202 



HOUSE PLANTS 



spots — the spores. The pinnae are large, 

 four to six inches long and one to two inches 

 broad, the fronds about two feet long and 

 very stiff. Altogether it is very attractive. 



DELICATE MAIDENHAIR 



The graceful, feathery fronds of the 

 maidenhair ferns always excite interest. 

 The most beautiful one, Adiantum Farley- 

 ense, often seen in the florists shops, cannot 

 be grown in the window garden, but there 

 is a good substitute for it in the so-called 

 "hardy Farleyense" (Adiantum Capilius- 

 Venerisy var. tmhricatuni). This will with- 

 stand the trying conditions of the house 

 just as well as will the Boston fern. I know 

 plants which have lived all winter in a New 

 York City residence, a severe test for any 

 plant. There is a host of related ferns too 

 numerous to mention and moreover they 

 are not reliable as house plants under the 

 ordinary conditions. 



The soil in which maidenhair ferns are 

 growing must never be allowed to become 

 dry — the fronds immediately wither and 

 nothing can be done to recuperate them. 

 Should such an accident happen, remove 



