96 The Fern Garden. 



mellow, loamy or peaty soil, a considerable degree of 

 atmospheric humidity, shade from strong sunshine, and, 

 in some cases, a very subdued daylight, as the condi- 

 tions under which success is most likely to be secured. 

 These several requisites are to be considered of the ut- 

 most importance in the cultivation of tender ferns, and 

 the more so that the farther plants of any kind are 

 removed from the circumstances natural to them, the 

 more anxious should the cultivator be to provide for all 

 their wants. 



It is a common thing to see ferns and flowering 

 plants mixed together in the same greenhouse or con- 

 servatory. It is quite possible to grow them well when 

 so associated, but so few are equal to the task that 

 when we meet with ferns and flowers in the same house, 

 we usually find one or both in a deplorable condition 

 of disease or imperfect development. 



Perns love shade and flowers love sunshine. Ferns 

 thrive best in a still air, flowers usually require a moving 

 atmosphere, and many kinds that are most highly 

 prized need abundant ventilation. As to atmospheric 

 humidity, while ferns with very few exceptions enjoy 

 abundance of it, there are not many kinds of flowers 

 capable of enduring without injury the degree of 

 aerial moisture that would benefit the growth of ferns. 

 These are important considerations which we are bound 

 to place before the reader at this juncture, for indis- 

 criminate associations of plants in stoves and green- 

 houses are the causes of many and bitter disappoint- 

 ments. While this matter is before us, however, it 

 should be said that if due care be exercised, many 



