FEBN WINDOWS. 
183 
Let us now see how the shady windows of a 
dwelling-house may be made beautiful by the 
presence of Ferns. We will begin at the base¬ 
ment. Here we shall find, as in thousands of 
London and other city houses, a window or win¬ 
dows looking out upon what is popularly called 
the ‘area . 5 Such windows are invariably im¬ 
mersed in shadow, and given up as they are to 
the domestics of the household, one may perhaps 
not unfrequently see, as one passes, the window¬ 
sills adorned by modest pots containing geraniums, 
calceolarias, fuchsias, or the golden green leaf 
and golden flowers of the sweet but modest musk 
plant. Rarely do we see Ferns in such windows. 
But why should they not be there ? Let them by 
all means be mixed with such flowers as will 
thrive in these windows. But when flowers need 
to be excluded, by reason of the uncongeniality of 
the situations, let the Ferns at least remain. By 
the tasteful arrangement around and about such 
windows of virgin cork, with provision of 
‘ pockets 5 for Ferns, or by the skilful use of 
cement and pieces of stone, or brick disguised 
as stone by a sprinkling of the dry powder of 
M 
