Germination and raifing of Ferns from the Seed. D rd 
taking thofe frondes or leaves on which the fruétification is copi- 
ous, fair and confpicuous; which are of full growth, have a 
healthy appearance, and are more expofed to the free air than 
confined in fhade. Thefe leaves, laid on clean paper in a dry 
place, foon fhed their feed in the form of duft or fine powdcr, of 
colour varying from black or brown to yellow: the groffer part of 
this powder is the empty capfules, and that very fine part which 
adheres clofely to the paper is the feed. The feeds thus procured ` 
may be fown immediately, or kept in paper in a dry place. How 
long they will retain the principle of vegetation I cannot fay. I 
have kept fome above three months, which grew well enough 
when fown; but they feemed to be rather longer in vegetating 
than thofe frefhly gathered. There are doubtlefs many fpecies of 
ferns, which, like other vegetables, require a foil and fituation pe- . 
culiar to themfelves, yet we often find the fame fpecies growing in 
different foils : hence the propriety of attending to the foil and fitu- 
ation of each fpecies is pointed out, and at the fame time there is 
room left for trying a general medium.—I took equal parts of brick 
mould and good pit marle, at fome depth below the furface, to 
avoid the feeds of other plants, mixed them well together, and 
with this filled the flower-pot, moiftened it properly, and made the 
furface very fmooth : I then divided it into {mall fpaces, according 
to the number of the different kinds intended to be fown in it; and 
laftly ftrewed the feeds lightly on the furface, which may be moift- 
ened with a little water juft before they are fown: they require no co- 
vering. They fhould now be placed in a heat correfponding to that 
of their native climate, in a place rather moift than too dry, freely 
open to the light and frefh air, but fo fhaded that the direct rays of 
the fun {hall not reach them. All ferns feem to grow beft in moift 
and fhaded places; and although many of them will bear the fun's 
rays very well when grown up, few of them, I believe, will do fo 
Vor. II. O when 
