Fern E)nemies. 
65 
advantage for Ferns. By scooping out the upper 
part, and filling it with soil, a good-sized plant may 
be inserted in the top, while the sides may be planted 
with seedlings, which, as is shown in our illustra- 
tion (Fig. 38), eventually take posession of the whole 
surface. For this purpose the several species of 
Davallia, the trailing Acrostichums, Nephrolepis, 
and some of the Polypodiums are all suitable. Such 
Tree-Fern stems require to be watered, like Tree 
Ferns, from the top; and, to keep the artificial 
growth upon them in good order, the waterings must 
be both copious and frequent during the growing 
season, gradually lessening them as the winter 
approaches. 
Especially useful for Fern-growing are the 
ornamental pans manufactured by Mr. Conway 
G. Warne, Royal Potteries, Weston-super-Mare. 
The Fern-leaf patterns in no less than a dozen sizes 
are most effective; so also are the Italian Fern- 
baskets. With these and a few bell-glasses, some 
exceedingly pretty Ferns may be grown by those who 
have not the space to indulge in the more pretentious 
methods. 
Ferns may also be grown on the porous bottles 
sold for the purpose ; while of late years the prac- 
tice of twisting the rhizomes of certain species of 
Davallia, usually D. huUata and D. Mariesii, has be- 
come very popular. Sometimes they take the form 
of balls, and at others that of various animals — 
monkeys, and the like. The dried roots are readily 
started in spring by immersing them in a vessel of 
rain water for two or three hours, allowing them to 
drain, and then hanging them up in a shady window. 
They make capital subjects for porches, &c., and are 
easily kept in good health by watering them once or 
twice a week, and very occasionally substituting for 
the plain rain water, some very weak manure water. 
At the beginning of winter the Fern-balls should be 
allowed to rest, by keeping them in a cool place until 
spring, when they may be started as already advised. 
The second season start them in weak cow-manure 
water. 
