CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2462, 27 November 1886, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To ihb Editor. . Sir,—Might I suggest to the Flower Show Oomraittee that good result? would follow if soma prizes were offered for Horth Island ferns only, limiting some of the exhibits to' aix-inoh pots, There arc many little ferns suitable for small potß, which would be lost among their larger neighbors, and y?fc would make an elegant oolleotion by themselves. The taste for fern culture is a very pleasant one, giving an object to every ramble in tho oountry, and with some encouragement might be more extensively cultivated. It is not within the reach of everyone to own a greenhouse, or to collect foreign and expensive ferns. Such prizes as I suggest would prevent these latter from driving lesa ambitious exhibitors out of the field. Considering tho number and beauty of our local varieties, there seemed a meagre collection of them at the Show. It jj within the reach of any handy boy, or girl with a little assistance, to make a fernery suitable for raising fine specimens at a small cost, as follows: —Dig a hole in the ground about the size of a kitchen table, to a depth of two feet, then build up with soda the end towards the sun to a height of two feet, sloping to the foot at the other ehd r : 'an"d over, all make a frame of boards, leaving about one third for glass. The whole affair need not be closely fitting, nor need anything. more than broken panes of glass be used; laid overlapping. The side of a bank will suit better than level ground. In such a

simple fernery, of even less dimensions, I oiicg raised tliu finest specimen of onu of the large varieties of Prince of Wales ( feather ferns 1 have ever seen, and which placed on the table in the day time, and returned to the fern-hole at night, gave great satisfaction to tho household,. The following simple rules are, I believe, all that require attention to ensure success. To collect the ferns after the autumn, taking care to cut away the fronds. To tako some little earth round the roots, To bring some bush loam, which, by putting the fern in a pot rather roomy for it, can be packed round the sides, cure being .taken to place some shingle 'and sand in the bottom of the pot, and not to cover the base of the fronds with earth. To let theln have plenty of light, but little or no sun. A can of water should bo kept in the fernery, so as not to he too cold for watering, which should hot be done during the heat of the day, nor need bo done in wet weather. I have found it best to stand the pots iu half-an-inch of water, with only a slight sprinkling round to moisten the air. I shall be pleased, sir, if these few remarks will lead to a little more rivalry next year. I am, etc., . Arthur J. Rawson. t TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-In your ißsue of the 10th lust., your correspondant with a proclivity for arithmetical calculations, says that it may be worth knowing that £1 lent at 100 per cent and renewable overy 3 months at 20 cent would in three years represent the modest amount of £22,160,000. He may, however, be surprised to learn that lie has made a slight mistake in figurrs, 'as the £l, with first interest and renewals every threo months for three yearß would only amount to £1417s 2d and 429862b over 9765624. 1 am, &c., William Jessen, ■ Mauriceville.