PLANTING PERNS 135 



fern-house, the Lean-to, the Chamber of Horrors, 

 and the Punkah-wallah's Walk, that three-tier 

 fernery which is 320 feet long, as well as all the 

 pots for the fern-house. None of it had been 

 touched for the last four years, and I have made 

 myself a most emphatic promise not to disturb it 

 again for the next four. Ferns are none the better 

 for being transplanted too often ; and to say the 

 least, the work in this climate is truly enervating. 

 One does it, not for the pleasure of doing it, but to 

 enjoy the look of it when done, and to see the 

 rapid growth. I allowed Mahgun to pot my 

 Achimenes this year, when he was new and pre- 

 sumably efficient. Daily and hourly I have watched 

 for them to grow and bloom till now I fear it is too 

 late, and for this season again, they are a failure. 

 Last year I gave them too much sun. This year 

 they have too much hard earth, but the aspect is 

 right, north and shady. So I must try again next 

 year in this position, with the same composition I 

 give the ferns. They ought to have been lovely 

 this month, with their purple flowers hanging in 

 every direction, all round the pot or basket ; quite 

 beautiful objects. 



