FERNS IN THE LIVING ROOM 85 



When the longevity of rare finds is of 

 greater importance than decorative growth 

 indoors, it is wise to observe the inevitable 

 period of rest before Nature asserts her rights. 



A "resting" period 



For instance, my three plants of the hybrid 

 Asplenium ebenoides were taken indoors in 

 July. The growth of all was carefully 

 watched and encouraged through the winter; 

 consequently the plants were so exhausted 

 by the time they were hardened off in May 

 and placed in an out-of-door rockery that 

 the issue of their struggle for life was doubtful 

 in the fall of the following year. Two of 

 them lived through the winter and gradually 

 regained strength, but not enough to with- 

 stand the spring winds of a second season. 



Profiting by the experience, my Hortonae — 

 a find of July, 1903 — ^which like the ebenoides 

 grew rapidly indoors, was relegated to the 

 cellar in November, where it simply stood 

 still in the dim light for four months. After 



