MEANS TO THE END. 



the Fern-lover, a fit receptacle would be furnished 

 for it in a wire basket, depending from the ceiling 

 just inside a study window, or from a shady sky- 

 light. Our illustration (page 166) shows such a 

 clump of Hartstongue and Lady Fern. Place a 

 lining of moss in the hollow of the basket, and 

 into this mossy nest gently press the ferny root& 

 with their undisturbed mass of earth, so that when 

 the mass is inserted the whole may be firm. In 

 this way it will always be easy to water the Ferns 

 by dipping the basket, with its mossy green occu- 

 pants, into water, letting it drain away its surplus 

 moisture before it is again suspended in its 

 appointed place. The free access of air afforded 

 to Ferns thus disposed is conducive to their 

 vigour and prosperity. 



It will, however, often happen that the existence 

 of corners and recesses in and about a house will 

 enable the Fern-lover to dispense in such places 

 with the use of cases, pans, and baskets ; and for 

 the reason that more natuial and pleasant results 

 can be produced by the building up of little nooks 

 and rockeries. To this end, a supply of small 

 pieces of stone or rock, or of what is called ' virgin 



167. 



