68 FERNS 



from the bracing atmosphere of the great 

 outdoors to the dry air and dewless nights 

 indoors; consequently they wither and die 

 when other ferns flourish with tolerable grace, 

 and often with added beauty because of the 

 greater delicacy of indoor growth. 



WHY IMMATURE PLANTS FAIL 



Partially developed plants will become 

 distorted in the half light of shaded summer 

 parlours; therefore it is better to wait for the 

 fronds to assume a natural pose and gain 

 strength enough to withstand disturbance 

 before transplanting. 



Greater length of service is insured if 

 fructification is not advanced. Aside from 

 the selection of serviceable species, discretion 

 must be used in choosing plants to fit the place 

 assigned ; this is not difiicult, as ferns in Nature 

 are cropping up in all sorts of places and 

 growth is more or less governed by environ- 

 ment. 



For a bracket plant a specimen with droop- 



