A very pretty hanging basket may be made by building up small straight sticks with the bark on in the same way that a log house is built. The size of the basket will depend largely on the size of the fern which you wish to grow, but ordinarily the sticks should be from twelve to sixteen inches long. The sizes should taper from an inch in diameter for those at the bottom to half an inch for the top ones. In starting the construction, nail four of the larger sticks together, so as to make a frame with the ends projecting about one and a half to two inches. Between the two upper sticks place a row of sticks so as to form a grating with half-inch spaces. This makes the bottom, and in building up the sides we simply nail on two pieces running one way and then two running the other, until the desired height is reached. Always drive the nails in at an angle, so that the nails of the next layer will not interfere when they are put in. The best plan is to have the sticks all sawn to the proper length before nailing together, so that the entire attention may be given to building the sides up squarely. Two long, thin branches are now to be found and slowly bent so as to form the long handles. Nail these to the inside corners, and wire the handles together at the top - and the basket is done.

In filling such a basket with new earth it will be necessary to line the inside with moss or leaves to keep it in, but after a few waterings the whole forms into a solid mass and no trouble will be found.