SPECIAL WAYS OF GROWING FERNS. 117 



the meshes of the wire. The ferns, when planted 

 at the base of the cylinder, will in time find their 

 way to the top ; and, when one cylinder is cov- 

 ered, another may be added. An erect young 

 fern may be planted at the summit, to grow while 

 the climbing species are winding their way up- 

 ward. 



A very attractive addition to the greenhouse 

 may be made by covering the back wall of the 

 house with a coarse wire screen, which should be 

 about six inches from the wall, the space between 

 being filled with coarse peat or other suitable 

 material. The front, against the screen, can be 

 lined with moss, if desired. On the outside any 

 of the basket-ferns, Selaginellas, Begonias, &c., 

 can be planted. In a short time these will form a 

 beautiful background for the plants in the house. 

 A screen of this description is in the fern-house 

 of Professor C. S. Sargent of Brookline, Mass. It 

 is watered by attaching hose to a pipe, which, in 

 turn, connects with the gutter at the upper part 

 of the house, nearly hidden by the highest plants 

 on the frame. This, when filled, allows the water 

 to slowly filter down through all the soil, watering 

 the whole in the most perfect manner. This ex- 

 pensive method may, however, be dispensed with, 

 and the sprinkler used instead ; but care must be 

 taken to thoroughly do the work. 



One of Shirley Hibberd's most clever sugges- 



