THE MAIDENHAIR. 
159 
plant, must be provided for the Maidenhair. Mix 
peat and silver-sand together, the former pre- 
dominating, and in the mixture let there be some 
broken pieces of limestone or sandstone. Or, if 
you will, imbed in the soil two large pieces of lime- 
stone or sandstone ; put them near together ; fill 
up the interstice with some of the soil you 
have prepared, and plant the delicate rhizome of 
the Maidenhair between. The pot or case in 
which it is grown you should half fill with broken 
pieces of stone or flower-pot, intermingled with a 
few pieces of charcoal to keep them sweet. Then 
upon this mixture of flower-pot and charcoal place 
the peat and silver-sand, and thereon plant your 
fern. If you have a window in which no sun 
shines, you may there suspend your Maidenhair in 
the half shell of a cocoa-nut. But holes must be 
bored in the bottom of the shell, so that when you 
occasionally dip it and its beautiful occupant in 
water, the superabundant moisture may drain 
away ; for remember that ferns cannot endure 
soil rendered unwholesome by stagnant water. 
The moisture which they need must be fresh and 
