ROCKERIES, FRAMES, AND WARDIAN CASES 47 



same preparation and treatment. As the Ferns named are quite 

 hardy, even the Todeas, frost does no harm whatever, and need not 

 be provided against. Out of doors, the Filmy Ferns, being hardy, 

 will do very well indeed in pits, provided with compost, as described, 

 and close-fitting frames of sufficient depth to provide room for 

 full-sized Todeas, say three feet from soil to glass. As the pit may 

 be a foot or more below the general surface of the soil, the frame 

 may be correspondingly shallower. A brick-walled pit, covered 

 with a light or lights, and situated in some corner which gets no sun 

 at all, or so obliquely as not to reach the plants, is an ideal provision 

 for Filmy Ferns. The use of ground or rolled corrugated glass 

 will permit of a sunnier position for the frame, but coolness is an 

 absolute essential, for successful culture. 



Cool Conservatory and Room Culture. — In this connection 

 there is little to be added to our cultural remarks anent watering, 

 etc., but in rooms, it must be remembered that shade-lovers as 

 Ferns may be, they get plenty of light under natural conditions, 

 and, if deprived of it, become drawn and unhealthy. They should 

 therefore be placed as near to the windows as practicable, top-light 

 being always beneficial. Another point, and a material one, is that 

 a pot Fern will grow towards the light, and as its fronds develop 

 they arrange their surface to catch the maximum amount of it. 

 Hence a mark should be made on a pot to secure, when it is shifted, 

 that it is replaced as previously, and not turned one way to-day 

 and the opposite way to-morrow, which is certain in a growing 

 plant to result in a twisted and ugly one, since the fresh growth 

 stiffens as it proceeds, and hence a kink is formed at every shift. 

 No variety, even of a British Fern, has yet been provided with 

 swivel roots. 



