Making the Most of a Fern Ball—By L. J. Doogue, 
Boston, 
Mass. 
WHY THIS JAPANESE IS AN EXCELLENT WINDOW PLANT—EASY RULES FOR KEEPING ONE THRIFTY 
AND GREEN FOR YEARS—A NOVEL SCHEME FOR A TABLE DECORATION WITH CUT FLOWERS 
HE fern ball is made of the creeping 
stems of the hare’s-foot fern (Davallia 
bullata), wound tightly around a central 
core or ball of moss, which must be kept 
wet at all times if the fronds are to be kept 
green. 
The ferns, besides coming in balls, are 
made to represent all sorts of conventional 
forms, and can be used in fantastic decora- 
tions, and if given proper care, in the simple 
manner described, will afford one of the 
oe 
lf you buy a new one punch holes in it with a stick 
and place in a pail of water for several hours 
Suspend the newly started plant in a light, sunny window free from gas. 
Spray the foliage daily and give a thorough watering frequently 
Photographs by the author 
most easily managed plants for house 
decoration. 
The ball reaches the stores about Decem- 
ber of each year, and as generally man- 
aged is of no use after its one season of 
growth. Usually it is taken home, watered 
sparingly, day by day, as it hangs suspended 
in the window, and, by the following spring 
when its feathery fronds begin to drop, it is 
taken down, and put into the cellar, or left 
in some out of the way corner, and ne- 
glected. 
It can be kept in a growing condition for 
years, with very little care. If it isalready 
in growth when taken home, give it a thor- 
ough soaking with water. Do not be con- 
tent with merely syringing it, but plunge 
it bodily into a pail of water, and let it re- 
main there for a couple of hours or more. 
Then, after removing it, hang it ap where the 
superfluous water may drain off before it is 
taken into the window. From time to 
time after this, syringe it regularly every 
day, and frequently give it a similar soaking. 
HANDLING THE OLD BALL 
If you have an old fern ball which has 
not been killed by neglect in summer, bury 
it in the ground or in a coldframe for a 
month or two before it is brought indoors. 
It will then start up, and be as handsome 
as ever. If you have stored it in a musty 
dry cellar, where it has been baked and dried 
since spring, don’t waste your time on it, 
for it is simply dead. Buy a new fern 
291 
ball this winter, and take care of it prop- 
erly. 
After burying, the plants can be brought 
into the house, and will start slowly into 
growth. A greenhouse is the best place, 
and if you haven’t one of your own, you 
may send the ball to the florist. The start- 
ing may be accomplished ina Wardian case, 
but the fern must be gradually hardened 
off to the drier air outside. 
Bury the old fern ball in a coldframe for eight 
weeks before taking it indoors for the winter season. 
Never let it dry out at any time of the year 
The fern ball can be used as a base for cut flowers in a table centrepiece. 
The green foliage Keeps perfectly fresh 
