blocks, on which some fine ferns were rooted and flourishing. 

 Setting to work one day to put the stack in order, and having a 

 number of ferns for which there was no room in the garden, we 

 placed several dead trees of large girth to form the outlines of a 

 large space. Within this the roots were packed with no particular 

 order, and at the back a mass of rotten wood and moss, which had 

 been collected for cultural purposes. The whole was roofed with 

 loppings and bean-sticks, so as to construct a sort of extem- 

 poraneous hermit's cell, or grotto of wood, into which no perpen- 

 dicular light could fall, but the light entered freely at three of the 

 sides. Here among the roots, on the ground, and on the bank of 

 rubbish at the back, ferns were planted. Sufficient rain gained 

 entrance through the interstices of the roof, the ferns flourished, 

 and a number of pretty wildings, including ivies and brambles, 

 sprung up amongst the moss and peat used in planting, and in this 

 way we came into the possession of one of the prettiest ferneries 

 imaginable, though it was in a position quite unsuited to it, and at 

 a distance had no more romance about it than belongs to any stack 

 of faggots in a farmer's yard. 



The space within measured about thirty feet by twenty, and was 

 about seven feet high, the roof resting on rough props and the stems 

 of dead pollard alders. Its appearance inside was beautiful ; groups 

 of brake and male ferns towered up among the dead branches, 

 patches of holly fern and polypody covered the dark blocks and un- 

 gainly roots, the osmunda spread out its leafy fronds beyond the 

 boundary of timber to the open air, and all over the ground where 

 smaller ferns had even been thrown in and forgotten, new fronds 

 broke out and covered the dusty floor with woolly croziers and 

 bright green shepherd's crooks so completely and luxuriantly, that 

 ever since we have regarded such a plan as just the one required 

 for an out-door fernery. If the thing is to be done again, it may 

 be better done. Instead of throwing the materials together pell- 

 mell, select a number of unbarked pollards, some large knotted 

 loppings of old plum, or apple, or oak trees. "W ith these construct a 

 frame- work, setting the supports at the corners, and making a very 

 light roof of rough trellis. Then plant it round with fast-growing 

 climbers, some of which should run up light posts midway between 

 the corner pillars ; and construct green walks, with plenty of open 

 spaces for the admission of full daylight, as also for the entrance 

 and exit of the cultivator and his visitors. The roof should also be 

 covered, and indeed to a great extent formed with greenery, and the 

 knife and shears employed to keep the trailers within bounds, so 

 that they may not obstruct either daylight or rain, but effectually 

 screen off the mid-day summer sun. 



Then inside build a bank of fern compost, with a bottom of 

 brick rubbish ; in one corner, where light comes in plentifully, make 

 a hollow, and puddle it with clay, and then spread in it a foot of 

 peat for some of the marBh ferns, and others that like moisture at 

 their roots. A little rock-work, formed of dark stones, or the burrs 

 from a brick-kiln, would round oil' the corners and slopes of the 

 bank ; and about the ground place a few huge tree roots, also to be 



January. 



