38 The Fern Garden. 



than the atmosphere outside the house. That frost 

 does get in, however, is certain; the thermometer 

 several times indicated five to ten degrees of frost inside, 

 and when the case has become in any way serious, 

 Hays's constant stove or Hinks's petroleum stove has 

 been set to work to keep all safe until the weather 

 changed for the better. 



A fern house is a genuine luxury, which every lover 

 of ferns should have if possible. Amongst its many 

 advantages, a few must be named as particularly worthy' 

 of attention. It affords, even without the aid of arti- 

 ficial heat, opportunity for growing a number of nearly 

 hardy ferns which need some protection, yet are not 

 much hurt if they have to endure a few degrees of frost. 

 Ferns of this class are numerous and extremely beau- 

 tiful. I will name four only now as a key to the rest 

 in illustration of this particular ad vantage — Woodwardia 

 radicans, Cyrtomium falcatum, Adiantum pedatum, 

 Todea pellucida. Another advantage is that if planted 

 only with the hardiest British ferns, they grow more 

 beautifully than the same . sorts do in the open air. 

 As a winter garden and as a peculiarly charming scene 

 — if well done and well kept — the fern house is worth 

 something to a home bird, and as an amusement for 

 an invalid it is invaluable. 



The management is a modification of that advised 

 for the outdoor fernery, but watering must be more 

 regularly performed, and if fast growing ferns run 

 riot and overrun the others they must be kept in check 

 by occasionally digging out their roots. Lastrea the- 

 lypteris and Onoclea sensibilis are likely to do this, but 



