THE MAIDENHAIR. 159 



plant, must be provided for the Maidenhair. Mix 

 peat and silver-sand together, the former pre- 

 dominating, and in the mixture let there be some 

 broken pieces of limestone or sandstone. Or, if 

 you will, imbed in the soil two large pieces of lime- 

 stone or sandstone ; put them near together ; fill 

 up the interstice with some of the soil you 

 have prepared, and plant the delicate rhizome of 

 the Maidenhair between. The pot or case in 

 which it is grown you should half fill with broken 

 pieces of stone or flower-pot, intermingled with a 

 few pieces of charcoal to keep them sweet. Then 

 upon this mixture of flower-pot and charcoal place 

 the peat and silver-sand, and thereon plant your 

 fern. If you have a window in which no sun 

 shines, you may there suspend your Maidenhair in 

 the half shell of a cocoa-nut. But holes must be 

 bored in the bottom of the shell, so that when you 

 occasionally dip it and its beautiful occupant in 

 water, the superabundant moisture may drain 

 away ; for remember that ferns cannot endure 

 soil rendered unwholesome by stagnant water. 

 The moisture which they need must be fresh and 



