Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-17
Ferns ana Fern f,oiIerfin~

70 cities Tor their snTn-
mer vacation are quite sure TO BE- attracted BY
tue ferns, and as they have seen other fernscul-
uvsted in cases and IA greenhouses. they Sc. to
work te gather the roots OF these q, take home
for the decoration of their rooms daring winter.
Ladies', and sometimes gentlsm n too IN IKE ex-
cursions 70 the hills aud valleys IN search of
boxes and wstered aud sba al cd until the time for
the return. and on the journey hom me the parcels
are taken by the collectors ogn hsnt "a some
thing too precious to be rIsked with the bag
gage. At length the plants dad their place In
the fernery, and sre watched with mach in
terest They perhaps do not look very we'll but
tnat may Do on sccount OF the journey. IS cool
weather comes on the ferns look worse, and are
given more heat A still worse condition sus-
gesss that they should be kept cooler. or have
more air, or more or less light; but with all the
changes they go backward aud by Cbristm.s
the probabilities are that not green frond is to
be seen. This want Of success Is ascribed TO inn
proper soil, too much or too little water or to
any cause but the right ones want of kn9wi-
edge of the plants themselves. TIE fact is that
the great m a1ority of orr ferns are declduOus,
aud when taken home at the end OF summer no
treatment whatever will make them flourish:
they have completed their career, and must
have rest until the next season. These decid1-
Gus FERNS, graceful and delicate as they are, will
not answer for house culture; we hayea few
evergreen ones, readily distinguished By tue
hrmness ana persistence OF their frOnds, which
VII 90 admirably; but with the exception OF
these, II we would fill up fernery, We m lst de-
peHd upon the exotic species furnished by the
Il rlsts. STU We wonld let discourage the cll-
m
BE- had from their cultivation, only liz must he
ioT the most part outdoors rather than in the
honse. There are but few city yards that 10
n9t furnish a shady corner which will allow of a
small teTnery, and some stones should he ar
ranged 20 form q little rock-work on which
IN my Kinds vii! grow thai would not iOurish IN
the border. Some ferns seem 70 need the prn.
lection the stones afford 10 their riots Up,u
such small scale no very pictures1ue r6ek-
~srk can be ach eyed; the best th at eau be done
Is GO Initiate some rock hillside with crevices
between the rocks which are filed with earth
which extends down to and sin connection WITH
the sell OF the border. This precautiOn must
pe observed In making a rock-WOrk OF any kind
large or small for ferns or any other plasts for
II the earth Is in mere pockets il will sooa dry
out, ana as no supply OF moisture can come up
from below the plants will in a dry time be sure
20 perish. To those fond Of ferns there Is every
encouragement for them to attempt their cut
tiFatlon in the manner here stated, snd We
| nave seen several ferneries in city Yards which
| possessed much interest, the plants having been
accumulated during su ccessive summer excur-
slons. In collecting ferns, it would be better TO
remove them In early spring, just as they are
in the height of their gro With or not at All, In
this case, the best thing 10 do, after having
secured good clump of roots, is TO cut away all
The tronds, provided the plant is one OF Ia large
kind. Ii considerable time must elapse betwssn
tbe time OF gathering the plants and that of
taxing them home, it will be best To set them
closely together in a box in which some woods
earth has been placed. Put the plants in q
shady place, and sprinkle as often as may be
needed 10 prevent them from driving ont VET
'ucy SnOuiO not De TOO wet at the roots In
ing the terms out, as near an approach as pos
sibie should be made to the natural localities of
the plants. Those found upon rocks should have
place on the rock work; those that were col
iected along the edges of thickets and By road
sides will make themselves at home il the bor-
ger; and the "Ostrich Fern" which grows in
TIch. moist soils, and the "Flowering Ferns"
which come from the margins of svamps, NAV
have place to which water can be conducted
10 keep mp the proper moisture. The great
trouble the town cutiyator will encounter will
in fha Il -
'he poorest kind, and mixed with builders rub
Dish. For some species it will be absolutely
necessary 10 have soil that Is light, and which
contains large share of vegetable matter
such as Is known as woods-earth or leaf mold
1t sometimes happens that florist will furnish
supply OF soil OF this kind for q moderate sum,
or arrangement can be made with some market
gardener to bring in a barrel of the desired
material One who is really in earnest can pro-
cure It without great difficulty. We would adj
wise those Who collect ferns By all means 60
learn their name. We have seen a large col
lection, the result of several years labor bv
lady, who did not know the name of single one
OF her ferns, and we could not help thinking
how much more she would have enjoyed her
pets could she call them by name. In Grav,s
Manual the ferns OF the Northern States are
carefully described by Prof. ID. g. Eaton; and
~ one specimen of each genus is 80 illustrated
ty engravings that its characteristic parts are
distinctly shown, almost any intelligent person
can with little study make out the names of
the species he hnds.-Americdn Agricugturist
1ht Scie4ce Oh kissing.
