I02 FERNS IN THEIR HOMES AND OURS. 



pan is to be filled from washing into this drain- 

 age, and choking it up, a very thin layer of Sphag- 

 num moss or hay should be placed over it. 

 Should broken flower-pots not be at hand, any 

 earthenware might be made to answer, or even 

 small broken stones, or even pebbles, as a last 

 resort. As circular ferneries are generally con- 

 structed for sale, we seldom find any provision for 

 the escape of surplus water : greater care is there- 

 fore to be taken wdth such, to guard against over- 

 w^atering. Good drainage is of equal importance 

 for ferns in pots or window-boxes. A short expe- 

 rience will teach us that it is the most important 

 thing to be considered, and quite as essential to 

 the health of the plants as a good system of sewer- 

 age is to that of the human family. 



Ferns, in general, should be often sprinkled on 

 their tops ; but their roots should only be watered 

 when the earth in the case seems to be growing 

 dry. If we have Gold-Ferns or Maidenhairs, we 

 must keep water away from their fronds. A 

 clothes-sprinkler is a good apparatus to use for 

 fern-w^atering, as with it we can see exactly how 

 much water is applied, and know that we are not 

 giving an excessive supply. Williams gives the 

 following advice regarding ferneries : " Do not 

 keep your ferns too wet. To grow ferns in per- 

 fection in glass cases, they ought to have fresh 

 soil every year ; and the best time to effect this 



