PLANTS USED FOR DECORATION OF ROOMS. 213 



Pteris cretica alba lineata, Nephrolepsis exalt at a and 

 Onychium Japonicum. As the culture of Ferns is a 

 special part of floriculture, requiring conditions of struc- 

 ture not usually found in ordinary florists establish- 

 ment, I advise the purchase of plants from those who 

 make a special business of growing ferns, of which there 

 are now some in the vicinity of all large cities. 



CHAPTEE XLI. 

 PLANTS USED FOR DECORATION OF ROOMS. 



In many cities of Europe, but particularly in London, 

 an immense business is done in loaning plants for the 

 decoration of public halls, churches and private dwell- 

 ings. For the past dozen years a good deal has been 

 done in it in our own large cities ; but our climate in 

 winter is often such that it is a very hazardous matter to 

 transport tropical plants, even for a short distance, when 

 the thermometer stands at zero, with a high wind, 

 unless tight covered wagons are used, with some means 

 of heating them inside ; even a distance of a half a mile 

 may be fatal to the plants. Such risks taken into con- 

 sideration, together with the injury often done to plants 

 by gas, getting dry, or other accidents, at least twenty- 

 five per cent, of the value of the plant should be received 

 per night for the loan ; that is, for each plant the selling 

 value of which is $10 the nightly rent should be 

 8^.50 if for one night only; of course, if for a longer 

 time the price might be reduced accordingly. Again, 

 the distance and the time of the year should enter into 

 the question ; if the distance is great and the weather 

 severe, the risk to the owner of the plants is increased, 

 and he should charge accordingly. 



The kinds of plants used are comparatively few, and 

 are such as are valued for grace of form and foliage more 



