GARDENING FOR LITTLE GIRLS 



quite hardy and — to its advantage — not so common 

 as the varieties already mentioned. Several small 

 specimens found planted at the base of a Christmas 

 poinsettia were afterwards set out in small pots, 

 and grew with surprising rapidity. They stood 

 the dry heat of a steam-heated house, and kept a 

 lovely glossy green when other plants were se- 

 riously affected. 



Fern dishes are frequently filled with the spider 

 ferns, though often combined with the others men- 

 tioned. On a certain occasion, when a neglected 

 fern dish had to be discarded, I discovered in the 

 center a tiny plant still growing that looked so 

 hardy I decided to repot it. It grew and, to my 

 surprise, soon developed into an attractive little 

 kentia palm, now three or four years old and eigh- 

 teen inches high. I think that one reason the ordi- 

 nary fern dish does not last long is that it is kept 

 on table or sideboard all the time, too far away 

 from the light. Often, too, it is not properly 

 watered. If every morning after breakfast it were 

 sprinkled in the sink, and then set near a window, 

 though not in the sun, it would soon be getting too 

 big for its quarters, and need dividing. It is well 

 to remember that the container is shallow and 

 holds very little earth, hence its roots are in dan- 

 ger of drying out. 



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