150 HOME FLORICULTURE 



success in their culture through intelligent treatment 

 of them will be sure to become the owners of fine 

 collections made up of the leading kinds, for success 

 with some of the hardier sorts, at first, will lead to 

 success with the more delicate kinds later on. The 

 enthusiastic amateur will never be satisfied with a few 

 varieties when he finds that he can grow an extensive 

 list of them. 



Ferns like a rather moist atmosphere. Of course 

 one like that surrounding them in their native habitat 

 cannot be given in the living room, but the prevailing 

 dryness of the air in such rooms can be modified to 

 a considerable extent by keeping water constantly 

 evaporating on stoves, registers or radiators. Show- 

 ering about the plants will also be found of great 

 benefit in tempering the atmosphere. It is a very good 

 plan to keep them on tables covered with an inch or 

 two of sand, or moss, which can be kept quite wet, 

 thus securing a steady evaporation among the plants. 

 Some sorts are not averse to a shower bath, but others 

 object to it. If showering is to be done, let it be in 

 the form of a fine spray — a mist, rather — and do not 

 carry it to such an extent that the delicate foliage is 

 heavily saturated. Keep the plants out of the sun. 

 Drain their pots perfectly. This is of great importance. 

 If drainage is not good, there is great danger of 

 souring the soil, and this brings on weakness and 

 disease of the roots. If drainage is what it ought to 

 be, a great deal of water can be used without running 

 any risk of injury, because all that the soil does not 

 need passes off readily. Never allow the roots to get 

 dry. This is another very important item. Because 

 light, spongy soil is generally used to grow them in, 

 evaporation will take place rapidly, in a warm room, 

 careful and constant watch must be kept of them and 

 enough water be given to keep the soil always moist. 



