art, will be at all in place here. The surface of the whole cannot be too irregular, or too variedly indented or prominent. Evergreen shrubs of low growth will be particularly useful in giving prominence to some portions of the work ; provision will therefore have to be made, in the placing of the stones, for planting a few shrubs and a greater number of herbaceous rock plants in their interstices, which should be left broader or smaller, according to the size of the plant that may be required in them. In arranging the stones they should be laid upon their broadest or flat sides, with the outer edges slanting downwards rather than up- wards. Any great elevation should never be sought in small rockeries. This would be inconsistent with their breadth and would render them too prominent and artificial. As many of the plants succeed best in the shade a portion of the rock-work should be partly surrounded with trees or shrubs, that they may derive that advantage. Trillums, orchis, cyprepediums and some few ferns, and a great variety of native plants which are found in our woods, with an appropriate soil, would flourish well in such a spot. The rockery should be partly, or wholly, concealed from the general flower-garden by shrubs or trees. It may be ap- proached from the main walk under a rustic arch, mantled with climb- ers, or through a winding passage among evergreens. A beautiful and luxuriant group of ferns may be had for the entire summer by anyone who has a large tree or shady place where they can be planted. If there is a wet and unsightly place that can never be made to look well, all the better ; choose that spot for your ferns. An airy place, shaded by the house, will do nearly as well. To prepare a place for the ferns proceed in this wise : Choose a bundle of stakes two and a half feet long, an inch and a half in diameter, and which still retain the bark ; drive these into the ground in a circular or oblong form, as you may wish the bed to be ; the stakes may stand from twelve to eighteen inches above the ground ; now weave in and out about the stakes, basket fashion, grape vine until the top of the stakes is reached. You then have what appears to be a rustic basket. Fill the bottom with sod, or earth rubbish of various sorts, but leave room enough in the top for a good layer «f fresh mold, in which plant the ferns, which may be taken from the woods as soon as the fronds begin to peep above the ground. It is better to choose the ferns from a plot where they grow thickly, and take them up so that they may be as little divided as possible, and with plenty of soil unbroken about the roots. Fill your baskets full of them, and if you water them well you will have a thing of beauty to gladden your eyes and cool your senses during all the warm summer days. The basket may be further ornamented by slipping seeds of the Cyprus vine or morning glory between the interstices of the grape vine 86 FERNS.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

art, will be at all in place here. The surface of the whole cannot be too irregular, or too variedly indented or prominent. Evergreen shrubs of low growth will be particularly useful in giving prominence to some portions of the work ; provision will therefore have to be made, in the placing of the stones, for planting a few shrubs and a greater number of herbaceous rock plants in their interstices, which should be left broader or smaller, according to the size of the plant that may be required in them. In arranging the stones they should be laid upon their broadest or flat sides, with the outer edges slanting downwards rather than upwards. Any great elevation should never be sought in small rockeries. This would be inconsistent with their breadth and would render them too prominent and artificial. As many of the plants succeed best in the shade a portion of the rock-work should be partly surrounded with trees or shrubs, that they may derive that advantage. Trillums, orchis, cyprepediums and some few ferns, and a great variety of native plants which are found in our woods, with an appropriate soil, would flourish well in such a spot. The rockery should be partly, or wholly, concealed from the general flower-garden by shrubs or trees. It may be approached from the main walk under a rustic arch, mantled with climbers, or through a winding passage among evergreens. A beautiful and luxuriant group of ferns may be had for the entire summer by anyone who has a large tree or shady place where they can be planted. If there is a wet and unsightly place that can never be made to look well, all the better ; choose that spot for your ferns. An airy place, shaded by the house, will do nearly as well. To prepare a place for the ferns proceed in this wise : Choose a bundle of stakes two and a half feet long, an inch and a half in diameter, and which still retain the bark ; drive these into the ground in a circular or oblong form, as you may wish the bed to be ; the stakes may stand from twelve to eighteen inches above the ground ; now weave in and out about the stakes, basket fashion, grape vine until the top of the stakes is reached. You then have what appears to be a rustic basket. Fill the bottom with sod, or earth rubbish of various sorts, but leave room enough in the top for a good layer of fresh mold, in which plant the ferns, which may be taken from the woods as soon as the fronds begin to peep above the ground. It is better to choose the ferns from a plot where they grow thickly, and take them up so that they may be as little divided as possible, and with plenty of soil unbroken about the roots. Fill your baskets full of them, and if you water them well you will have a thing of beauty to gladden your eyes and cool your senses during all the warm summer days. The basket may be further ornamented by slipping seeds of the Cyprus vine or morning glory between the interstices of the grape vine 86 FERNS.

The household (of the Detroit free press)