12 



Greenhouse and Stove Planter 



The usual method of propagation is from 

 spores — the name applied to the seeds of 

 Ferns. These are very small, and if care 

 is not taken they are liable to get washed 

 domi so deep in the soil as to prevent their 

 vegetating. Broad shallow pans are the 

 most suitable for sowing in, and these 

 should be well drained and filled with a 

 mixture of sifted fibrous peat, -svith some 

 broken sandstone or crocks added, and 

 enough sand to make the whole porous. 

 Press the material moderately tiiin in the 

 pans, and give it a good wateiing to get 

 the surface quite smooth ; on this sow the 

 spores, not too thickly. Stand the pans in 

 larger ones that will hold water, and in 

 these keep a small quantity, about an inch 

 or so in depth. This water the material the 

 spores are sown in will draw up so as not 

 to require the giving of any directly on 

 the surface ; in tliis way the danger before 

 indicated of the spores being washed down 

 too deep is avoided. Stand in a tempera- 

 ture of from 50° to 65°, according to the 

 time of the year, and the more or less heat 

 the species requires. It is well to sow the 

 spores as soon as they are in condition, 

 which, in the case of many, will be towards 

 the latter end of summer. Some kinds 

 vegetate more quickly than others, but in 

 the case of the spores of most kinds sown 

 at the time indicated, they will began to 

 grow during the autumn and winter. They 

 should be kept through the interim at 

 about the heat already named ; as the 

 weather gets warmer in spring raise the 

 temperature proportionately. As soon as 

 the plants are large enough to handle they 

 may be pricked off from three to half a 

 dozen together, according to the size of the 

 different species, in three inch pots, filled 

 Avith soil similar to that in which they 

 were sown. An intermediate heat, with 

 shade, plenty of light, air in the day time, 

 and a somewhat moist atmosphere, with 

 abundance of water to the soil, are what 

 they require. Some kinds may need mov- 

 ing to single pots before autumn, whilst 

 others that make slower progress will do 

 better undisturbed until about February. 

 This is the best time to pot most kinds of 

 Ferns, as they never like their roots dis- 

 tiu'bed much, least of all after they have 

 begun to make growth. After potting, 

 treat in general as adAased for the preced- 

 ing spring and summer. Once a year is 

 often enough to pot Ferns of any kind, and 

 all that will be necessaiy subsequently is 

 to give more room each spring as required, 

 using the soil in a lumpy state as the 

 plants get larger, with abcnit one-sixth of 

 broken crocks, charcoal, or coal cinders 

 amongst it ; any of these will answer to 



keep the soil porous, which is essential. 

 Where large specimens are required of the 

 creeping stemmed species — such as the 

 Davallias and Gleichenias — wide pans or 

 jjots must be used, but it is a mistake to 

 give Ferns pots as large as many i)lants 

 require. Even the tree species, when large, 

 can be kept in a healthy, thriving condi- 

 tion, with half the root-room that is 

 frequently given, and excessive room re- 

 sults in the fronds outgrowing reasonable 

 space. With the aid of manure-watei' 

 during the growing season. Ferns of nearly 

 all kinds can be kept in the best condition 

 in smaller pots than most things. Most 

 Ferns when they have arrived at a size 

 such as deemed sufficiently large, may be 

 kept in a healthy condition for two or three 

 years, without repotting, by the aid of 

 manure-water in the growing season. One 

 matter of importance that applies to Ferns 

 generally, is that they should never, 

 even in the winter, be allowed to 

 get so dry at the roots as many other 

 plants. 



The creeping stemmed species can be 

 propagated by division of the rhizomes, 

 whicli in all cases should have some roots 

 attached ; the division ought always to be 

 effected early in the season before growth 

 has commenced. Others, with haljit of 

 growth like the Adiantums, will bear 

 division ; the crowns should be separated 

 with roots attached to each. 



Most of the species of stove Ferns in 

 cultivation do better when grown with less 

 warmth than they are often subjected to. 

 When more heat is used -than they require, 

 the fronds are Aveaker, and do not remain 

 in a fresh, healthy condition so long ; they 

 are likewise more susceptible to the 

 attacks of insects, and are much less useful 

 for cutting. For most of the stove kinds 

 a night temperature of 50° to 55° during 

 the autumn and winter, with a little more 

 in the day, and 60° by night, with a rise 

 proportionate to the weather in the day, in 

 summer will answer. The Gymnogrammas, 

 and a few others, are an exception to the 

 generality of Ferns that require more than 

 cool greenhouse treatment, as they must be 

 kept warmer ; 60° in the night in winter 

 is better for them than a lower tempera- 

 ture, and they should be given proportion- 

 ately more in the summer. Such kinds 

 as come under the denomination of green- 

 house species have a better appearance 

 when kept slightly warmer in the winter 

 than the coolest section of general green- 

 house jjlants. say about 45° by night. And 

 in the case of this division the plants should 

 never be subjected to dry currents of air, 

 or in fact have sufficient air given them to 



