VARIOUS FANCY WAYS OF GROWING FERNS. 167 



growth upon them in good order, the waterings must be both copious and 

 frequent during the growing season, gradually lessening them as the winter 

 approaches. 



The little terra -cotta baskets of various forms, and the Egyptian vases 

 and pitchers of diminutive sizes, which are now so frequently met with 

 as one of the principal ornaments of drawing-rooms, also require special 

 attention. The vases and pitchers with the neck a great deal narrower 

 than the body are specially difficult to plant ; for, while there is a com- 

 paratively large quantity of soil below, the aperture is so small that the 

 introduction of a Fern with foliage corresponding to the size of the vase 

 or pitcher necessitates a great sacrifice of roots, which operation is necessarily 

 injurious to the plant. The plan generally adopted consists in planting these 

 articles of decoration in advance with small seedlings, and allowing them to 

 grow, in a greenhouse or frame, until they correspond with the size of the 

 receptacle, by which time they are thoroughly established and able to stand 

 drawing-room treatment. 



The following is a list of the Ferns best adapted for growing in either 

 Fern- or window-cases in a room. The more robust, or those requiring less 

 confinement, are marked with an asterisk (*) ; while those which thrive best 

 in a close case are marked with a dagger (f). The strong-growing kinds, 

 suitable only for large cases, or for standing in the room without glass 

 protection, are marked with a parallel (||). 



Adiantum ffimulum.* 



Capillus- Veneris, and varieties.* 



cuneatum.* 



diaphanurn.* 



forrnosum.* 



kispidulum.* 



reniforme.* 



venustum.* 

 Aspidium (Lastrea) aristatuiu, and 

 variety.* 



(Polystickum) capense.* 



(Cyrtomium) falcatum. || 



(Folystichum) mucronatum.* 



(P.) munitum."* 



(P.) setosum.* 



Aspidium (Polystickum) viviparum.* 

 Asplenium Adiantum-nigrum.* 

 alternans.* 



bulbiferum, and varieties. || 

 Colensoi.* 

 dimorplium.|| 

 ebeneum.* 

 flabellifolium* 

 lanceolatum.* 

 Asplenium marinum.* 

 monantbemum.* 

 obtusilobum.* 

 rutasfoliurn.* 

 Sandersoni* 

 Trickomanes.* 



