54 
Rustic Adornments . 
in the shape of broken pots, crushed bricks, or small wood charcoal, 
has to be provided to a depth of two inches, so that superfluous water may 
readily find its way to the small outlet hole at the bottom of the pan. On 
this put a thin layer of dry moss or fibrous peat, from which the finer particles 
have been removed; and then fill the remainder of the space with the 
following compost:—equal parts peat, leaf-mould, loam, silver sand, and 
pounded charcoal. Having done this, the next thing to see about is furnishing 
the pan with suitable ferns. Now with regard to this phase of the subject, 
we may as well say at the outset, that it is practically useless planting very 
choice kinds of ferns in cases similar to that under consideration. The 
hardy or more robust sorts are infinitely preferable, because they will with¬ 
stand with greater impunity the vicissitudes of temperature prevailing in 
dwelling-rooms and irregularities in airing and watering. Then we have also 
to consider the fact that the area available for planting is limited, therefore 
it is desirable that the kinds selected should, whilst possessing vigour, be yet 
sufficiently moderate in growth so as not to unduly crowd the shade with 
foliage. The Sea-spleenwort ( Asplenium Mar inuni) ; Maidenhair-spleenwort 
(Asplenium trichomanes) ; Hart’s Tongue ( Scolopendrium vulgare) ; and the 
Black-spleenwort (. Asplenium adiantum-nigrujji) are suitable British species 
for planting in the centres of the pans. Of exotic species, equally well adapted 
for similar positions, the Spider or Ribbon Fern ( Pteris serrulata ); Black Rock 
Fern ( Asplenium fontanuni) ; British Maidenhair ( Adiantum capellis-veneris ) ; 
Hairy Maidenhair (Adiantum hispidtilum ), and the Rue-leaved Spleenwort 
(. Asplenium rutcefoliuni) are particularly suitable. Round the central plant 
three or four of the following smaller species may be grouped :—Alpine Hare’s- 
foot (. Davallia alpinia ) ; Alpine Deer Fern (Lo maria alpinia); Doodia 
caudata; Kidney-leaved Maidenhair (. Adiantum reniforme). To render the 
furnishing complete, one or two plants of the creeping moss, Selaginella 
kraussiana , and its golden variety aurea; also its silvery one, argentea, are 
necessary. These mosses may be planted singly or together ; in either case 
they will soon spread and cover the soil with a carpeting of pleasing green or 
variegated foliage. When planting the ferns and mosses, put, if possible, a 
piece of sandstone or tufa rock here and there to break up the surface 
and impart a faint idea of a miniature rockery. 
There are other forms of fern shades or stands, of much the same size, but 
differing in shape. Some are pentagonal; others sexagonal and octagonal, 
and all are interesting in their way, and quite as suitable for fern culture as 
Jte*- 
