257 



manure will keep the soil moist and in good growing con- 

 dition for several years, in which time the ferns will bo 

 thoroughly established and able to take care of themselves 

 during the longest spells of drought, with the assistance of 

 frequent hoeings. The land must be kept well cultivated 

 and thoroughly aerated all through the dry weather, and 

 a dust blanket of 3 or 4 inches must be always maintained . 

 This dust blanket imprisons the moisture in the soil, leaving 

 it available for the use of the plants. Without this dust 

 blanket the moisture would be quickly lost by evaporation. 

 The hoe should therefore be used once a week, whenever 

 the land is dry enough to tread. If the ferns appear to be 

 languishing because of the long delayed rain, give the 

 land an extra hoeing. Plants don't know the difference 

 between H. 0. E. and H 2 0, and the use of the former is 

 more efficacious than artificial applications of the latter 

 during spells of drought in the outdoor fernery. 



A soil that cracks in dry weather, denoting the presence 

 of clay, is unsuitable for ferns and requires the addition of 

 much sand. A sandy, fluffy, peaty soil is the best for 

 general purposes. Sandy soils seldom crack and are 

 never dry 6 inches below the surface provided the hoe is 

 in constant use. Every shower of rain in hot weather 

 closes up the pores of the soil either wholly or partially, 

 leaving a sort of impervious crust on the top when dry. 

 It is the duty of the cultivator to break up this crust imme- 

 diately it is formed, and to work it up into a dust blanket. 

 If this is not promptly attended to, the ground rapidly 

 loses its moisture by evaporation, and there is a look of 

 silent suffering about the ferns which is very pathetic. 



A few small and medium sized trees planted among 

 the ferns will provide the necessary shade and sheltei from 

 winds. 



