166 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



stolons had actually taken entire possession of the cork ; the effect produced 

 by the mass of elegant foliage, and also by the rhizomes twining around the 

 cork, being really most pleasing. 



The porous bottle is another very ingenious fancy way of growing 

 Ferns, and one which, with proper attention, produces very satisfactory 

 results. A terra-cotta bottle, made of porous material, being procured, is first 

 covered with a layer of clay about lin. thick, which is fastened to it by means 



of fine copper wire, worked across 

 in different directions, and into 

 which young seedlings of Adiantum 

 Capillus- Veneris are planted, at a 

 distance of Sin. in all directions. 

 The bottle is then filled with water 

 (which is intended to percolate 

 through to the clay), and hung- 

 up, being occasionally replenished. 

 No water whatever is given direct 

 to the plants, which rapidly cover 

 the whole surface of the clay, and 

 form a most interesting ball of green 

 foliage, lasting in perfection so long 

 as the bottle, from which they derive 

 the whole of their nourishment, is 

 not allowed to get dry. 



The stems of dead Tree Ferns 



Fig. 12. Dead Tree Fern, decorated with Ferns. may also be utilised with advantage 



in this way : by scooping out the 

 upper part, and filling it with soil, a good-sized plant may be inserted in 

 the top, while the sides may be planted with young seedlings, which, as is 

 shown in our Illustration (Fig. 12), eventually take possession of the whole 

 surface. The best plants adapted for this purpose are the several species of 

 Davallias, and of trailing Acrostichums, Nephrolepis, and some of the Poly- 

 podiums, all of which, in their natural state, are found growing in a 

 similar way. These ornamented Tree Fern stems, although practically dead, 

 require to be watered, like Tree Ferns, from the top ; and, to keep the artificial 



