Filmy Ferns in Cases and under Bell-glasses. 131 



up as before the breath of a furnace. Sunshine is 

 nearly as disastrous in effect as drought, a few minutes 

 of a warm sun being sufficient to scorch them up. 



In hot dry weather they should have several vapoury 

 sprinklings of tepid water during the day. In cloudy 

 weather, when the circulation of air is less active, one 

 or two sprinklings will be sufficient. Syringing 

 should never be attempted in their case j a light 

 vapoury sprinkling or dewing is the proper thing, and 

 a small watering-pot with a very fine rose will do it 

 nicely. 



The same soil as recommended for Ferns in the 

 previous chapter suits the filmy Ferns well, but 

 lumps of sandstone should be added, as they love to 

 cHng with their roots around the stones. Some of 

 them prefer clinging moss-like to open porous blocks 

 of sandstone, or lumps of charcoal, to growing in 

 prepared soil. In potting them in pots or planting 

 them in earthenware baskets, never neglect to give 

 them plenty of drainage. One large crock over the 

 drainage hole and a handful above it, with some sand 

 knobs added, and a largish lump of sandstone in the 

 centre for the roots to cling to, will be sufficient. It is 

 a very good plan to cover the drainage with a little moss 

 before putting in the soil, which will prevent the water 

 from washing the soil down into the drainage and 

 choking it up. 



Under bell-glasses the Filmy Ferns thrive very 

 well if the same attention be paid to them as when in 

 the Fern case, for it acts on the same principle. A 

 large earthenware pan is the proper thing to choose. 



