288 THE FERN PARADISE. 



plants will thrive luxuriantly ; but the natural 

 conditions can be imitated perfectly under a 

 covering of glass, which will secure the object of 

 keeping an atmosphere of perpetual moisture 

 around the rhizomes and fronds. The soil should 

 be peat and silver sand, and on this compost 

 should be arranged little blocks of stone, between 

 which the roots should be placed. The whole 

 should be saturated with water, and then covered 

 with the glass shade. Here the Filmy Ferns will 

 grow luxuriantly, and will thus, in the warm 

 humidity of their adopted home, exhibit the fresh- 

 ness which they can only otherwise exhibit in their 

 rocky habitats amongst the misty thunders of the 

 moorland streams. 



