ii6 



eye, I cannot help thinking that had that fern been potted 

 on, and more root room given, the fronds would have 

 responded to the extra vigour of the roots, and the owner 

 would probably have had a specimen double the present 

 size. This is, of course, a matter of conjecture ; but 

 arguing from experience and experiments, that is the only 

 conclusion I can arrive at. 



As a matter of fact, any one can test this for himself by 

 taking duplicate ferns — not Baldzmniis, they are too rare — 

 potting one on, and leaving the other " cabined, cribbed, 

 confined." 



Whether, however, one w^ants large plants is another 

 matter. Whether, again, one has the room must also be 

 taken into account. And yet again, for scientific purposes, 

 perhaps the smaller plant is preferable. But if the object 

 is the fullest possible development, then I see no other 

 way than potting on, that is, giving the plant more root 

 room and consequently more nourishment. Conversely I 

 agree that in the case of wall-ferns, or ferns in bad con- 

 dition, the employment of the smallest receptacle con- 

 sistent with their requirements is the better plan. That 

 ferns do not seem to be so dependent on earthy salts as 

 flowering plants may also be true, and yet, even in Nature, 

 the difference between two ferns growing in close proximity 

 — one in the ditch and the other just above it — is very 

 remarkable. The soil is practically the same ; the 

 additional vigour being due, in the former case, to the 

 greater solubility of the aforesaid earthy salts by reason of 

 the presence of more water. Water, then, is an indis- 

 pensable factor ; and this brings me to the subsidiary 

 saucer. As a general maxim ferns should not be allowed 

 to stand in water ; in fact, the saucer as an aid to the 

 supply of this fluid, should be used with great caution. 

 Lady ferns perhaps may— nay must — be excepted if they 

 occupy small pots and have a vigorous root system. In 

 nature the finest specimens often have their "feet " in or 



