GARDENING FOR LITTLE GIRLS 
quite hardy and—to its advantage—not so common 
as the varieties already mentioned. Several small 
specimens found planted at the base of a Christmas 
poinsettia were afterwards set out in small pots, 
and grew with surprising rapidity. They stood 
the dry heat of a steam-heated house, and kept a 
lovely glossy. green when other plants were se- 
riously affected. 
Fern dishes are frequently filled with the spider 
ferns, though often combined with the others men- 
tioned. On a certain occasion, when a neglected 
fern dish had to be discarded, I discovered in the 
center a tiny plant still growing that looked so 
hardy I decided to repot it. It grew and, to my 
surprise, soon developed into an attractive little 
kentia palm, now three or four years old and eigh- 
teen inches high. I think that one reason the ordi- 
nary fern dish does not last long is that it is kept 
on table or sideboard all the time, too far away 
from the light. Often, too, it is not properly 
watered. If every morning after breakfast it were 
sprinkled in the sink, and then set near a window, 
though not in the sun, it would soon be getting too 
big for its quarters, and need dividing. It is well 
to remember that the container is shallow and 
holds very little earth, ‘hence its roots are in dan- 
ger of drying out. 
120 
