346 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



tions are such that the atmosphere is constantly saturated 

 with moisture, and it will also be seen that perpetual 

 shade is afforded by the loftier vegetation amid which they 

 thrive. Transport them even for a few minutes into 

 dry air, and they quickly shrivel. From the nature of 

 their habitats, therefore, it is easy to outline their cultural 

 requirements, both as regards soil and aerial conditions, 

 and we can at once perceive that a close Wardian case or 

 even a bell-glass in a cool, shady position, or, better still, a 

 sunken brick-lined and glass-covered pit in a shady corner of 

 the garden, secure the main essentials. The soil, as we have 

 seen, consists entirely of the debris of vegetation mixed with 

 more or less broken rocks ; or there may be no soil at all, as in 

 the case of the fern-clad tree trunks. In practice, good brown 

 lumpy peat affords precisely the requisite foothold ; hence, 

 taking a far-sized Wardian case, we should secure the proper 

 drainage for the Filmies are not Bog Ferns by a careful and 

 liberal supply of broken pots and broken bricks, nearly filling 

 the receptacle with these. After this pile up the lumpiest 

 peat possible, mingling it liberally with coarse silver sand and 

 lumps of porous stone, and, finally, top the compost with 

 pieces of rock. This done, take the clumps of Filmies and 

 peg them securely down over the rocks in the desired positions, 

 leaving room between the species for subsequent spreading. 

 Then prepare some finer peaty compost mixed liberally with 

 coarse silver sand, and sift this over the clumps until they are 

 fairly buried, finally giving such a drastic drenching from jug 

 or water-can as will wash this compost entirely in and leave 

 the Ferns on the surface again. They are now fairly installed, 

 and all we have to do is to replace the glass, close all openings 

 as tightly as possible, and leave them severely alone. All 

 direct sunshine must be excluded, hence a position close to a 

 north window suits admirably. As a rule, after such an instal- 

 lation, they may be left entirely untouched for several weeks, 

 but no harm will be done by an occasional gentle spraying of 

 pure rain water over the fronds. After a time it will be seen 

 that new fronds are pushing up here and there, and eventually 

 the fresh growth will entirely rectify the effects of disturbance, 

 and all the loveliness of the plants will be gradually developed. 

 One great charm about the Filmy Ferns is their persistent 

 verdure, the fronds in some cases remaining green and fresh 

 through several seasons ; hence there is no unsightly seasonal 

 gap such as occurs with their drier kindred. Make the first 

 attempt with our hardy British species, viz., the dwarf-grow- 

 ing Hymenophyllum unilaterale and H. tunbridgense, which 



