108 I'EUNS AS DECORATIVI': OliJKCTS. 



leaf-like body, usually transparent, and nearly or quite simple, is 

 seen to spring up; subsequently, at tlie base of tliis rises another 

 somewhat more perfect — more divided, if tlie mature frond is a 

 compound one — and afterwards eacli succeeding development 

 approaches, though by slow degrees, nearer and nearer to the 

 coniiition of the mature plant, whicli maturity is not attained 

 until a considerable though varying period of time has elapsed. 

 Until they have nearly or quite reached maturity, seedling Ferns 

 are exceedingly puzzling. 



I may quote here tlie following remarks which I liave had 

 occasion to make elsewliere,* on the pi'ocess of raising Ferns from 

 the sj)ores : — 



*' Half-fill some shallow wide -mouthed pots with broken 

 crocks, and on thin put a layer of about 2 inclies of little lumps 

 of spongy peat soil mixed witii soft sandstone, broken in small 

 lumps, of the sizes of nuts and peas ; tliis compost should not be 

 consolidated. Next, sliake or brush very gently over a sheet of 

 white paper, a frond of tiie species to be propagated ; the fine 

 brown (hist thus liberated consists of tlie spores in greater or less 

 quantity, intermixed with more or less of the spore-cases, some 

 of which usually become detached in the course of the process. 

 This dust is then to be regularly and thinly scattered over the 

 rough surface of the soil, which is immediately to be covered 

 witli a bell-glass large enough to fit down close within the pot 

 rim. The pots are at once to be set in feeders, and these are to be 

 kept filled up with water ; they may either be placed under a 

 hand-glass in a cold frame, or in a greenhouse, as may be most 

 convenient. Some time, varying according to the freshness or 

 otherwise of the spores, will probably elapse before germination 

 commences. The first indications of germination will consist in 

 the appearance of little patches of a green crust resembling a 

 liver-wort ; subsequently, small imperfect fronds will appear, and 

 these will become more and more perfect in succession. During 

 this time the supply of water must be kept up, and the glasses 

 kept close over the young plants. When two or three fronds are 

 developed, the glasses should be tilted on one side for a short time 

 every day, and ultimately entirely removed, the pots still being 

 retained under a hand-glass ; after a week or two they may be 

 taken up, carefully separated, and potted singly in small pots. 

 The young plants should still be kept under a hand-glass until 

 established, and then removed to a cold close frame, gradually 

 inured to the degree of exposure respectively proper for each, 

 and ultimately submitted to the same treatment as the mature 

 plants." 



• * Iland-book of British Ferns. 



