30 
The Fern Garden. 
to ferns, you may water them without the rose, unless 
you wish to wet the fronds, but you must use the rose 
now, because, as you are not used to them, you might 
wash half the earth out of the pots by a sudden dash 
of water, a contingency not possible when the rose is 
used in watering. All through the summer these plants 
will want a little water every other day at least, and it 
should be given so as to wet the fronds all over, and 
moisten the soil without drenching them. In very hot 
and very dry weather daily watering will be necessary, 
and in the very hottest weather you may water twice a 
day with benefit. 
Not less important is the giving of air and light. If 
the frame faces north, the light may be stood up on 
end, leaning against the back, so as to form a sort of 
south wall to the plants, and a mat hung on it, or a 
breadth of canvas tacked to it will render it efficient to 
screen off the full blaze of sunshine. If this cannot 
be done, put the light in its place, lay a mat upon it 
and draw it down, and tilt it slightly with blocks of 
wood or empty flower-pots, so as to allow a current of 
air to pass through. In this state it is to remain from 
the 1st of May to the 1st of September, during the day 
time only. Every evening — at sunset or earlier — draw 
the light off altogether, that the plants may have the 
full daylight as long as it lasts, the dews all night, and 
the full daylight again in the morning till about 
9 a.m. 
On the 1st of September your plants will have a 
most luxuriant appearance, and the pots will be 
crammed full of roots. Shift them all into pots the 
