50 Ferns and Fern Culture. 
crocks, and filling up an inch or more with smaller 
pieces. The drainage being covered with moss or some 
substitute, there should be put in a layer of very rough 
compost, higher in the middle than the sides, then some 
a little finer, and so on, until there is sufficient to plant 
the Ferns. When this is firmly done, and all the 
rhizomes pegged down and well watered, it will require 
little further attention, except watering, for some time. 
As the rhizomes grow they will have a tendency to 
come over the side. This should be prevented by care- 
fully turning them on to the soil and pegging them 
securely. The rhizomes will then continue to root and 
add strength to the plant; but when they get beyond 
the damp soil, and stretch over the side, they cease 
sending out roots, and instead of adding to the strength 
of the plant they have to be supported by it, which 
results sooner or later in unnecessary exhaustion. 
The compost in the centre of the pan may be raised in 
the form of a cone, using rough pieces of peat as a 
foundation, all being made quite secure. This will pro- 
vide greater surface, and a congenial position for the 
. rhizomes of the smaller Davallias, Anapeltis, &c., which 
will creep up, over, round and round, and make specially 
beautiful specimens, A little extra care will be required 
to prevent these becoming dry. 
Ferns to be repotted must not be wet and sodden, nor 
yet very dry. The operation cannot be performed satis- 
factorily in either case. The soil should just be in want 
of water. If too wet, it will become very hard in the 
process of repotting ; if too dry, the water will not after- 
wards penetrate the old ball, it will become dust dry, and 
the plant is sure to suffer. 
The roots should be spread out as much as possible, 
not crammed together in a bunch, as is sometimes done. 
BASKETS. 
Baskets should be made up every spring, as the large 
amount of water given to them during the previous 
season is sure to have washed away all the good qualities 
of the soil not absorbed by the Ferns. Baskets are to be 
seen in various shapes, and made of various materials— 
