- AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. . 5 
FERNS. Whether viewed collectively as plants of 
extreme beauty and interest when grown as specimens, 
or for their general usefulness in arrangements with 
flowering subjects, Ferns are indispensable, and possess 
attractions peculiar to themselves. The very large num- 
ber of genera now in cultivation, including native and 
exotic, stove, greenhouse, and hardy, supply means of 
making a suitable selection for every requirement. Re- 
markable variation in size and habit is most noticeable 
among Ferns, apart from the extreme conditions under 
which the different ones succeed. The now almost uni- 
versal use of plants and cut fronds intermixed in floral 
decorations, has led to their production in immense 
quantities annually, to supply the demand for a few of 
the more popular of genera and species that are suit- 
able for the purpose. The popularity of Ferns is ever 
increasing, as ideas regarding the supposed difficulty in 
their culture, and the amount of heat required, have 
been of late considerably modified, many being found to 
succeed in much cooler positions than was at one time 
supposed to be suitable. The majority require more or 
less heat, but many that are kept in a high temperature 
would be healthier and do better in a somewhat cooler one. 
Hardy Ferns are, perhaps, more plentiful in varieties 
than in distinct species, although the latter are numerous. 
Both are interesting and useful for various positions out- 
side, and are in combination extremely diverse in general 
habit. It will be impracticable, on account of space, 
to describe here separately the cultivation of every genus 
referred to this heading. The following general remarks 
respecting the treatment of the different groups, accord- 
ing to the amount of heat or other special requirements, 
with cultural notes on some of the principal genera, may, 
however, with the description accompanying each indi- 
vidual genus separately, prove sufficiently suggestive for 
the treatment of all. ; 
PROPAGATION. This is effected in various ways, ac- 
cording to the different habits or modes of growth 
exhibited in the several types. The most general plan 
of propagation is by spores, but with many species it is 
at best difficult, and in many cases quite impossible, to 
obtain these, and raise plants from them successfully. 
The most popular of Ferns, Adiantums, and several species 
of Pteris, are easily raised in immense quantities from 
spores. All Ferns that form several crowns may be in- 
creased by division; and those with creeping rhizomes, 
like many of the Davallias, are easily -perpetuated either 
by layering the points or removing portions that have 
formed roots. A few—Aspleniums particularly—produce 
small bulbils along the upper portion and at the end 
of the fronds, and these eventually form plants, if re- 
moved and placed in soil. The increase of Filmy Ferns 
is, in most cases, an extremely delicate operation. Plants 
imported from their native habitats, with every care 
taken in transit, frequently do not live to become esta- 
blished, even if arrive in fairly good condition. 
These may be propagated by carefully made divisions 
of such plants as become established and grow well. 
Tree Ferns are imported in quantities, and a large pro- 
portion generally succeed. Young plants may be raised 
from spores, where obtainable, but it would take many 
years for them to grow to the size of imported stems. 
The spores of many of the Tree Ferns germinate freely 
enough, but, under cultivation, never advance beyond the 
prothallus stage. i 
Spores. The fronds from which spores are required 
should be carefully examined at frequent intervals, when 
they are beginning to ripen, in order to obtain the spores 
at the proper time. When the sori begin to turn brown, 
the fronds should be cut and allowed to dry in close 
paper bags. The sooner they are sown, after being kept 
a few days, the better, as any part of the year is suit- 
able for the operation, early spring being, however, pre- 
ferred for the majority of species. should be sown 
` bottom heat. Adiantums are frequently fit for pricking 
Ferns—continued. 
in pots or shallow pans that have been half-filled with 
crocks, the remainder being filled to within }in. of the 
top with a mixture of fine sifted loam and very small 
pieces of crushed brick. An even surface may be obtained 
by pressing firmly with the bottom of another pot. The 
soil should then be watered and allowed to drain before 
the spores are sown, as by watering afterwards the latter 
might be washed away. Fern spores are extremely minute, 
and, consequently, should be scattered very thinly over 
the surface of the soil, pieces of glass being placed over 
the tops of the pots. The pots should be stood in sancers 
of water and placed in a close frame of a propagating 
house, being kept shaded at all times during sunshine, but 
not in dull weather. Laying pieces of paper on the out- 
side of the frame, and removing them when not required, 
is a handy method usually adopted. When the spores 
are sufficiently grown to be visible as very minute plants — 
—a stage that varies considerably, with different Ferns, 
in the time taken to reach it—they should be very care- 
fully pricked off in pots of similar soil, filled, this time, 
level with the top. Very small patches must be taken on 
a stick, having the least notch cut in the end, and they 
should be merely pressed into the new soil about 1 
apart. No water should be applied overhead until the 
little plants have been pricked off some time,“and h 
formed fronds. Sufficient will have been supplied 
tained inside the frame, which is not usually one with 
out in a month or six weeks after being sown. * 
or any others, should be returned to a similar frame after- 
wards, and kept close until- small plants are established, 
when air should be very gradually admitted. If condi- 
tions are suitable, the young Ferns grow fast in the 
spring or summer; and the next shift should be into pots 
singly, or, in the case of Adiantums, each little bunch 
of plants may be treated as one, for quickly forming de- 
corative subjects. Raising Ferns of any description from 
spores is an exceedingly delicate operation, and one that — 
requires considerable care and attention to accomplish 
successfully. It frequently happens that spores obtained 
from fronds of any particular Fern which may have been 
kept separated from others, will, when sown, apparent 
produce a host of young plants that eventually are found 
to belong to another and commoner species or genus. — 
The fact of spores being so light as to be removed and 
perature, will be also suitable fi hardier species. 
Young plants should be potted on before they are very 
full of roots, as, if allowed to become starved in the 
younger stages, it is a long time before they recover. 
Divisions, Fe. The best time for dividing Ferns, or 
for propagating by means of the creeping rhizomes, is just 
before growth commences, in February or early spring. 
It is best not to divide too severely, as small plants are 
much better obtained from spores if that plan be prac- 
ticable. Rhizomes should be pegged to a piece 
peat, or on small pots of soil, and allowed to form , 
before being detached. The insertion of the little bulbils 
in pots of soil, in a close frame, will soon increase the 
stock of those species which produce them. 
Stove Ferns. An idea is often formed that tropical — 
Ferns require a great heat at all times, with constant 
heavy shading in summer, and but little air at that 
season as well. This is altogether a mistake, as 
result is invariably weak, elongated fronds, that y 
once subject to all insect pests, and are ı trong 
enough to stand any change to which it may bé necessary 
