FERNS FOR THE HOUSE. 



29 



inch of broken pots in all except perhaps 

 very small pots, when the quantity of drain- 

 age can be reduced in proportion to the size 

 of the pot. 



Water ferns tnoroughly at the roots when 

 they require water, never allowing the soil 

 to become anything approaching a dust dry 

 condition, in fact with good drainage the 

 soil should always be kept moist but not 

 soddened. 



When potting or re-potting ferns do not 

 be too liberal as to the size of the pot ; using 

 a pot too large in proportion to the quantity 

 of roots is detrimental to almost all kinds of 

 plants, especially to house or window plants 

 v-'here the surroundings are not of a nature 

 to induce quick root action so as to necessi- 

 tate an abundance of room for the roots. 



The fronds of most of the ferns I have 

 mentioned can be easily washed with a 

 small piece of soft sponge or some similar 

 material, moistened with clean water. 

 Syringing the growth with water from a fine 

 atomizer spray will also be beneficial, or the 

 growth of the plants may be dipped in a 

 pail of water once or twice a week. This 

 can be done by turning the plant upside 

 down and allowing the fronds only to remain 

 under water for a minute or so. By adopt- 

 ing these means before insects attack the 

 growth, the destructive visits of the fern 

 thrip and red spider can often be prevented 

 andthe plants kept fresh and healthy looking. 



The insect pests that are most likely to 

 prove troublesome are the fern thrip and red 

 spider ; the green fly often makes its appear- 

 ance, especially on the young fronds. Shak- 

 ing or brushing off the green fly is probably 

 the safest way to dispose of green fly ; if to- 

 bacco water is used it must be made very 

 weak. The presence of thrip and red spider 

 will be first seen by the whitish appearance the 

 fronds present, especially near the centre rib 

 of each lobe or frond. Weak tobacco water 

 applied to the growth, especially on the 

 underneath side, is the best remedy for 

 thrip. The fern thrip is a very minute insect 

 and cannot be discerned with the naked eye; 

 a magnifying glass will however reveal its 

 presence, when it will be seen burrowed 

 snugly between the upper and lower layers 

 of film that constitute the frond. Nothing 

 is better for destroying thrip on ferns than 

 frequent applications of tobacco water. 

 Frequent syringing and sprinkling the 

 growth of ferns with clean water is one of 

 the best preventives of the attacks of the 

 almost invisible but destructive red spider, 

 one of the worst pests of indoor plant life. 



Ferns have during recent years become so 

 popular and necessary as accessories to 

 floral decorations, that a word or two on 

 their culture and care may perhaps be inter- 

 esting to readers of the Journal. 



W. Hunt. 



Hamilton. 



Japanese Fern Balls. — A novelty of 

 recent introduction by our florists is the 

 Japanese Fern Ball, an apparently dried up 

 and lifeless ball of roots, which when soaked 

 in water for fifteen minutes, every day for a 

 few days, then hung in any desired position, 

 growth soon starts, and it becomes a mass 

 of beautiful ferns. All that is necessary 

 afterwards is sprinkle occasionally. Or the 



ball may be cut in two, placing flat side 

 down, thus getting two dishes of ferns. 

 They may be allowed to dry up any time 

 and started again by watering as before. 

 If they prove to be anything like the intro- 

 ducers' description, they will be a most de- 

 sirable and attractive novelty both for the 

 window garden and table decoration. 



