JULY. 



145 



their soil in a rough state (not sifted) ; but for the smaller ones it 

 must be finer, with some more silver-sand in it; if the mixture is dry, 

 it should be moistened before it is used. The drainage should be 

 good ; this is essential to their successful growth ; for if not attended 

 to, the water will become stagnant, which is very injurious to the 

 plants. My practice is to pot all Ferns once a year, in March, 

 that being about the time when they begin to make new roots. I give 

 them a good -sized pot, with about two inches of drainage ; the pots 

 should be perfectly clean inside and out ; put a layer of moss over 

 the drainage, then some compost, then turn the plant out of its pot, 

 and shake off nearly all the old soil, trimming away a few of the old 

 roots ; place it in the pot, and then fill in with the soil, so that the 

 crown of the plant is about level with the rim of the pot ; then give 

 some water, and place the plants in some shady moist part of the 

 house. 



Ferns require an abundance of water whilst growing vigorously, 

 both on their fronds and at their roots. They should never be per- 

 mitted to get dry; for if this should happen, the plants often die 

 suddenly. In summer I give them a good syringing every day, and 

 water at the roots when they require it. In winter I water more 

 sparingly, giving only just enough to keep the soil moist, and only 

 syringing on very fine mornings, when the sun shines. 



Some Ferns are easily increased by dividing them into pieces, each 

 having a portion of the roots attached. Cut through with a sharp 

 knife, then pull them into pieces ; pot them, and put them in some 

 moist shady part of the house where there is a little bottom-heat, 

 until they make fresh roots. Some kinds produce young plants on the 

 top of the fronds; these should be taken off, potted, and a bell-glass 

 placed over them until they have formed roots, then give them a little 

 air. Some Ferns are increased by seed. The way to gather this is 

 to cut the ripe frond from the plant, then get a piece of white paper, 

 and shake the frond over it till the seed falls ; then take a four-inch 

 pot, and fill it half full of drainage, then a layer of moss, and then fill 

 the pot with some fine mould; this should be baked before it is used. 

 This is the only way of getting rid of worms, &c., which, if not de- 

 stroyed, are very troublesome as the seedlings begin to vegetate. 

 Sow thinly on the top of the mould, then cover with a bell-glass, 

 and place the pot in some shady part of the house. As soon as the 

 plants are large enough to be handled, they should be potted in small 

 pots and kept in the shade; but they should have bottom-heat for 

 some*short time. 



Lycopods are increased either by layers or cuttings, or by dividing 

 the plants, which should be potted, and afterwards put in the shade 

 until they make fresh roots. The cuttings should be potted into 

 small pots in a compost of rotten leaf-mould and loam, with some 

 silver- sand, and put in a gentle bottom-heat. When layers are made, 

 they should be pegged down in the pot with small pegs; and as soon 

 as they have taken root, should be potted in 3-inch pots ; afterwards 

 give them a gentle watering, and let them be kept in the shade. 



Some of the most beautiful exotic Ferns are to be found among 



