THE r EEX PARADISE. 
into requisition in order to make the structure as 
irregular, rugged, and picturesque as a natural 
fernery. 
Ferns are often found in nature in association 
with old trees. In a wood or forest, the old tree 
forks, and the cavities of pollard trunks, as well 
as the hollows of many a prostrate and decaying 
tree stump, afford congenial habitats for certain 
species of Ferns — the familiar Common Polypody, 
for instance. Hence in cultivation, it is a 
frequent practice to imitate such woody habitats 
of Ferns by the employment of virgin cork — a 
substance which bears a sufficiently close resem- 
blance to the bark of trees to warrant its use in 
the manner indicated. By the tasteful arrange- 
ment of this material very pretty effects may be 
produced in the artificial fernery, or in any place 
which it may be desired to brighten and to 
beautify by the presence of graceful ferny 
growths. 
170 
