30 The Fern Garden. 



to ferns, you may water them without the rose, unless 

 you wish to wet the fronds, but you must use the rose 

 now, because, as you are not used to them, you might 

 wash half the earth out of the pots by a sudden dash 

 of water, a contingency not possible when the rose is 

 used in watering. All through the summer these plants 

 will want a little water every other day at least, and it 

 should be given so as to wet the fronds all over, and 

 moisten the soil without drenching them. In very hot 

 and very dry weather daily watering will be necessary, 

 and in the very hottest weather you may water twice a 

 day with benefit. 



Not less important is the giving of air and light. If 

 the frame faces north, the light may be stood up on 

 end, leaning against the back, so as to form a sort of 

 south wall to the plants, and a mat hung on it, or a 

 breadth of canvas tacked to it will render it efficient to 

 screen off the full blaze of sunshine. If this cannot 

 be done, put the light in its place, lay a mat upon it 

 and draw it down, and tilt it slightly with blocks of 

 wood or empty flower-pots, so as to allow a current of 

 air to pass through. In this state it is to remain from 

 the 1st of May to the 1st of September, during the day 

 time only. Every evening — at sunset or earlier — draw 

 the light off altogether, that the plants may have the 

 full daylight as long as it lasts, the dews all night, and 

 the full daylight again in the morning till about 

 9 a.m. 



On the 1st of September your plants will have a 

 most luxuriant appearance, and the pots will be 

 crammed full of roots. Shift them all into pots the 



