DECORATIVE PLANTS 



the most popular 

 of ornamental-foliaged plants 

 for several years past has 

 been the Boston Fern, a 

 " sport " from the well-known 

 Nephrolepis exaltata, better 

 known as the Sword Fern. 

 This plant is too well known to need descrip- 

 tion here. It is seen everywhere. When 

 well grown it is a most beautiful plant, but 

 as ordinarily grown it fails to do itself justice 

 because conditions are against it. It is one 

 of the easiest of all plants to grow well if 

 its requirements are understood and met. 

 It must have a light, spongy soil in order to 

 do its best, and be given plenty of root room. 

 A year-old plant ought to have at least a ten- 

 inch pot to accommodate properly its many 

 strong roots. A good soil for it is made by 

 mixing ordinary garden loam with fibrous 

 matter secured by turning over old sward and 

 scraping away that portion immediately be- 

 low the grass-tops. This will be full of fine 



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