Fern Bails.

Manawatu Herald, 11 October 1902, Page 2

Fern Bails.

Mr Alfred Unger writing, to: the “ Garden " from Yokohama, Japan, says,—l beg to send you herewith a photograph showing a Fern ball made of “ Davallia bullata.” These Fern balls have in later years .been ex* ported in large quantities to America, and I hear that the article has also been taken up in England. It is without doubt a very beautiful ornament for the house, verandah, or any place in the garden where there is shade. The structure, so. to speak, is made of sphagnum which the Fern roots are closelyUcl. The string used for tying is made of Chamseropa fibre, which has the advantage that it does not rot for a number of years. The culture is the easiest possible. In spring they are dipped in water and hung up anywhere in the shade,, after that they must be regularly syringed or dipped, and after a short time the young fronds appear and form a regular Fern ball. In autumn the leaves will begin to turn yellow; this is a natural sign that their vegetation

" period bus ended and the supply of water should be stopped; they will loose all their loaves and must bo allowed to dry off perfectly, and are kept" during the winter in a dry place free from frost. The next spring the same process is repeated, when the growth of the Fern fronds will be even better than ib. the first- season. So treated these Fern balls can be kept for four or five years until the moss and string begin to rot. Aa said before, they have been eagerly taken up by the American public, and ray firm has orders in this year for oyer 100,000. It is of great importance for the- commercial value that they travel with perfect safety and that their culture is the easiest, and at last that they are very cheap. ______