FERNS FOR WALL POCKETS 53 



soon cover the whole surface. P. Willincki is another 

 fine fern for the purpose. 



In filling fern baskets it is necessary to use some moss ; 

 the thin flakes are the best. If too much is used, the 

 soil becomes loose after it decays a little. For those 

 with the spreading rhizomes, sphagnum should be 

 used. 



For the Ncphrolepis, and any others which do not 

 cover the under side of the baskets, a few young 

 plants of Ficus repens will soon make a nice green 

 covering. 



Water may be given more liberally to Ferns grown in 

 hanging-baskets, and where convenient the best manner 

 is to dip them in a tank or any other receptacle large 

 enough to do it without damaging the fronds. 



Ferns for Wall Pockets 



Walls are sometimes built with special bricks, which 

 form troughs for planting Ferns in: it may be less trouble 

 and more convenient to make pockets. They can be 

 formed of virgin cork, fixed on boards of suitable length 

 to form the backs, or may be made wholly of the cork. 

 Select flat pieces for the backs, and the curled or half- 

 circular pieces cut to form the pockets ; when properly 

 fixed together with wire, the pockets will last for a long 

 period; they should be made in sizes suitable for the 

 various Ferns used, and the selection will depend upon 

 the space they have to cover. Any of the Adiantums 

 which have spreading rhizomes may be used. On a 

 shady wall in a cool-house the varieties of capillus veneris 

 do well ; the varieties Mariesi and CPBrieni grow larger 

 than the ordinary type, and, where space permits, do 

 well ; magnificum and imbricatum are the best of those, 

 with shorter fronds ; A. assimile is a pretty species, 

 which spreads freely ; A. amabile (or Moorei) is another 



