46 



characterised found to sport on such symmetrical and 

 feathery lines as those with free veins are capable of doing. 



C. T. D. 



FERN PROPAGATION IN BOTTLES, ETC. 



Although allusions have been made more than once in 

 the Gazette to this subject, they are of such a scattered 

 nature, and the subject is so important, that we think a 

 more definite treatment of the subject may be useful. It 

 has long been a recognised fact that if transparent, wide- 

 necked bottles or pickle jars are inserted an inch or two 

 into garden soil, even where ferns do not prevail, they are 

 very apt in course of time to become filled with ferns of 

 the more common species. This is due to two facts, viz. 

 that fern spores are very widely distributed by the wind, 

 and that the close conditions thus afforded are ideal ones 

 for spore germination and the subsequent development of 

 the plants thus produced. It is, indeed, a simple way on 

 a small scale of producing the conditions of a Wardian 

 case, which, invented early in the last century by Mr. 

 Ward, has perhaps contributed more than anything else 

 to facilitate the transport of tender exotic plants from one 

 part of the world to another, and the culture of such as 

 require very close and humid aerial conditions of growth, 

 like the Filmy Ferns and others. 



A curious fact in this connection is that even the total 

 exclusion of fresh air appears to have no retarding effect on 

 growth, though the structure of the plant must be depend- 

 ent upon supplies of carbonic acid gas from some source 

 We have, for instance, still in our fernery a wide-mouthed 

 white glass pickle jar Into which, now at least eight years 

 ago, we introduced a tiny Hartstongue, simply laid upon 

 clean washed damp silver sand of little more than an inch 

 in depth. The mouth of the jar was closed by a glass 

 stopper rimmed with rubber and this was tied down with 

 copper wire to prevent removal. The Hartstongue grew 

 until it filled the jar and reached the stopper, renewing its 



