The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-08
PRICE: lis FOR SIX MONTHS,
: -. 200 FOR ONE YEAR. 7oG EE
Gathering Ferns and Mosses.

AS very many of our young friends vii
spend the summer In the mountains, w
commend the following to their interest:
Ferns are so beautiful and easily grow,
that all can afford to have them in thei
gardens or houses. They will grow where
flowers will not and the shadler and dam
per the ground is the better home for the
ferns. A very pretty place for ferns to grow
is in the old fashioned wide fireplace, and
they cover up an unsightly place-in sum.
mer-and also give great pleasure In watch
ING. their tronds expand. A fern basket
ma ke IN this way is both unique and pretty
Take spllnters made of kindling wood fas-
ten them an inch and half apart around
an old tn cover, and keep them in place by
an IRON hoop lifting snugly against the Stats
or splints inside, the cover-rim being
slnghtly lndented to prevent the splints
from moving latterally. The top is wood
en- rlm to which the splints are tackled.
Line this with moss turf, with the green
placed outward, and basket filled with earth
and leaf mold. The moss should also be
extended over the top of the basket after
setting out young ferns, which may be found
IN any of the damp, mossy parts of the
woods The basket when prepared should
be kept somewhat shaded and the moss
should be dampened. The bottom and
q
bright red, contrasting with the green vece-
tatlon, though such violent contrasts in
flowers are not preferable. When moss is
not available, grass sod may be substituted
for the basket lining, and other plants be
substited for the ferns. A peach basket, or
two fastened together, serve the same pur-
pose without the trouble of making the
spint basket
Very beautiful baskets for flowers and
ferns can be made of the longer and more
eathery kinds of MOSES. These look very
beautiful, especially the wild flowers, when
clustered in this this delicate and soft green
nest which can be made to preserve it's
freshness and brilliancy for many months. A
light frame of any shape liked, should be
made of wire and covered with common
pasteboetd or calico, and the moss, which |
should first be well picked over and cleansed |
from any bits of dirt or dead leaves which |
may be hanging about it, gathered into lit |
tie tufts and sewed with course needle and |
thread to the covering so as to clothe it
thlckly with close and compact coating,
taking care that points Of the moss are all |
outward. A long handle made in the same
manner should be attacked to the basket,
and tin or other vessel, filled with either
wet sand or water, placed within to hold the
1owers. By dipping the whole structure
INTO water once in three or four days, its
Verdure and elasticity will be fully preserv-
ed and block of wood about az inch thick
ana stained black or green, if placed under
me basket, will prevent all risk of damage
70 the table from mosture.a f3+ot YE
Another satisfactory arrangement is toob |
tal1 common shallow box and ornament it
With sticks or bark and fill it with sandy
Tsarth, mixed with moss finely broken up.
hller planting the ferns the whole can be
gOVered with moss, such as is found on logs
n damp woods. The ferns will find their
way through the moss. Lobelia is pretty in
lern box or case, and so is Kenilworth |
a pretty fern box that l have seen was
r nOout SIX inches deep and two feet square,
$aepared with buff paper and scarlet bor-
;nai e. flil this with sandy loam with two
me lies OF the top. Take the maiden hair
oa ana larger kinds. and leave the rich,
jaul jny SOIL on the roots. In the early spring
,Ioro used to 60 to the woods, the lake I
EUa' EIo5e' and ill the carriage box full of all t
snrtI rtI ol terms, squaw- berry vines, in fact I
n nyonlhg YUM and everything that would grow $
bonaoS nnoSs' Every available dish around the t
tho bDufe f was filled full of moss dirt, and then
raenh rae lerns Large deep platters, sour tur- S
MAXI, wooden chopping- -bowls-this last S
bIlGSes b"iSes very fine and quaint looking fern t
ali oe,, especially if rough twigs are nailed r
nv TTseF c the outside of it, in rustic FORM h
bes;ne ne lronds are just now springing up and I
dannnli to unroll, SO there is not much c
caref1no TI of breaking them if they are handled b
dish sX After they are set in the box, or v
give tbn l,n up all the places by the wood SOIL "
Shadp ~ good watering, put them In e
1"uy place and begin to watch the develop q,