48 
The Fern Garden . 
the compost, so that it will, when all is finished, be an 
inch below the edge of the pan, as it ought to be; it 
may indeed go below that, and need filling up with 
some of the finest of the mixture, which should be 
sprinkled over as a finishing touch. 
In any case of difficulty in obtaining peat of a friable 
and fibrous texture for fern gases, a mixture of equal 
parts of cocoa-nut fibre refuse and charcoal dust will 
answer admirably. 
I could enumerate fifty groups of ferns offhand 
suitable for bell-glasses, but tastes differ, and the best 
possible way to please yourself is first to obtain a 
sufficient number of ferns of suitable kinds and arrange 
them as you think best. I will, however, as my 
journal of fern work is at hand while writing this, give 
you the planting of a bell-glass measuring twenty-two 
inches across which I once planted for a friend who knew 
well how to manage these things, and who was pleased 
to say that, though very fastidious on matters of taste, 
she was well satisfied with my way of doing things. 
In the centre Cheilanthes farinosa , the most accom¬ 
modating of all the silver ferns. At regular distances 
round it Adiantopsis radiata , Cheilanthes tomentosa, 
Aspleniumfragrans , Asplenium vivipara , Pteris argentea , 
a little silvery gem, Elaphoglossum brevipes , Doodia 
lunulata . All over the surface, so as to quite cover it, 
Selaginella apoda . 
The following are six beautiful ferns adapted for 
glass shades in the hands of beginners; in fact, if they 
are not drowned with water, and have but a moderate 
amount of light, they are sure to thrive even if neg- 
