16 
Treatment of Ferns. 
There is probably no other class of 
plants more readily responding to judi- 
cious treatment than ferns, or any more 
easily ruined by improper culture, Con- 
‘ditions such as over-fertilised soil, exces- 
sive heat and a stagnant atmosphere, 
heavily charged with moisture and con- 
stantly overshadowed by a dense coating 
of paint on the glass afford the sort of 
high living to which many species of 
ferus are only too willing to yield. It 
is not the treatment that will build up 
the commercial fern. It is the excess in 
all these details of culture which works 
mischief, promotes soft growth, favors 
insects, causes disease, twists and cripples 
hastily pushing fronds and ultimately 
leads to premature exhaustion and death. 
The grower of ferns for his home trade or 
for the market, whether potted plants or 
cat fronds, if he is nota specialist, will 
come as near to being right in the culture 
of such kinds as he is apt to grow as is 
consistent with proper management, if 
he subjects all the varieties to one and 
the same treatment as regards soil, tem- 
perature and moisture. As to replanting, 
propagation and shading the methods to 
be adopted must differ. 
The soil for small ferns should be a 
mixture of sandy peat or turfy loam one 
part, and two parts of leaf mould. As 
thoy attain size, beginning with the 4-inch 
pot, a heavier soil is used and instead of 
leaf mould well-rotted old hotbed manure 
is added, and the plants are well crocked. 
Very firm planting is not good for ferns ; 
but stirring the surface of the soil is a 
very good plan occasionally. Root-bound 
large specimen ferns need copious water- 
ing and in their case a light dose of liquid 
food from time to time will be of benefit. 
On the other hand, ferns newly divided 
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DYERS, CLEANERS, & PRESSERS, 
268 Rundle Street East 
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Gents’ Suits thoroughly cleaned and pressed 
at 5s. 6d.; dyed any color. 7s. 6d. 
Ladies’ Garments, all kinds, cleaned and 
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Hats Cleaned and Blocked. 
French Cleaning a speciality, 
All Repairs neatly and promptly executed. 
We desire to say that we are prepared to 
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Give us a trial and prove us, 
2 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
or transplanted or wea and sicxly, must 
be watered with the greatest care, although 
at no time should fern roots ever become 
dust dry. 3 
The temperature is right if held at the 
point of 60 degrees as near as possible 
the whole year through with a slight 
lowering at night and a corresponding 
rise through the mid-day hours. Well 
established pot plants of nephrolepis, 
poly podium, gleichenia, nephrodium, some 
varieties of lastraea, pteris, aspidium and 
a few others will safely endure quite a 
cool and fairly dry atmosphere; but the 
hardening off should be accomplished 
gradually; a sudden removal from out 
of a congenially humid temperature of 
probably 65 degrees to one perhaps not 
higher than 40 is likely to spoil them as 
saleable stock ; and to get them back 
into fair condition after that is extremely 
slow work, 
Healthy ferns, uncurling new fronds in 
continuous succession or a fresh crown 
growth periodically, need for perfect 
development of growth «a reasonable 
amount of atmospheric humidity, never 
to the extent of showing condensation in 
the form of dripping moisture on the 
plants or about the house at nightfall. 
Air also is necessary to counteract stag- 
nation; strong draughts are death to 
tender young fern growth during the 
months of winter and at no time espe- 
cially good for ferns Shading is neces- 
sary for newly planted or repotted ferns, 
and beneficial, though not absolutely 
needful, to established and growing ferns. 
It all depends whether it is employed 
heavily or continually or with reason. 
A light shading during the brightest 
hours of cloudless days is good for all 
ferns, a point in the proper culture of 
most evergreen, glasshouse-grown species, 
even including nephrolepis, if appearance 
counts as much as endurance in estimat- 
ing their commercial value. 
In propagating ferns by division it is ° 
best to cut up or pull apart only such old 
plants as are still in active growth or 
just beginning to show new life, Those 
multiplied by runners from under or over 
the ground are more apt to send forth an 
abundance of these in all directions, if 
given free play under bench culture.— 
‘ Florists’ Exchange.’ 
Mrs. Anna Porter, 
7 Arcade, Rundle Street, 
(GRENFELL STREET ENTRANCE), 
ADELAIDE. 
Choice Works of Art and Novelties. 
Inspection invited. 
May 1, 1908 
The Art of Lace Making. 
In our advertisement columns attenuon 
is drawn to the establishment of the real 
lace industry in South Australia by the 
Torchon Lace and Mercantile Agency. 
Although styled the Torchon Lace Agency 
the industry is by no means confined to 
Torchon lace making, but includes all the 
finest laces made by hand, such as Valen- 
ciennes, Brussels, Mechlin, Regency Point, 
Honiton, Duchess, and many others. 
Torchon lace is the foundation of the art 
of lace making, and the student is first 
taught Torchon, then by easy stages 
brought to the finest laces known to the 
lace-making art. To secure operatives in 
this industry it is necessary to first teach 
those who are willing to take up the 
work, and to that end ths Torchon Lace 
and Mercantile Agency are selling their 
system worked out on patteras and taught 
by illustrations and instructions on their 
Princess Lace Looms. The system taught 
is the latest improved and scientific method 
of real lace making, simple, easily worked, 
and effective. Unlike fine needlework it 
is not trying to the eyes, but when a 
‘pattern is once learned the work is quite 
mechanical, quite as much as typewriting 
and piano playing. The establishment of 
the lace industry provides a ready market 
for disposal of work, and those taking up 
the work are assured of a ready sale for 
all work, As a home work it is unrivalled. 
Many ladies who have much spare time 
may profitably occupy it with lace making, 
and although working in the presence of 
friends none may be aware that the lace 
is being made for sale. Youug ladies 
lesving school who taxe up this system 
are becoming expert in an art that will 
always be useful to them either as a 
means of earning money or making laces 
for themselves which to buy in a shop 
would be extravagance and possibly be- 
yond their means. A well-dressed woman 
always appears to better advantage than 
an ill-dressed one. And real lace on 
costumes or garments always bears th 
hall-mark of genuineness against the poo 
imitation machine-made, which, alchougs 
KO. ATT 
Veterinary Surgeon, 
Horse Mouth Specialist, 
28 years Victorian Practice. 
OPERATIONS PERFORMED. 
ALL DISEASES TREATED. 
249 Rundle St., Adelaide. 
TELEPHONE 1,654. 
