THE FERN PARADISE. 



Lichen and moss line it with a mantle of green, and 

 Fern-spores unbidden, but welcome, enter the 

 grotto, germinate, and develope into green life. 

 The clay washed down from the cavern sides, 

 settling in its bottom, dams the egress of the water, 

 and a tiny pool is formed. And thus, gentle 

 reader, we have, by one of the simplest processes 

 of Nature, a little paradise of rnoss and Ferns ! 



Have we digressed too much? We hope not, 

 because we want to show how, by a simple and 

 inexpensive arrangement, such little Fern caverns 

 as we have described can be imitated in our 

 houses. Let us suppose that it is desired to 

 make such an area ' well ' as we have described 

 in a previous chapter, into a Fern cavern. First of 

 all communication should be established with the 

 water-cistern, which will generally be found suffi- 

 ciently high above the area level to afford the 

 requisite pressure of water. The communicating 

 pipe should be brought to the centre of the ' well ' 

 floor, and provided with a tap and spreader. 

 Around its base a cluster of small rocks can be 

 cemented. Upon the sides of the ' well ' and at 

 the toD more rockwork may be constructed, so as 



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