Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-02-04

Probably more women come TO GRIEF
over their ferneries each winter than
over any other kind of indoor plants
1t is discouraging to pay several dol
lars to a florist to I'LL the fern dish
only to have 1t turn yellow, II not die,
In few weeks.
The trouble lies in two things, first
the kind of ferns attempted to be
grown, next in not growing them UNI
der proper conditions.
II you attempt to raise most of the
maiden hairs indoors you are doomed
to disappointment. The hardy ferns
that thrive in shady corners of the
woods do not take well to transplant
Ing into hot houses. however much
you may read to the contrary.
There are enough varieties of ferns,
however, to have a fine display in
your living rooms. In maiden hair
ferns, OF adiantums, the variety that
will stand heat and dryness best is
A. croweanum. Another good one In
doors is A. capillus veneris. while A.
caudatum, a creeping variety of
maiden hair, has been grown success
fully in hanging basket indoors.
Professionals will tell you that
adiantum farleyense, which Is the
finest of all the maiden hairs, cannot
be grown out of a green house. 1t is
tender, but have seen it raised in a
family living room and flourish finely
changes OF temperature.
Among the most satisfactory ferns
FOR indoors either in fern dishes or
separate pots, are the various Boston
terms. Among the newer varieties of
this fern, which is known as nephro-
lepis Bostoniensis, is the feathery
Whitman and the dwarf Scott, which
Is especially good for windows or
terneries.
Various of the pteris ferns are suit
able for house culture. One of the
loveliest is pteris Victoriae. with sill
very variegated leaves. Somewhat
harder is pteris wilson,, which has
! odd crested fronds.
A fine fern for indoors is the holly
fern, or eyrtomium falcatum, which
has broad, glossy foliage quite unlike
the ordinary ferns.
A good fern for hanging is platy.
cerium alcicorne, or stag horn fern
These roots feed on air and when
planted should be hung in a warm
room and kept wet. They can be
grown in baskets or shallow pans and
do best when potted in rough peat
and sphagnum.
In the care of ferns the chief thing
Is not too much dry heat. Keep the
room at a moderate temperature anc
, on mild days give outside air by open
ing windows in an adjoining room
Never let cold air blow directly OF
5 ferns.
] Many a fern dish is ruined by the
maid opening the dining room window
over them to air the room eacl
morning. It is little trouble to mov'
the pots into warmer atmosphere.
Ferns like a rich soil, one of goo,
loan with leaf mould and sand i
= best The pots must have drainage
, as soggy roots will kill every time
: Use pots large enough to keep tn,
/ ferns from getting root bound ant
quickly exhausting the nourishmen
In the soil
Faults in watering is the chief dill
1culty in fern care. They like plent
2 at the roots, but must not be KEEP
/. soggy any more than they can b
S allowed to dry out Do not spray tn
n foliage, especially of maiden hairs, a
e 1t scorches them and turns them We
v low.
Unless your house is very hot tn
amount of water given to ferns can b
lessened from November to Februar
! as during these three winter month
= many ferns rest
Few ferns like hot sunlight, so kee
: slightly back from the window an
!" where the direct rays of the sun d
- not fall on them.
4 The chief dangers to fern growt
Is violent changes Of Temperature
'e soggy, sour earth-from imperfeC
"a drainage-and wetting of the leaves
In growing Boston ferns. cut off a
the runners and allow only two {
ie three crowns to a plant, otherwis
- the pot will soon be filled with crow
and the foliage will suffer.
ie The chief enemy of ferns is meal
bug. Keep a close watch for this an
I pick of with fingers and kill theI
III Red spider and thrips also attac
ferns, but can be fought by fumiga
Ing with tobacco smoke. This mu
&c be carefully done, as too stro1
smoking viii ruin the plants.
" Most professional gardeners to Il
contrary, pots Of maiden hair shou-
k be stood outdoors in summer in son
ny sheltered angle Of the porch OF In
Ehady nook where wind does not e