Poly podium vulgare (See page 7) 
HARDY FERNS 
The Ferns of New England (about 40 kinds) take as readily to cultivation as the 
common garden flowers. While flowers require a sunny place, Ferns delight in some 
shaded nook shut out from the bright sunlight by buildings or trees: they can also be 
grown in boxes or pans on the porch, in the house or under trees, any place that is 
shaded ; but are not suitable for house culture in winter, for that is their time of rest: 
they will not respond to any attention we may give them in winter unless it be near 
the springtime. 
We grow the greater share c 
under a covering of boughs 
high enough to work under 
and get among the beds. In 
making the beds we use for the 
smaller Ferns a good sprinkling 
of leaf-mold and a little well- 
decayed manure made very fine; 
this is thoroughly mixed with 
the soil, and after the Ferns 
are planted a little leaf-mold 
sprinkled around the plants 
tends to keep the soil light and 
porous. Raising the beds 2 or 3 
inches, a little higher in the cen¬ 
ter, gives better drainage and 
allows the surplus water to drain 
off. The larger and stronger 
kinds thrive in almost any soil, 
shaded and not too wet; they 
require no special care or soil, 
yet will respond to cultivation 
as readily as other plants. Order 
by number if you wish. 
them in a moist and sandy loam soil well drained, 
Adiantum pedatum (See pa^e 2) 
I 
