BOMBAY FERNERIES. 163 



decayed wood, charcoal, etc., should be used. The pots should in nil 

 les bo well drained by a layer of crocks or broken bricks at the 

 bottom, which may with advantage be covered with bits of tin 

 fibrous network surrounding the leafstalks of the Cocoanut palm. 

 The soil should not be fine, the coarser and more lumpy it is the 

 bitter, it should not be rammed firmly in the pots, but be allowed 

 to settle w T ell by shaking and beating the pot against a hard surface, 

 the top layer should be gently pressed and smoothed with the hand. 

 The size of pots naturally varies according to the nature and dimen- 

 sions of the plants, but in most cases comparatively large sized pots 

 will be found the most useful for full-grown plants in this climate, 

 where frequent re-potting is not advisable, and the evil conseauen 

 of over-watering need not to be feared. It is difficult to fix the 

 most suitable season for potting in this country, where thia 

 operation may be performed at almost any season without injury to 

 the plants, when sufficient care is bestowed upon them. Where 

 however distinct periods of rest and growth can be easily ascertained' 

 potting should be preferably undertaken when the new growth has 

 just commenced, thus for many ferns in March, for most foliage 

 plants in May and June, and for all tuberous and bulbous plants 

 when signs of renewed vegetation appear. Propagation may be per- 

 formed at all seasons, for plants in the Fernery it is generally limited 

 to division and the striking of cuttings, in rare instances layering 

 has to be resorted to, and occasionally the sowing of seeds or spores.' 

 The necessarily limited space of this paper does not admit of a 

 detailed account of the various processes, which however also seem 

 to be sufficiently known for all general purposes. Watering should 

 be very carefully attended to, and every pot examined, before being 

 supplied with water. No plant should ever be allowed to flag for 

 want of water, but, on the other hand, a certain dryness of the soil 

 is at times beneficial for plants, and nothiugis more dangerous than 

 a water-logged soil. To the frequent questions regarding the 

 watering of f>lants, there is but one reply, to water when the soil 

 is dry, i.e., when it does not leave any touch of moisture when pressed 

 with the fingers. It is quite impossible to lay down a hard and 

 fast rule for the requirements of any particular plant, which can only 

 be ascertained by experience and intimate acquaintance. Watering 



