50 FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. 



wet) moss, roll it up in a bit of paper large enough 

 to hold all together, tying the parcel with a thread. 

 The fronds should all project beyond the moss 

 and paper, and only enough of them be left to 

 insure a healthy start for the next season. The 

 proper number of fronds to leave will be three or 

 four on an ordinary, and six on a very large plant. 

 In order to remember how the ferns looked (for we 

 are not yet supposed to be acquainted with their 

 names), it will be a good plan to press a frond of 

 each, and number it, tying a tag with the corre- 

 sponding number to the collected specimen itself. 

 When this is done, all the packages should be 

 arranged with the fronds lying in the same direc- 

 tion ; and a number of fresh fronds should be col- 

 lected, and placed around the fronds of the ferns 

 to be carried home. Then the whole may be 

 rolled up firmly into a bundle, which should be 

 covered by several thicknesses of stout manila- 

 paper, and tied securely. The package is now 

 ready to place in a trunk among its other con- 

 tents, to deliver to the expressman, or to be car- 

 ried under the arm. Unless it is left exposed to 

 the hot sun, or in a very dry place, the ferns in 

 this bundle will not suffer in vitality or health for 

 a fortnight or three weeks. 



When at the end of their journey, the ferns 

 must be carefully unwrapped, and firmly planted 

 in the spot chosen for their future home. A 



