100 FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. 



many good qualities. It is to be hoped, that, out 

 of the prevailing mania for decorative art, some 

 designs for pretty and useful fernery-bases may be 

 evolved. 



The illustration (PL 18, Fig. 2) is a pretty Jap- 

 anese design from an English work. The shelf 

 below holds a jar; and the base of the fernery is 

 a shallow Chinese bowl, such as one often sees 

 in the old houses in Salem and Boston. PI. 

 1 8, Fig. 3, is an original design. The base is 

 a Russian bowl, of the same sort as is recom- 

 mended by Clarence Cook for a hands-basin in 

 the hall, and is secured to the legs, which are 

 made from a bamboo fishing-pole, by bolts with 

 nuts inside the bowl. A wire runs through the 

 legs, where they cross, to niake a firm joint. 

 " Within the bowl there should be a zinc pan in 

 which to plant the ferns. The cost of the whole, 

 without the glass shade, was two dollars and fifty 

 cents. 



As regards drainage, the case may or may not 

 have an outlet. Under proper care, it does not 

 need one. But, to insure complete drainage 

 under any circumstances, it is well to have an 

 opening wherever it can be conveniently ar- 

 ranged. A common kerosene-lamp bulb, such an 

 one as is placed in the usual iron bracket-ring 

 support, is as good as any thing for the receptacle 

 for superfluous water. A burner may be found to 



