FERNS AND FERNERIES. 
Ill 
desirability of inserting suitable Ferns and Ivies or other trailing plants in the crevices as the work 
goes on, for they greatly improve the appearance of the work when they take kindly to their new home, 
and grow as if they had been born there. And it is worthy of remark how well they doj and how 
snug and protected they look when their roots are hidden away behind large stones, and only their 
beautiful fronds and leaves are visible in front. 
SEEKING EFFECT. 
Another important thing to be observed in the construction of a fernery, as, indeed, T think, in 
most kinds of gardening where effect is desired, is to take care to avoid repetition. If possible, have 
all one kind of Fern or other plant in one mass, or in masses, in one locality, and in another locality 
something quite different in appearance, so that at every turn something fresh may present itself to 
the eye of the beholder. If possible block out the range of vision at intervals by trees or shrubs or 
I'ock, so that the whole cannot possibly be seen at once, but rather that curiosity may be occasioned 
by turning a corner here and another there with some fresh and attractive feature peculiar to each 
fresh view. This is the kind of thing to give pleasure to the visitor, and to make the fernery the 
most charming part of the garden. 
ARRANGEMENT OF THE FERNS. 
I do not think I need add much to that already stated, except to advise the planting of the 
largest growers at or near the top of the rockery ; for if large-growing plants are placed at the 
bottom they hide much of the rockwork, and seem to dwarf its appearance. Still it is necessary to 
secure some balance even in this matter, by having a few plants of medium size near the bottom, and 
when possible on the projecting parts, so as to make the nooks and recesses appear still deeper. To 
put a large Fern in a recess would defeat the object for which the recess was made, but to bring it 
well in advance of the recess it has the opposite and therefore desirable effect of apparently increas- 
ing the irregularity and extent of the work. Then the terraced pockets, about 3 or feet above the 
paths, are just the places for masses of small interesting species and varieties, which, coming near the 
eye, are seen to great advantage, larger kinds showing themselves at greater distances. 
A FEW REMARKS ON VARI ETI ES.— TOD EA SUPERBA. 
As to the species and varieties of Ferns suitable for outdoor and indoor rockwork, pot culture, and 
window decoration, their name is legion, and I will not attempt an enumeration of them, but will 
simply give a few general hints which may be of use. I feel constrained to speak of the ease with 
which many Ferns, even the lovely Todea superba, may be cultivated when a few simple conditions 
are observed. Remarking upon its extreme hardihood, I would observe that the latter-named species 
may be seen by the score in splendid health and vigour in a range of pits, with no other protection 
from the weather than the glass covering, and in severe frost the addition of mats, which, however, 
do not prevent the frost coating them over with a hoary garment, and sometimes even freezing the soil so 
hard as to burst pieces out of the pots ; so that no person need fear an attempt to cultivate this 
charming Fern. Simply sink it in a hole in the ground, cover it with glass, and subdue the light in 
summer by rather dense shading, and its prosperity is insured if it is planted in a lumpy compost of 
loam, leaf-mould, and peat, with plenty of stone and good drainage, well supplied with water at the 
roots, and frequently sprinkled overhead in dry weather. 
FILMY FERNS FOR ROOMS. 
Many other filmy Ferns are equally easy to cultivate, and do remarkably well in Wardian cases, or 
under bell-glasses, in a bedroom or sitting-room window on which the sun does not shine. I may add 
that filmy Ferns require little or no ventilation ; and if air is admitted, it should only be when the 
atmosphere is saturated with moisture, either during rain, or in the night when the dew is heavy. 
FERNS REQUIRING LIGHT AND AIR. 
Very different is the treatment required by such Ferns as the Cheilanthes, Pellseas, Nothoclsenas 
and Woodsias, most of which require abundance of light and air, and which should be grown very 
near the glass in an airy situation, protected from frost, and planted in an open compost, containing 
bits of stone or other hard material, to secure an easy passage for the water, which latter should be 
freely applied to the roots in summer, but never to the fronds. Gymnogrammas require very similar 
attention, with the addition of considerable artificial heat for some of the tropical kinds, while others 
do well with greenhouse temperature, such as Gymnogrammas triangularis, trifoliata, hispida, 
ochracea, &c. 
ADIANTUM FARLEYENSE. 
In conclusion, a word of warning against the use of peat in the compost for Adiantum farleyense. 
I am persuaded that many fail to grow this plant successfully through the use of peat in the soil. I 
find that when well drainecJ, and planted in good strong loam, made open and porous by the addition 
of leaf-mould and sand, and placed well up to the light in a warm house, it will grow luxuriantly, 
and as easily as a great many other Ferns. 