People will kiss. Yet not one in a hundred
knows hew 20 extract bliss frem lovely IiDs, ang
more than they know how 10 make diamonds
fEom charcoal. And yet it is easy, at least for
n Ms tirst, know whom you are going to kiss
Don't make a mistake, although a mistake may
be good. Don't jump up like trout for a fiY,
and smack woman on the neck, or the ear or
the corner of her forehead OF on the end of her
nose. The gentleman should be q little the
taller. de should have a clean face, q kind eve,
and mouth full of expression. Don't kiss
everybody Don't sit down to il. Stand up
Need not be anxious about getting in a crosd.
Two persons are plenty IT, corner, and catch q
KISS more persons would spoil the sport. Take
the lett hand OF the lady IN your right; let your
hat go to any place out of the way; throw the
left hand gently over the shoulder Of the lady,
and let 1t fall down the right side. Do not be in
heart. Her head will fall gently on Your
shoulder, and handsome shoulder straD il
makes. Do not be in hurry; let there be an
impression to that, not like the gripe of a yise
but gentle clasp, full of electricity, thought
and respect. Do not be in q hurry. Her head
lies carelessiy on your shoulder. Your are heart
to heart Look down into her half closed ewes
Gently; but manfuily, press her to your bosom.
Stand firm. Be brave, but don't be in a hurry.
Her lips are almost open. Lean slightly for
ward with your head, not the body. Take good
aim; the lips meet; the eyes close; the heart
opens; the soul rides the storms, troubles and
sOrrows of life, (dOn't be in a hurry; heaven
opens before you; the world shoots under your
feet as a meteor flashes across the evening sky
tdon't be afraid; the heart forgets its bitter
ness, and the art of kissing is learnt No fuss
no noise, no huttering and squirming like hook-
impaled worms. Kissing don't hurt, nor does il
require an act OF Congress 70 make it legal.
WAsHTNG.-Muslin dresses, even of the most
delicate col0rs, can be cleaned in ten minutes
or quarter OF an hour without losing their
color. Melt half pouRd OF soap in gallon of
water, empty IL into a washing tub; place near
two other large tubs of clean water, sud stir
into one quart of bran, PRt the mn slin in the
soap, tur ~ it over aud E11ead it few minutes,
squeezS " our we'll but do not wiring it. least ii
E~r- uorDi rinse IL about quickly in the bran for
d couple of minutes. Rinse again well for a
couple OF minutes in clean water. Squeeze out
dry and hang 1t between two lines. A clear dry
day should be chosen TO wash muslin dresses
Halt dozen may be done in this way In half
an hour. The last rinse may be prepared in the
same way as the rinses for wooden fabrics A
coiored pattern on white ground must be
blued. The bran may here be dispensed with
When the dress is dry make the starch; for a
colored muslin white starch, and unboiled but
made with boiling water, is best for muslin
dresses. Stir the starch with the end of a wax
candle; dip the dress; hang IL again to dry.
When dry rinse Ii quickly and thoroughly in
clear water; hang it to dry again; sprinkle and
roll it up; afterward iron IL with very hot irons
Hot irons keep the starch stiff. This rlnsing