FEUNS AS DECORATIVE OBJECTS. 107 



SO as to separate the fronds or crowns, with some portion of the 

 stem (caudex) and roots attached to each ; for wlierever there are 

 separate and distinct crowns or buds, though attached to the 

 same caiidex, there is no material difficulty in making separate 

 plants. In other species tlie caudex is not creeping, but erect 

 and usually short ; sometimes having only a single crown at the 

 top, and rarely producing offshoots, in consequence of which 

 propagation by division is necessarily tardy ; but at other times 

 readily dividing into separate tufted crowns, in which case dupli» 

 cate plants maybe obtained by separating these in the usual way, 

 with roots attached. 



The separated plants should be kept rather closer than those 

 which are established, at least until tliey have taken fresh root ; 

 and they are benefited by a light sprinkling of water about twice 

 a day. In potting, too, they should be fixed firmly, the crown 

 being just level with or clear of the surface. If they have 

 numerous roots when newly divided, and these are carefully 

 adjusted among the soil, they will thus be held firmly ; but in 

 case the roots are few, and tlie fronds rather preponderating in 

 weight, a couple of little stakes sliould be used, to which the 

 fronds or some of them should be tied, for the purpose of steady- 

 ing the crowns ; this greatly facilitates their rooting, which is, 

 on the other hand, prevented or delayed, when they are moved 

 to and fro by every disturbing cause. The rooting of a delicate 

 plant is generally facilitated by covering it directly with a bell- 

 glass, whicii, however, should be dispensed with, gradually, as 

 soon as the plant has become fairly established. 



Ferns may also be propagated by tlieir seeds, technically called 

 spores. These spores are enclosed in minute cases collected to- 

 gether into masses, usually on the under surface of the fronds, 

 but sometimes at their margins, and occasionally on branches 

 quite distinct from the leafy parts of the plants. They are very 

 minute, and quite indistinguishable in appearance from fine brown 

 dust ; yet when scattered over any constantly damp surface 

 they become developed as living individuals. Thus from atoms 

 almost imperceptible, spring up plants which in some instances 

 attain the stature of trees, and not uncommonlj'^ reach the height 

 of from 5 to 10 feet. The manner in which the process of deve- 

 lopment proceeds in these cryptogams must appear exceedingly 

 curious to those who have only watched tlie germination of the 

 seeds of phaenogamous plants. At the first, a small dull-green 

 cellular crust or scale of almost transparent texture appears ; by 

 degrees this extends — slowly, and its margins become crisped or 

 indented ; then at one point of the margin a gradual thickening 

 takes place, downwards as the nucleus of the future root, and 

 upwards as tliat of the future fronds ; next, a small pal»-green 



