160 
Rustic A dornments. 
desired in the small garden, or where there is no garden at all; for as a mere 
“ annexe ” to the dwelling it may be made a delightful place of resort, to 
refresh the eye with its cheerful verdure and variety of graceful forms, and so 
make a blessed change from the depressing monotony of daily life in the 
heart of a great city. Granted that it ranks first in importance as to its 
suitability to gratify a diversity of tastes, while making but small demands 
on the purse or skill of the possessor, there is yet one word more to be said 
in its favour of the utmost importance. A position may be selected for the 
fern house which would be quite unfit for a greenhouse intended for flowering 
plants. A sunless spot will suit for ferns, and, indeed, if there is but a mere 
glimmer of daylight, provided other conditions are suitable, it is still possible 
to create a fern garden under glass ; for we can easily find a number of the 
loveliest of ferns that will actually thrive in twilight. We will not, however? 
consider extreme cases; it is sufficient that an aspect full south, with many 
hours’ exposure to the summer sun, is not suited for a fern house, but any 
other aspect will suit; and the best of all is one due north, but fully exposed 
to the daylight, that is to say, not over-shadowed by trees or very closely 
hemmed in by high walls. Reserve the sunny spots for plants that need the 
sun, the ferns will thrive without sun ; at the same time, an hour or two of 
sunshine every day throughout the year is good for a fern house, and that is 
the reason we say that any aspect not exposed to the full glare of the summer 
sun for many hours together will answer for the purpose. 
Although the terms are commutable, we make a distinction between a fern 
house and a house for ferns. We are thinking of a cool house, spacious 
enough for the formation within it of a rockery, in which the ferns are to be 
planted out, and where there will be room to move about freely for enjoy¬ 
ment as well as for work. A house for ferns may be a different affair 
altogether, filled with pot plants, maintained at a tropical temperature, affording 
scarcely room enough for a man of ordinary size to turn about in it, and 
perhaps everywhere damp and dirty, as happens to be the case with many a 
house in which valuable collections are kept in a wonderful state of health and 
vigour. 
It need not be explained that equal success may attend the effort to 
construct a fern house, though very different plans are adopted. We may 
find a high dark wall on which, perhaps, ivy would scarcely grow, and by 
constructing a lean-to house in front of it, accomplish all that could be 
desired. Thousands of so-called “ conservatories” and “ greenhouses ” 
