November 29, 1919 



HORTICULTURE 



465 



RAISING FERNS FROM SPORES. 

 There are several ways of propagat- 

 ing ferns, some being more suitable 

 to certain genera than others, but the 

 present article will be confined to a 

 description of one method, which is 

 probably the commonest and is cer- 

 tainly the most Interesting. 



Spores (so-called from the word 

 "spora," a seed) very much resemble 

 seeds, but whereas the former includes 

 in its structure both an embryo (or 

 young plant) protoplasm and an 

 outer covering, the latter is actually 

 the young plant itself in a very min- 

 ute form. Also seeds produce flower- 

 ing plants, spores otherwise. 



The formation of the spores is as 

 interesting as it is complex. They are 

 generally to be found on the under- 

 sides of the fronds, or leaves, as they 

 are commonly though incorrectly term- 

 ed. The time to gather them is as 

 soon as they turn brown but before 

 they get over-ripe and burst. They, 

 including the frond, are put in a paper 

 bag for a few days to dry, but should 

 be sown as soon after this as possible 

 to get good varieties. 



Shallow pans half filled with clean 

 crocks and covered with a mixture of 

 peat and leaf mould, with the addition 

 of a little sharp sand, or, better still, 

 broken bricks, to keep it open and 

 sweet, are the best receptacles in 

 which to sow them. This should be 

 sterilized by immersing in boiling 

 water or baking in ovens. 



In sowing the spores care must be 

 taken that there is no draught, other- 

 wise they, being so small and light, 

 are liable to get lost. Then cover 

 with a sheet of glass, which should 

 not be removed till after germination, 

 as foreign spores are liable to be 

 blown in and crowd the others out. 

 Brown paper should be placed over the 

 glass to keep out the light. 



The first thing to be seen when 

 germination has begun is growth 

 called the "prothallus," looking like a 

 common moss. Before the first true 

 frond appears, these should be pricked 

 out into boxes or pans prepared in the 

 same way as seed boxes, but slightly 

 rougher in texture. Great care must 

 be taken in the handling of the pro- 

 thallus. as it is extremely tender, and 

 is liable to die if subjected to the least 

 bruise, the death of one affecting oth- 

 ers. 



Soon after this, they should be 

 potted up into small pots, using a com- 

 post of leaf mould, peat, plenty of 

 sharp sand and a little loam. 



All should be left in a warm house 



CHRISTMAS PLANTS 



Cyclamen, $1.50 and up; Begonias, 75c to $2 each; Poin- 

 sett ias, single, 50c, 75c and $1 each; pans, made up with 

 Ferns and Peppers, $1.50 to $4 each. 



FERNS, Scottii, Verona, Boston and Roosevelt, 50c to $2 

 each. 



FRANK EDGAR, 



Waverley, Mass. 



ANNOUNCEMENT 



The New Crimson 

 Carnation for 1920 



BERNICE 



Orders filled in strict 

 rotation for December 

 and January delivery 



fe. STOCK LIMITED t. i I 



WRITE FOR" DESCRIPTIVE" CIRCULAR 



PRICE: 



\% 14. 

 ' 115. 



00 per 100O 



W. D. HOWARD, Milford, Mass. 



till they are taking root In the pots, 

 when they may be hardened of (if a 

 hardy species.). 



Spring and summer are the best 

 times of the year for the operation, 

 but it may be done successfully at any 

 season, and the winter season, when 

 there is nothing to be done outside 

 offers a suitable opportunity for those 

 who have a greenhouse. — Canadian 

 Florist. 



BUFFALO'S SUCCESSFUL FLOWER 

 WEEK 



"Say it with Flowers" week cam- 

 paign in Buffalo was a big success. 

 There was also during the week a big 

 Municipal Flower Show which was a 

 very fine arrangement. The florists 

 of Buffalo have become very enthusi- 

 astic in regard to this publicity work. 

 The committee consisted of Wallace 

 H. Eiss, chairman; Mark Palmer, 

 treasurer; Robert Scott, Harold Brook- 

 ins, C. T. Treichler, Arthur Kowalske 

 and Edward Lehde. This committee 

 is composed of three retailers, three 

 wholesalers and one wholesale com- 

 mission man. 



The Municipal Flower Show that 

 was held in Elmwood Music Hall was 

 a wonderful creation. It excelled any 

 Chrysanthemum show that I have yet 

 seen in its design and carrying out. 

 This was due to the fact that it was 

 under the supervision of one man who 

 had placed orders for the exhibition 

 one year in advance. Everything was 

 arranged according to schedule. The 

 Ei.ia Grant Wilson. 



NASSAU COUNTY HORTICULTUR- 

 AL SOCIETY 



Glen Cove, N. Y., Nov. 14. — The reg- 

 ular monthly meeting of the above so- 

 ciety was held in Pembroke Hall, Glen 

 Cove, on Wednesday, Nov. 12th, at 

 7 p. m., President Joseph Adler presid- 

 ing. 



Five petitions for active membership 

 were received. 



In the special class for table deco- 

 rations for assistant gardeners, six 

 tables were in competition. The presi- 

 dent appointed the following to act as 

 Judges: Messrs. John F. Johnston, 

 Jas. McCarthy and P. W. Popp. The 

 following awards were made: T. Mc- 

 Dougall, assistant to John W. Everitt, 

 1st; Arnold Gataire, assistant to Peter 

 Smith, 2nd; and Alex. Marshall, as- 

 sistant to Geo. Ferguson, 3rd. 



The president presented the Mrs. F. 

 B. Pratt silver cup for the best collec- 

 tion of hardy "mums" to John W. Ev- 

 eritt; the Hitchings silver cup for the- 

 best 12 "mums," four varieties, to 

 Peter Smith; Mrs. A. L. Pratt's silver 

 cup for the best table decoration to 

 Geo. Ferguson. 



The exhibits for our next meeting, 

 to be held on Wednesday, December 

 10th, are: Pot or pan of paper-white 

 narcissus, three heads of celery and 

 twenty-five Brussels sprouts. 



This December meeting will be the 

 annvial meeting and one which it is 

 important that all members attend. 

 The officers for the coming year will 

 be elected at this time and the annual 

 reports given. 



Hakhy Goodband, Cor. Secy. 



