Ferns and Fern Culture. 55 
fixed it must be lined with moss, on the same principle 
and for the same purpose as the wire baskets. The space 
behind should be filled with rough open compost. The 
Ferns should be planted as the work proceeds, this being 
much more easily done than when left to the last. As 
one height is completed the next may be taken in hand, 
and so on till the whole wall is covered, Each height of 
wire must be fastened by its lower edge to the one below 
it to prevent its bulging, or the trickling out of compost. 
If moss is unprocurable, the lining may be of thin flat 
pieces of peat, filled behind in the usual way, but this 
does not produce so pleasing an effect. 
WALLS COVERED WITH OORK. 
This method requires patience and perseverance, but 
by its adoption walls may be made very rustic-looking. 
The flattest pieces of cork are most easily put on. They 
must be pressed close to the wall, and firmly secured 
by means of strong nails driven through the cork and 
between the bricks. The more circular pieces should be 
used to form pockets to hold Ferns. The pockets should 
be 12 or 14 inches deep, fitting close at the bottom, pro- 
jecting at the top. Such pieces as cannot be pressed to 
the wall easily may be made more pliable by cutting a 
slit in the inner surface to weaken it, and to allow of its 
being flattened. When the wall is covered, the crevices 
should be filled with green moss; the holes in the pockets 
should also be plugged with moss or peat, to prevent the 
compost trickling or being washed out. All formality 
of arrangement should be avoided, and there should be 
sufficient pockets, so that when the Ferns are growing 
the cork will be fairly well hidden. 
WALL TILES. 
When these are used they must be very securely 
fastened, as the soil in them is very heavy when wet. 
They give more room for the roots than the cork pockets. 
After fixing them according to the instructions given by 
the manufacturers, they should be ‘filled with compost 
to such a height that when the plants are in the surface 
may be an inch below the rim. 
