108 HINTS ON THE CULTIVATION OF FERNS. 
consisting of small pots laid on their side with a little moss inside, into which they will creep to 
hide. Eor slugs and snails pieces of apple, turnip, carrot, or potato hollowed out and laid here 
and there will often prove of great use in their capture ; these various traps should be examined each 
day. Once these enemies are caught different modes of killing them will naturally suggest them- 
selves to the captor. 
SHADING. 
Movable blinds are undoubtedly the best medium for protection from the sun. They may be 
made of coarse canvas or other material which is open enough to admit considerable light, the object 
being not to keep out the light but to break up the rays of the sun so as to prevent scorching. 
We use a shading of flour and water, in addition to the canvas blind, in the bright weather of 
summer. We find that, mixed with cold water and put on like limewash, it sticks well to the glass. 
Sometimes the first application partially washes off with the rain, but the second remains all the 
season. On the first requirement for shade we put on a thin coating of this flour and water, and then 
add another thicker coat as the sun gains more power. This causes a subdued light, very congenial 
to the Ferns ; but this shading is supplemented by canvas blind when the sun shines strongly, which 
however, is drawn up again as soon as it can be dispensed with. 
When blinds are not available, flour and water ^ whiting and buttermilk, or one of the numerous 
white or cream-coloured shading materials now sold for the purpose, must be used thicker, or laid on 
more frequently till the requisite density is obtained, that being decided by the aspect of the house 
and pitch of the roof. A roof facing south requires much more shade than one facing east or west, 
and one facing north still less. The great drawback to heavy permanent shading lies in its not 
admitting enough light in dull, sunless weather.' Our remarks on shading apply, of course, to situations 
open to the full sun ; but where shade, or partial shade, is afforded by trees or buildings, that must 
be taken into account and allowed for. 
The blinds we use are fastened along the ridge of the house, and their bottom edges nailed on 
rollers of three inches diameter, from 14 to 28 feet in length. The shorter ones are easier to work 
than those of greater length. These rollers are drawn up by means of ropes passing over pulleys 
against the ridge of the house. These ropes are fastened to the ridge under the blind and under 
pulleys fixed at one-fourth the length of the roller from each end. The ropes thus fastened come down 
under the blind and roller, and then over the roller and blind back to the pulleys on the ridge through 
which they pass, and the two ropes then meet over two centre pulleys, and either pass down into the 
house from whence they are worked, or else are brought back over the blind to the bottom of the roof. 
When the ropes are pulled the rollers are drawn upward and wind the blinds in their course to the 
top ; the ropes are then made fast. When they are again loosened the weight of the rollers causes 
them to roll down the roof and at the same time to unroll the blinds. The pulleys are fixed at the 
proper angle to secure the smooth working of the ropes. Four pulleys are required for each roller, 
two in the centre, and one half-way between the centre and each end of the blind. 
In concluding these remarks, we would say that we shall have pleasure in giving further 
information as it may be required, for difficulties may arise not dealt with here, upon which it will be 
easy to throw light when we know the particular circumstances which give rise to them. 
