THE FERN PARADISE. 



for tlie True Maidenhair. Mix peat and silver- 

 sand together, the former predominating, and in 

 the mixture let there be some broken pieces of 

 limestone or sandstone. Or, if you will, imbed in 

 the soil two large pieces of limestone or sand- 

 stone ; put them near together ; fill up the inter- 

 stice with some of the soil you have prepared, 

 and plant the delicate rhizomas of the Maidenhair 

 between. The pot or case in which it is grown 

 you should half fill with broken pieces of stone or 

 flower-pot, intermingled with a few pieces of 

 charcoal to keep them sweet. Then upon this 

 mixture of broken flower-pot and charcoal place 

 the peat and silver-sand, and thereon plant your 

 Fern. If you have a window in which no sun 

 shines, you may there suspend your Maidenhair in 

 the half-shell of a cocoa-nut. But holes must be 

 bored in the bottom of the shell, so that when you 

 occasionally dip it and its beautiful occupant into 

 water, the superabundant moisture may drain 

 away ; for remember that Ferns cannot endure 

 soil rendered unwholesome by stagnant water. 

 The moisture which they need must be fresh and 

 pure. The exceptional delicacy of the True 



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