188 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
cistern might be made to contribute to the neces¬ 
sities of the Ferns, and, when desired, a small 
fountain can, at little expense, be constructed in 
such a way as to fling its spray over the rockwork 
extemporized upon the leads. 
Outside the shady bedroom windows of a house 
it is not unusual to find a balcony too small to 
admit of standing-room, but provided with a 
leaden bottom offering a shady site for a little 
cluster of rocks and Ferns. In such bedroom 
window e wells , 5 as they may not inappropriately 
be called, there is sure to be a provision for 
draining off the rain-water; and the same pro¬ 
vision will answer for draining a Fern rockery. 
There are the skylight windows of a house 
to be considered. How shall we place Ferns 
there? We can do so by bringing suspending 
cords and wire baskets into requisition, and 
we can thus make even our dismal skylights 
beautiful with the soft, green beauty of our 
flowerless favourites. 
Who, indeed, will longer be content to let his 
shady windows remain bleak and bare when he 
can make them charming by association with 
