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most ■ deadly enemies to ferns in pots. Of course, 

 judgment must be exercised as to the supply of water, and 

 the ferns must not be kept continually water-logged. 

 During the growing season, however, and especially 

 if the pots are well filled with roots, a little water may be 

 kept almost constantly standing in the saucers, not only 

 without any harm but with distinct benefit if the weather 

 be dry and hot. In moderately genial weather, however, 

 it is desirable to allow the saucers, though not the pots, to 

 become dry for an hour or two during the day so 

 that a little air is able to penetrate the soil. During spells 

 of wet weather, and especially when not much growth is 

 taking place, waterlogging of the pots may be prevented 

 by the simple device of turning the saucers bottom up- 

 wards. They thus continue to exclude worms and the 

 roots of trees but allow the surplus water to drain away 

 freely, and the soil in the pots is maintained in a favour- 

 able condition. During the last two seasons I have had 

 a considerable number of ferns growing under these 

 conditions, and they have done quite as well as other ferns 

 planted in the soil in sheltered situations where they are 

 not subject to the competition of the roots of trees. These 

 ferns are not normal species but are all choice varieties 

 of Athyvitim filix-fcBmina, Polystichum angnlave and aculeatum, 

 Lastvea montana (my whole collection), L. filix-mas and 

 dilatata, Athyvium alpestve, Blechmim spicant, etc. 



Another advantage of culture in pots is that one has 

 complete control over the soil in which the plants grow, 

 one can use a calcareous or non-calcareous, a peaty or 

 stony or rubbly soil, and hard or soft water as may be 

 desired. Thus many species which will not grow in 

 the ordinary soil of a calcareous district, such as Lastvea 

 montana, thelyptevis and dilatata, Polypodium dryoptevis 

 and phegopteris, Blechmim spicant and Allosovus crispus 

 can be cultivated without difficulty by using soil and 

 water free from lime. It is only by using this method that 



