CHAPTER XII 



Ferns for Window Boxes 



For any shady position there is no other class of plants 

 which succeed better than Ferns. The boxes should be 

 properly prepared by giving good drainage, and for all 

 that will succeed, good loam may be used for filling 

 them. A little leaf mould may be added, also some 

 stable manure, which has been used for a hot bed or has 

 otherwise been well rotted, and if the loam is heavy a 

 little sharp sand may also be added. 



Taking the varieties most suitable, our British Scolopen- 

 driums and the Polystichums succeed well, but some Exotics 

 may be used. Pteris serrulata and Pteris cretica, including 

 their numerous varieties, will live through the Winter, 

 unless it is exceptionally severe. Cyrtomium falcatum is 

 another which keeps its fronds all the Winter, and there 

 are several fine varieties of this, but I should recommend 

 the old type as being the hardiest. The Adiantum capil- 

 lus-veneris may be used for an edging, but this will pro- 

 bably loose its fronds during the Winter. The numerous 

 beautiful varieties of Asplenium (Athyrium) filix-fxmina are 

 pretty, but, losing their fronds early in the Autumn, 

 cannot be recommended ; yet, where the effect is only 

 desired for the Summer, they may be planted. The 

 Lomarias (Blechnums) spicant, and other varieties, are 

 very pretty, and are evergreen, but they do not succeed 

 so well under cultivation ; they seem to love the sunny 

 slopes in woods, where they are fed by the accumulation 



