FERN WINDOWS.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3624, 7 August 1880, Page 4

FERN WINDOWS.

Let us see how,the shady windows of a dwelling-house may be made beautiful by the presence of ferns. We will begin at the basement. Here we shall find, as in thousands of London and other city houses, a window or windows looking out upon what is popularly called the " area." Snch are invariably immersed in shadow, and given up *ns they are to the domestics of the household, one may perhaps not unfrequently see, as one passes, the window sill adorned by modest pots containing geraniums, calceolarias, fuchsias, or the golden-green leaf -and golden flowers of the sweet but modest musk plant. Karely do we see ferns in such windows. But why should they not be there ?„ Let them by all means be mixed with such flowers as will thrive in these windows. But when flowers need to be excluded, by reason of the uncongeniality of the situations, let the ferns at least remain. By the tasteful arrangement around and about such windows of virgin cork, with provisions of " pockets " for Ferns, or by the skilful use of cement and pieces of stone, or brick disguised as stone by a sprinkling of the dry powder of cement —due provision being made for drainage—an " area " window might be made really charming. Or suppose the basement windows of a house are half below the garden or area level. In such cases there will be a space commonly called a " well" outside such windows, having usually three bricked sides, in addition to the window side. By putting a glass top or frame to such a space, an admirable little fern-house will be created, in which ferns will thrive, and find excellent protection against winter frosts. With trowel and cement it will be easy, in a " well "like this, to establish a miniature "fern Paradise."