CHAPTER XXXI 



FERNS 



Ferns are among the most beautiful of all plants. 

 They would be much more generally cultivated than 

 they are at present, were it not for the fact that most 

 persons have the impression that they cannot be grown 

 successfully in the window garden. This impression 

 is not a correct one, for many varieties of them are 

 grown there and Zi'cll grown. Failure, as a general 

 thing, comes from neglect to give the plants proper 

 attention rather than from their inability, or their 

 unwillingness to adapt themselves to existing condi- 

 tions. While it is advisable to select the stronger 

 varieties for ordinary cultivation, I would advise a trial 

 of other kinds, even the finer Adiantums, because I 

 know that these do well with some persons, under 

 conditions not generally considered favorable to them. 

 This, no doubt, because these persons give them careful 

 attention, and do all they can to make the conditions 

 under which they are grown as favorable as possible 

 to their requirements. They are unlike other plants 

 in their habits and needs, and must be given a treat- 

 ment suited to their peculiarities. This done, they will 

 be found much more tractable than many other plants 

 seen in the window garden. 



For use in jardinieres, and for table decoration, 

 nothing can be finer, and a few plants should always 

 be grown to furnish greenery to accompany flowers 

 from the window garden. The study and cultivation 

 of these superbly beautiful plants will be found 

 extremely fascinating — so much so that many persons 

 develop into "Fern cranks" — and those who achieve 



