106 
HINTS ON THE CULTIVATION OF FERNS. 
watering, for example in a 4|in. pot it should be about half an inch below the rim, the depth 
being increased in proportion to the larger size of pots used. When the Fern is firmly planted 
in the new pot, it should be gently watered with sufficient to saturate the ball and new soil, 
and not again until it requires it, as j)reviously mentioned. Large plants when re-potted will often 
require a considerable quantity of the old soil removing. This must be done carefully, and as few 
roots as possible broken off. Care also must be taken not to put any plants into jpots too large. _ It is 
better to pot them frequently, using a rather larger pot each time, than to put a small plant into a 
large pot, for in many instances such a course will cause its death. Some will require re-potting 
several times in the season, but once a year will be often enough for the larger plants. When a pot 
is well filled with roots, the plant needs a larger one, and should be transferred,^ unless it is getting 
late in the year, and not likely that it will grow much more that season, when it may safely be left 
until the beginning of the next year, seeing, however, that it does not run short of water during the 
winter. Healthy plants having filled their pots with roots, usually may be moved thus — from a Sin. 
to a 4|in. pot, a 4|^in. to a 6in., a 6id. to an 8in., an Sin. to an lliu. or 12in., a lOio. to a 14in. pot, 
and so on, the measurements being across the pot, inside at the top. 
In all instances of Ferns growing from crowns, those crowns should be kept well out of the soil, 
and not buried in it, otherwise there is danger of their rotting. Some have underground rhizomes, 
which should be buried, while others have rhizomes creeping on the surface of the soil, which should 
never be buried, but if loose these may be fastened down with small pegs of wood. 
HANGING BASKETS. 
These are very ornamental, and many Ferns to do well and show their beauty should be 
suspended, as otherwise their long, drooping, and graceful foliage is not seen to advantage.. The 
baskets, whether of wire, cane, or wood, must have a lining of moss inside, to hold the soil in its 
place. TV’’hen the Fern is planted, the soil should not be quite so high as the side of the basket, or 
the water will run off instead of through. These will require daily examination, and should be well 
watered as often as they require it, for they dry up rapidly. Some of the Adiantums, such as assimile 
and amahile, planted in these baskets, send their creeping rhizomes down and through the crevices, 
forming crowns, and producing fronds in such abundance as to completely hide the basket with a 
mass of beautiful green foliage. This shows well against the light, and produces a charming effect. 
Davallias, Goniophlebiums, Polypodiums, and numerous others, do remarkably well so grown under 
these conditions. 
HANGING BLOCKS OF CORK BARK. 
This is a novelty introduced by ourselves, and giving much more pleasing results than baskets. 
A piece of cork bark is taken, on the inner side of which a layer of moss, larger than the cork itself, 
is arranged roots upwards ; on this the Fern is placed, and its roots surrounded with compost, in 
quantity according to size of plant and cork. Over the compost and roots of the Fern the over- 
hanging moss is drawn so as to cover all the soil ; then the moss and Fern together are fastened on 
the cork by thin copper wire, worked across in different directions and twisted round copper tacks 
driven into the edges of the cork. The whole is then suspended by one wire bent into a hook if to 
hang against a wall, and by three or four wires and a hook if to hang like a basket from the roof of 
the house. 
These will require watering frequently, and occasionally they should be soaked to ensure thorough 
saturation. With this treatment the moss will grow as well as the Fern, forming altogether a most 
lovely object. Davallias especially delight to have their creeping rhizomes among the damp moss, 
and their roots through the moss into the compost. Suspended near the glass roof of the house, 
under these conditions, they grow luxuriantly, and are very beautiful. 
PERNS IN ROOKWORK (IN STOVES OR GREENHOUSES). 
Ferns planted in rockwork require much less attention than those in pots. They have not to be 
watered so frequently, neither have they to be repotted, but if planted in good soil to begin with, 
they will grow for years, and attain a size they rarely do when in pots. They must not be 
allowed to become so crowded as to interfere with the development of their fronds, or shade too much 
the Smaller growing species planted underneath. We would here give a word of warning against a 
plan sometimes adopted of watering Ferns in a rockery by means of a hose attached to a water pipe. 
This is a dangerous practice, causing in many instances a sad state of things. The water so 
distributed is too cold, many plants get it on their fronds till they are dripping, when they ought not 
to have any at all ; such a volume of cold water as is often administered makes the place too wet, 
and produces sickness where all ought to be health. Although more trouble, and taking up more time, 
it will repay anyone to water their plants carefully and judiciously by means of a can with a rose, 
using water from which the chill has been taken, and giving more or less as it may be needed. 
OUTDOOR FERNERY. 
No garden should be without its outdoor Fernery, either large or small ; a shady situation is 
required, and Ferns will grow in many places where other plants would die, making a interesting 
spot of what would otherwise be a barren place. With blocks of limestone, sandstone, or tufa, the 
rougher the better, and a mixture of peat, loam, leaf mould, and sand in equal proportions, a place 
may be prepared either on a large or small' scale for the occupation of our native Ferns, many of 
which are as interesting and beautiful as those coming from warmer countries. In addition to native 
