CHAPTER VIII 



Foliage Plants for the Greenhouse 



Although good flowering plants are such charming 

 subjects for the greenhouse during their flowering 

 period, there is another section, perennial in its charms, 

 consisting of plants which are grown entirely for their 

 beauty of form and of foliage. These are either non- 

 flowering or they bear insignificant flowers that are not 

 valued. Most of the plants mentioned in this chapter 

 are of very easy culture, and as they do not require the 

 ripening which is so essential to most flowering plants 

 every year, and are content with only a moderate amount 

 of light, they will be found suitable for badly-placed 

 houses in which it is found difficult to grow flowers. 

 The majority of these plants like a temperature a little 

 higher than that given to the cool greenhouse, less 

 ventilation, more humidity of atmosphere and shade. 



Ferns. — Chief among foliage plants come the ferns, 

 and few need be told of the infinite variety of form or 

 of the exquisite tints and shades which are to be found 

 among this class. One cannot here go into detail as to 

 the management of each species, but, fortunately, the chief 

 points in greenhouse fern culture do not vary greatly. One 

 of the essentials is a good supply of water, and, to enable 

 the soil to withstand the effects of frequent watering with- 

 out being turned sour, all pots or other receptacles should 

 be exceptionally well drained, and the soil itself made 

 extremely porous. 



A frequent cause of disaster to ferns of delicate 



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