120 
FERNS AND FERNERIES. 
From^'THE GARDEN/’ Feb.14thJ891. 
:o: 
A BEAUTIFTO FEKNEET. 
“ The illustration appearing herewith represents a view in a fernery belonging to Mr. J. Halliwell, 
Laburnum House, Bury, Lancashire. On passing through the doorway of this fernery a scene 
presents itself which at once in imagination transfers the beholder to a lovely tropical district, such 
as is sometimes described by travellers who have seen Ferns revelling in their native homes. 
View in the Fernery of Mr. Hai,i.iwell, Engraved for “ The Garden ” from a photograph 
Laburnum House, Bury, Lancashire. sent by Messrs. W. and J. Birkenhead, Sale. 
“Entering the fernery, one looks upon a mass of sandstone rising tier above tier. From 
interstices and also from capacious pockets hang in graceful profusion lovely fronds of innumerable 
species and varieties of varied form and colour. The pathway winds in and out, gradually sinking 
lower and lower, while the rockwork rising on each side gives the appearance of the path having 
been hewn out of solid stone ; here a mass projecting, there receding and forming large receptacles 
in which the Ferns grow in wonderful health and vigour. Passing along this rocky footpath, at the 
extreme end, a very attractive feature is a stream of water which, after running along a rocky 
channel for a short distance, comes tumbling and dashing over the rocks obstructing its course. 
Three parts of the way down, a miniature lake is formed, from which the water again escapes and 
falls into a deeper and larger receptacle, which, judging by appearances, the water might have made 
by its incessant fall and flow during past ages ; going a little further the stream disappears, like 
some underground river, to appear in a different place and be put to further use. Turning and 
looking towards the now invisible entrance, completely blocked from view by a large projecting 
