FERNS AS DECORATIVE OBJECTS. 109 



The foregoing directions refer to the hardy species. Except- 

 ing that in this case the seed-pots may be placed in the Fern- 

 house, they apply equally to the more tender kinds. The surface 

 of the soil ought not to be watered after the spores are sprinkled 

 on it, as the water is liable to wash them away, and the soil will 

 be kept sufficiently moistened by capillary attraction if the 

 saucers beneath tlie pots are kept filled up with water. It is also 

 advisable to roast tiie soil employed, in order to kill the germs of 

 any other plants that may be contained in it. 



3. Soil and Potting. 



A good general compost for pot Ferns may be formed of fibrous 

 heath-soil broken up into lumps as large as walnuts (or smaller 

 for small pots), and of perfectly decayed leaf-mould, these two 

 ingredients being used in about equal proportions. To this is to 

 be added a greater or less quantity of clean gritty sand, the larger 

 quantity of this ingredient being employed for the smaller and 

 more delicate rooted of the species, and the lesser quantity for 

 the more robust kinds, which latter are further benefited by the 

 addition of about a fourth part of turfy loam. The ingredients 

 of this compost ought to be very intimately blended. AVhen 

 used for potting, the soil should be in a medium state between 

 wet and dry, rather inclining to the latter. 



The pots are to be prepared by placing a large flat piece of 

 potsherd over the hole in the bottom, and on this a layer of broken 

 bricks, potsherds, or charcoal, sufficient to fill up from one- 

 fourth to one-third of the depth of the pot; the broken crocks 

 for the smaller pots should be of tlie size of peas and nuts, and 

 for the larger pots twice that size. On these place some of the 

 fragments of tlie turfy soil. Set the plant in the pot so that its 

 crown may be about level witli the pot rim, or rather above it, 

 and then fill in among its roots carefully with the soil, throwing 

 in, as the process proceeds, a handful or two, or more, of small 

 lumps of charcoal, such as have been already alluded to; the 

 whole should be made moderately firm. When the plants are 

 removed to their respective positions they shoidd have a thorough 

 watering. Provided that the proper yjrecautions are taken to 

 secure efficient drainage, the pots may with advantage be rather 

 large. Thus a strong plant of a species bearing fronds of a foot 

 or so in length should have a pot of at least a foot in diameter ; 

 and a species producing fronds of half this size may be placed in 

 a pot 5, 6, or 8 inches across, according to the size and vigour of 

 the tuft or crown. 



Iilxcepting in the case of some of the most delicate kinds, 

 which require a little extra care and nicety in the operation, one 

 mode of potting may be recommended for all the species con- 



