In Pots under Glass. 
51 
pitched : SOdeg*. is not too great a one as there must 
not be the slightest chance of drip occurring. This 
is fatal to success. The warm-house Fernery 
should also be a little below the ground level, as this 
will ensure uniformity of temperature and perma- 
nency of moisture, both very difficult to obtain in 
houses built above ground, especially when they are 
supplied with shelves and open stages. Where a 
naturally shaded spot cannot conveniently be found 
for the Fernery, shading at certain times of the day 
from March to October will be necessary; but it 
should only be afforded with a view to preventing the 
scorching of the fronds, by breaking the rays of the 
sun, and not to keeping out all natural light. In 
this case it is preferable to shade by means of 
movable blinds. The texture of the material (scrim is 
best) will vary with the amount of shading called 
for. The blinds should be let down for a few hours 
when the sun is strong, but should be drawn up 
again as soon as there is no danger of burning. 
Shading by means of blinds may be successfully 
obviated by using green-tinted glass, as at Xew 
Gardens, where it gives perfect satisfaction. In the 
neighbourhood of large towns, more especially, it is 
decidedlv necessary, periodically, to wash the glass 
both inside and outside during the dull seasons. 
Houses in which Ferns are intended to be grown 
in pots should be low structures, sunk at least l^ft. 
or 2ft. below the surface of the ground, and provided 
with solid beds bricked on their vertical outer sur- 
face. The walks should be made either of coarse 
gravel or of the natural earth, simply covered with 
a thickness of a couple of inches of coal cinders, these 
being the most porous and yet the best moisture- 
retaining materials that can be used in a house in 
which constant humidity is of the utmost impor- 
tance. With Ferns grown in pots it is essential that 
they should stand on a solid, cool, moist bottom, the 
most suitable material consisting of a firm bed of 
ashes, or one of sand covered with a layer of coal 
cinders. A free and constant supply of fresh air, 
without a draught, must be maintained. With a 
E 2 
