6o ~" FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. 



for draping and concealing the fences and out- 

 buildings of the town garden, and in the country 

 are no less an addition to the fernery, where 

 they will climb gracefully over some old stump 

 introduced for the purpose, or along the rude 

 stones of the rock-work which supports the ferns. 



The natural soil of the place where a fernery is 

 to be established may be unsuitable for these 

 plants, and it may be necessary to prepare a better 

 one. In this case we should employ a teamster to 

 obtain a few loads of light meadow-peat, or leaf- 

 mould from the woods. This, if well mixed with 

 the upper soil of the garden, by turning them over 

 together a few times with the spade, will serve for 

 almost any one of the plants already named, as 

 they scarcely ever require more than a foot of 

 reasonably good soil in which to grow. For the 

 trees, of course, a greater depth of suitable earth 

 is necessary. 



As a general thing, the falling leaves and pros- 

 trate fronds of the ferns will give all the protection 

 required for the out-door fernery during the winter. 

 If its situation be much exposed, or if among the 

 plants are some exceptionally tender ones, it will 

 be well to give additional covering, which should 

 be lightly placed over the plants. If too much be 

 laid upon them, or if the covering become matted 

 together and soaked with rain and snow water, there 

 is danger of decay and death among the ferns. 



