MEANS TO THE 'END. 
167 
the Fern-lover, a fit receptacle would be furnished 
for it in a wire basket, depending from the ceiling 
just inside a study window, or from a shady sky¬ 
light. Our illustration (page 166) shows such a 
clump of Hartstongue and Lady Fern. Place a 
lining of moss in the hollow of the basket, and 
into this mossy nest gently press the ferny roots 
with their undisturbed mass of earth, so that when 
the mass is inserted the whole may be firm. In 
this way it will always be easy to water the Ferns 
by dipping the basket, with its mossy green occu¬ 
pants, into water, letting it drain away its surplus 
moisture before it is again suspended in its 
appointed place. The free access of air afforded 
to Ferns thus disposed is conducive to their 
vigour and prosperity. 
It will, however, often happen that the existence 
of corners and recesses in and about a house will 
enable the Fern-lover to dispense in such places 
with the use of cases, pans, and baskets; and for 
the reason that more natural and pleasant results 
can be produced by the building up of little nooks 
and rockeries. To this end, a supply of small 
pieces of stone or rock, or of what is called 6 virgin 
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