FERNERIES, WARDIAN CASES, ETC. 
57 
witli tlie densely-crested forms is very apt to collect to such 
an extent in the crest as to break down the plants; while, 
of course, a heavy hailstorm plays havoc with all. Hence, 
as a collection grows, and the more delicate and choice forms 
are acquired, the collector finds himself or herself com- 
pelled, sooner or later, either to take the choicest into the 
dwelling-house, or prepare frames or houses for their accom- 
modation elsewhere. In the dwelling-house, provided there 
be no gas used in the rooms, windows with a northern or 
eastern aspect can be utilised to double advantage — i.e., the 
plants benefit by the shelter and position, and the rooms 
are benefited by the beauty of the Ferns. 
We ourselves have never had a more satisfactory collec- 
tion, in its way, than an early one which occupied a square 
table in a bay-window facing the north. We made a sloping 
stage of six shelves, upon which we ranged the plants accord- 
ing to their size and habits, with the most delightful results, 
the window — or, rather, its tenants — being the constant 
admiration of all who saw it. The collection, however, out- 
grew the space, and a frame, consisting of an oblong box, 
about 6ft. by 3ft., 18in. high in front, 24in. behind, and 
covered with a glazed light, next made its appearance for 
the accommodation, at first of seedlings, and eventually of as 
many adult plants as it would hold. Frame No. 1 overflowed, 
and others followed. Then arose the question of a Fernery 
proper, which eventually took the form of a cool conserva- 
tory, facing north, with a large, burr-covered mound in the 
centre, a red-tiled path round that, and sloping rockwork 
all round the walls, which are of brick, about 7ft. high, sus- 
taining a corrugated glass roof, sloping from the centre. 
The Fernery abuts upon the dwelling-house, and the dining- 
room window looks into it. The farther wall is built entirely 
of rough burrs, covered, more or less, with pockets containing 
Ferns. The side walls are masked by hanging-pots and slate 
troughs, as described in the previous chapter. This Fernery 
is quite unwarmed, for though heating apparatus was put in 
and used, we found the artificial heat in winter prevented 
the plants from resting, the result being weakly constitu- 
