November, 1912 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS vil 
with paved streets and suburban villas 
as they are in the country, the seashore or 
the woods. In fact some of the most tal- 
ented architects of the Golden State are 
now devoting their attention almost ex- 
clusively to this distinctly California crea- 
tion. In the main the architect adheres 
to the principles upon which the bunga- 
low of India maintains its type—namely, 
a one-story building. With this standard 
as a basis upon which to work he uses 
all his ingenuity in his creations to com- 
bine architectural beauty with space and 
comfort in this country where economic 
conditions favor comparatively inexpens- 
ive construction. 
GROWING GOOD FERN BALLS 
HEN fern balls are really well 
grown, they are highly attractive, 
but the half-naked balls commonly seen 
are far from being objects of beauty. And 
yet success is easily won. In the first 
place, they should never be exposed to 
the direct rays of the sun. When the ball 
is to be started into growth, it should be 
immersed in water for several hours and 
then hung in a warm room, but not in 
a sunny window. Many people make 
their mistake at this point. The bath 
should be repeated every other day until 
growth has started, after which the ball 
must be watered frequently enough to 
prevent its ever becoming dry. The more 
rapid and luxuriant the growth, the more 
water will be needed. The best plan is 
to soak the plant in a pail or tub until 
it becomes too large for such treatment, 
aiter which time water must be poured 
upon it when needed until it is thoroughly 
soaked. 
Water alone will often ensure a thrifty 
specimen, but better results are secured 
by using a weak solution of liquid manure. 
A cheesecloth bag may be filled with horse 
or poultry manure and allowed to remain 
in a pail of water until the latter is highly 
colored. When the fern ball is soaked in 
this water it will develop with amazing 
rapidity. 
From one to four weeks are required 
to get a fern ball well started, and it may 
be dried off at any time, when it can be 
put away and will remain dormant until 
water is again applied. Some growers 
advocate burying the balls in the ground 
for three or four weeks before they are 
started into growth, but this plan cannot 
well be practiced with new balls, as they 
do not arrive in this country from Japan 
until December. 
A pretty way to use a fern ball is to cut it 
in half and place each half, flat side down, 
in a fern dish. Each half should be treated 
in the manner already described and when 
matured, will make an excellent center 
piece for the dining table. These fern 
balls are not easily affected by house con- 
ditions and require less care than the 
dainty ferns ordinarily used on the dining 
table. 
It is interesting to learn how these balls 
are made. The Japanese gather a special 
variety of ferns, the roots of which are 
made up with sphagnum moss into com- 
pact, elliptical balls, held in place by 
tough string. 
Sometimes the strings rot away after a 
time, in which case a little cage may be 
made by means of a few fine wires, which 
will hold the ball and its mass of delicate 
emerald fronds in place. The dormant 
balls cost only a little—from twenty-five 
to thirty cents—and the best time to buy 
them is early in the year. 
NLY the artistic 
interpretation, the 
musical versatil- 
ity, and the wonderful 
scope of the living fingers 
of a master pianist can 
compare with the ex- 
quisite playing ofthe TEL- 
ELECTRIC, the most per- 
fectmechanicallyaswellas 
the most artistic musically 
of all piano players. 
Mechanical music is im- 
possible with 
Dy 
x 
SS 
nl 
LECTRIC PIANO PLAYER 
T is the one player which you, yourself, 
whether an expert musician or not, can 
quickly and easily learn to play with all 
individuality of a master pianist. 
It permits you to interpret perfectly world-famous 
compositions with all the original feeling, all the tech- 
nique, and with all the various shades and depths of 
expression as intended by the composer. 
In using electricity as the motive force of the Tel-Electric 
we not only eliminate the tiresome foot-pumping 
and noisy bellows of the pneumatic player, but we 
place the instrument under your absolute control— 
ready to answer, instantly, your slightest musical whim. 
The Tel-Electric, though radically different, has proved itself infin- 
itely superior to any player on the market. Consider these exclu- 
sive features :— 
Requires no pumping—can he attached to any piano—absolutely 
perfect and instantaneous expression devices—does not obstruct 
the keyboard—uses indestructible music rolls— totally unaffected 
by weather-change—has never been replaced by any other 
piano-player—any piano with a Tel-Electric attached costs 
less than a player piano of the same grade. 
If you cannot call at one of our stores or agencies and learn for youre 
self the truth of our claims for this marvelous instrument, send for 
our interesting, illustrated catalog—mailed free on request. 
THE TEL-ELECTRIC COMPANY, 299 Fifth Avenue, New York City 
Branch Office, CHICAGO Agencies in All Large Cities 
Monoplanes and Biplanes 
Their Design, Construction and Operation 
The Application of Aerodynamic Theory, with a Complete 
Description and Comparison of the Notable Types 
By Grover Cleveland Loening, B.Sc., A.M., C.E. 
N the many books that have already been written on aviation, this fasci- 
nating subject has been handled largely, either in a very “‘ popular’ and 
more or less incomplete manner, or in an atmosphere of mathematical 
theory that puzzles beginners, and is often of little value to aviators themselves. 
There is, consequently, a wide demand for a practical book on the subject 
a book treating of the theory only on its direct relation to actual aeroplane 
design and completely setting forth and discussing the prevailing practices in the 
construction and operation of these machines. ‘‘ Monoplanes and Biplanes”’ 
is a new and authoritative work that deals with the subject in precisely this 
manner, and is invaluable to anyone interested in aviation. 
It covers the entire subject of the aeroplane, its design, and the theory on which 
its design is based, and contains a detailed description and discussion of thirty- 
eight of the more highly successful types. 
12mo., (6x8"% inches) 340 pages, 278 illustrations. Attractively bound in cloth. 
Price $2.50 net, postpaid 
An illustrated descriptive circular will be sent free on application. 
Munn & Co., Inc., Publishers 
361 Broadway, New York 
