ROCKERIES, FRAMES, AND WARDIAN CASES 47 
same preparation and treatment. As the Ferns named are quite 
hardy, even the Todeas, frost does no harm whatever, and need not 
be provided against. Out of doors, the Filmy Ferns, being hardy, 
will do very well indeed in pits, provided with compost, as described, 
and close-fitting frames of sufficient depth to provide room for 
full-sized Todeas, say three feet from soil to glass. As the pit may 
be a foot or more below the general surface of the soil, the frame 
may be correspondingly shallower. А brick-walled pit, covered 
with a light or lights, and situated in some corner which gets no sun 
at all, or so obliquely as not to reach the plants, is an ideal provision 
for Filmy Ferns. The use of ground or rolled corrugated glass 
will permit of a sunnier position for the frame, but coolness is an 
absolute essential for successful culture. 
CooL CONSERVATORY AND Room CULTURE.—In this connection 
there is little to be added to our cultural remarks anent watering, 
etc., but in rooms, it must be remembered that shade-lovers as 
Ferns may be, they get plenty of light under natural conditions, 
and, if deprived of it, become drawn and unhealthy. They should 
therefore be placed as near to the windows as practicable, top-light 
being always beneficial. Another point, and a material one, is that 
a pot Fern will grow towards the light, and as its fronds develop 
they arrange their surface to catch the maximum amount of it. 
Hence a mark should be made on a pot to secure, when it is shifted, 
that it is replaced as previously, and not turned one way to-day 
and the opposite way to-morrow, which is certain in a growing 
plant to result in a twisted and ugly one, since the fresh growth 
stiffens as it proceeds, and hence a kink is formed at every shift. 
No variety, even of a British Fern, has yet been provided with 
swivel roots. 











