DECORATIVE PLANTS 35 
third sand. The plant must have plenty of moisture, but 
the water must not stand in the saucer. The leaves 
should be kept free from dust by washing them with 
a garden sprinkler at intervals. Occasionally remove 
some of the topsoil, fill in half an inch of powdered 
sheep or cow manure, and then cover the manure with 
a layer of loose soil. This will keep the plant in a 
thrifty condition. 
Aspidistras are propagated by means of cuttings taken 
from the roots. 
FERNS 
The Boston fern is a graceful, rapid-growing, and 
healthy house plant. It thrives in any room, but is most 
successful in places 
where it does not 
receive much strong 
sunlight. During the 
summer it should be 
kept on a stand out 
of doors in the shade, 
where it will have a 
free circulation of air 
from all sides. 
A fern will make 
its best growth dur- 
ing the summer if 
repotted immediately after it is taken out of the house. 
It should have a liberal supply of moisture, but the pot 
Fic. 25. A Boston Fern 
