108 



CASSELL'S POrULAR GARDENING. 



tlack, gaunt walls of towna may be clothed with 

 ferns. Semi-cii-cular, plain, or rustic, and highly- 

 artistic pots may now be purchased at cheap rates, 

 and suspended by one or more nails to the walla. 

 These may be so distributed and arranged that 

 when planted with ferns the whole wall may be so 

 clothed as to become a thing of beauty and a joy for 

 ever. 



Though ferns thrive well in such rockeries as 

 • have been already described, it is quite a mistake 

 to suppose that ferns will not thrive unless on 

 rockeries. Such grand ferns as the Polystichums, 

 Lastreas, Hart's Tongue, the Bracken, the Royal, and 

 many others thrive best planted in the ground like 

 other plants. The Bracken alone, though somewhat 

 difBcult to transplant, when once established will 

 fill a whole yard, or cHmb up a wall eight or even 

 ten feet high, with its glorious greenery. The 

 simplest way to establish this most useful fern is to 

 dig up a barrow or cart-load of its roots in as large 

 masses as possible, and deposit it in the mass where 

 it is wanted to establish the Brackens. This whole- 

 sale mode of procedure never fails. 



Of course ferns may be made to look more 

 artistic if planted in or against rocks. But for their 

 mere cultivation the rocks often prove a hindrance 

 ] ather than a help, and as a matter of fact nearly 

 all ferns are grown in the solid earth, and not on 

 rocks at all. 



Many of the confined courts and narrow gardens 

 of towns are admirably adapted for fern-culture. 

 These provide shelter and shade, and wherever there 

 is a water-main near, a shower-bath to cleanse the 

 fronds from soot and dust is easily provided. Where 

 the walls run north and south in small gardens, and 

 afford scant shade at noon when it is most needed, 

 few things can be easier than to provide the 

 needful amount by the growth of such fast-growing 

 climbers as Ivy, Honeysuckle, Jasmines, and Roses, 

 or the Virgin's Bowers, the Clematis, of which there 

 are now almost any quantity of all shapes, colours, 

 and sizes. Or, in very small gardens, an artificial 

 shade of canvas or bunting might be cast over the 

 fernery a few hours on either side of noon. 



There are ferns enough and to spare in the lists 

 we have given of the different genera or species to 

 furnish any sized fernery. Or ferns may be mixed 

 with Alpine and herbaceous plants, and succulent 

 or semi- wild plants, such as Honesty and Foxgloves, 

 both of which thrive and look well among ferns. 

 The glimpse of a group of Foxgloves in an open 

 space with a Honeysuckle overhead in many a fern 

 lane, are suggestive indications of very much that 

 genius and art may accomplish in the artistic dis- 

 position of grave and gay colours in the fernery. 

 And all this is often done as well or better on the 



smallest as on the largest scale. Be the size what 

 it may, shade, shelter, food, moisture, skill and taste 

 are ^ that are needful to grow and arrange 

 ferns to the highest perfection. Of course on larger 

 scale the moistnie may expand into waterfalls, 

 lakes, streams, or even rivers. But the splash of 

 water, and the sweet sounds of tinkling drops and 

 tiny rivulets, are also within reach of the small , 

 fernery, and may in their way and to their extent 

 prove equally satisfying. 



No garden of any extent is complete without 

 a hardy fernery ; as, when formed in a suitable 

 situation, it not only gives great scope for grow- 

 ing plants that would not succeed except under 

 shade, but it may be made one of the most delight- 

 ful retreats, where a lover of nature may enjoy 

 quiet study to the full, and admire the many varied 

 forms such vegetation as is only there to be met 

 with affords. 



The most suitable situation for a fernery is in 

 some low, damp part of the grounds, and if well 

 broken up by lying naturally irregular, and there is 

 suitable shade, the place will be perfect ; but if not, 

 it may be made so by a little digging and delving, so 

 as to raise any mounds still higher, and sink lower 

 any depressions. In doing this, the object to be 

 aimed at should be to get rid of formality in the 

 lines or curves, and to hide one part from the other 

 as much as possible, as then, although the space may 

 be limited, it gives one the idea of extent, and there 

 are fresh surprises at every tirni, and new f eatm-es to 

 see. One thing to avoid is, not to have the distance 

 between the banks or mounds contracted, but let 

 them be wide and open, and the bends and turns at 

 such intervals that it will not be possible to place 

 one foot on " zig " and the other on " zag." If the 

 soil is not light and good, it must be made so by dig- 

 ging well into and mixing up with the face of the 

 banks plenty of peat or leaf-mould, or both, in 

 which ferns delight. If running water can be had, 

 that will be a most valuable addition, as it may be led 

 down the rock into miniature ponds, in which Carex 

 paniculata, Callas, Lilies, and other aquatic or semi- 

 aquatic plants, may be grown ; or, in case there is 

 not enough water for a pond, any little may be 

 utilised by running it in channels or over prepared 

 ground where Osmunda regalis may be planted and 

 grown in the highest state of perfection. 



Another fern that is fond of a similar wet position 

 is the Athyrium felix-fmnina, of which there are 

 many varieties, some being beautifully crested and 

 of fine divisional appearance. It should be borne in 

 mind, in arranging for these and other plants of a 

 similar nature, that, though they like and require 

 plenty of water, they hate stagnant moisture, and 

 it is necessary therefore to provide ior the water 



