38 
The Fern Garden. 
than the atmosphere outside the house. That frost 
does get in, however, is certain ; the thermometer 
several times indicated five to ten degrees of frost inside, 
and when the case has become in any way serious, 
Hayses constant stove or Hinks's petroleum stove has 
been set to work to keep all safe until the weather 
changed for the better. 
A fern house is a genuine luxury, which every lover 
of ferns should have if possible. Amongst its many 
advantages, a few must be named as particularly worthy 
of attention. It affords, even without the aid of arti- 
ficial heat, opportunity for growing a number of nearly 
hardy ferns which need some protection, yet are not 
much hurt if they have to endure a few degrees of frost. 
Ferns of this class are numerous and extremely beau- 
tiful. I will name four only now as a key to the rest 
in illustration of this particular advantage — Woodwardia 
radicans , Cyrtomium falcatum , Adiantum pedatum , 
Todea pellucida. Another advantage is that if planted 
only with the hardiest British ferns, they grow more 
beautifully than the same sorts do in the open air. 
As a winter garden and as a peculiarly charming scene 
— if well done and well kept — the fern house is worth 
something to a home bird, and as an amusement for 
an invalid it is invaluable. 
The management is a modification of that advised 
for the outdoor fernery, but watering must be more 
regularly performed, and if fast growing ferns run 
riot and overrun the others they must be kept in check 
by occasionally digging out their roots. Lastrea the- 
lypteris and Onoclea sensibilis are likely to do this, but 
