58 
Choice Ferns for Amateurs. 
become dry. The fact, however, remains that many 
novices treat Ferns as if they were plants that 
would be likely prematurely to start into growth 
were they kept moist. No greater mistake could be 
made. Grranted that during the resting period the 
majority of Ferns require considerably less water 
than in the active season, yet with a few exceptions 
that will be noted as the families in which they occur 
are enumerated, the majority must be kept moist the 
year through. The aim of the Fern-grower, as stated 
elsewhere, should be to approximate as closely as pos- 
sible to the conditions found in Nature. He certainly 
will not be doing so if he attempt to " dry them off." 
Popular Ways of Growing: Ferns. 
Besides, the methods of cultivating Ferns 
already dealt with, they may be grown on cork bark, 
on hanging blocks, in suspended baskets, in window- 
cases, and, above all, in glass cases in the dwelling- 
room. Whether in window-cases, on a rustic 
stand with a propagating-glass to cover the plants, 
or in a Fern-case, they are always attractive 
when well grown. Filmy Ferns are especially 
amenable to such treatment, but other Ferns in 
variety are equally adapted for the purpose. As 
regards the latter, however, they require replanting 
oftener, for, being of more vigorous, or rather of 
quicker, growth, they more rapidly overgrow the 
case. .In favour of Filmy Ferns, it may be said 
that while their transparent fronds remain uninjured 
through a prolonged contact with the glass, those of 
nearly all, if not of all, other kinds soon deteriorate 
when subjected for any length of time to the in- 
fluences of the moisture more or less permanent in 
a Fern-case. Under all circumstances, therefore, the 
Filmies, though more expensive as regards first cost, 
are the better. 
Fern-cases vary alike as to form and size 
(Figs. 35 and 36). At one^ time they were more 
popularly known as Wardian cases, after their 
inventor, TsTathaniel B. Ward. The oblong-shaped 
Victoria is the most ornamental of them all. 
