THE FERN PARADISE. 



looking at the question from the point of view 

 of the considerations discussed in this chapter 

 in favour of the introduction of Ferns into our 

 bed-rooms ? 



But before dismissing from consideration the 

 subject of what may be called the physical effects 

 produced by the presence of plants in rooms, we 

 would call attention to the fact that there is 

 another influence exerted by plants beyond that 

 of the absorption of bad air and the respiration of 

 oxygen, namely, the pleasant and cooling and 

 for the same reason the healthful effects of the 

 evaporation of moisture from plants. Plants not 

 only breathe; they perspire their exhalations 

 consisting of pure and pleasant vapours, Who 

 has not experienced the charming sensations pro- 

 duced by plunging, during the heats of summer, 

 into one of those woody nooks, 



" \V here the copsewood is the greenest," 



or into some deep 6 green lane,' or by going down 

 to the rocky base of a waterfall? A dry, hot 

 atmosphere would be unendurable for any length 

 of time; and even when, during hot summers, we 



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