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necessarily elapse before another watering is required. As far as possible, 

 this operation should be performed on the morning of a bright day, so 

 that the extra quantity of moisture thus generated may rapidly evaporate. 

 Condensation on the foliage, if too frequently taking place, will invariably 

 end in turning the fronds to a brown, unnatural colour, and then decomposition 

 commences. To avoid frequent waterings, which must necessarily have for 

 effect the impoverishment of the soil, it is advisable, on bright mornings 

 and all through the summer, to slightly damp the surface of the ground 

 among the plants with the syringe. This helps in maintaining the surface 

 of the soil, where the majority of the young roots are found, in a uniform 

 state of moisture, which is highly beneficial to them. Syringing overhead in 

 the Fernery is not advisable, unless it be in very hot weather, and it should 

 then be done only slightly, and in the morning, so that, all superfluous moisture 

 having time to evaporate, condensation on the fronds may be avoided. 



Ferneries constructed on the principles previously described certainly exist 

 in this country, but they are few in number, and not always of easy access. 

 For the benefit of readers living within easy distance of London, we may 

 here state that two such Ferneries are in existence in Chelsea, and that no 

 opportunity of viewing these interesting structures should be missed by 

 persons who take any interest in this beautiful class of plants. These 

 delightful houses may be seen at the establishment of Messrs. J. Veitch and 

 Sons, to whom we are indebted for permission to make the sketches for the 

 accompanying Plates. The principal Fernery, or perhaps " Orchiclo-Fernery," 

 as we might call it, is a most happy combination. The groundwork of 

 it is a warm Fernery, disposed as has been recommended above, all the 

 Ferns being permanently planted with a view to producing a pleasing 

 effect. The very elegant rockwork, which has been built of pieces of light- 

 coloured tufa cemented together, entirely differs, through its light nature, 

 from any other similar structure with which we are acquainted ; a small 

 fountain, in which water trickles down very gently, and only in sufficient 

 quantity to give life to the place, forms part of a centre-piece on which 

 Platyceriums, as well as Polypodiums, Davallias, and other trailing Ferns, 

 are fixed, and on which they appear quite at home. Here the Ferns 

 are planted on slopes and on mounds, although in building the rockwork 

 pockets of various dimensions have here and there been provided. The 



