146 ON THE PROPAGATION OF FOREIGN FERNS. 



roots riddled out of it, I have not been troubled since, by any na- 

 tive Ferns growing amongst my foreign seedlings. The bog earth, 

 being taken from one to two feet below the surface, did not appear 

 to contain seeds. No manure must be added to the compost, for 

 whenever from accident any manure has been mixed with the soil, 

 it has invariably destroyed the seedlings. 



Drainage. — In preparing the pots for sowing the seed, I fill 

 them to at least half their height with potsherds and well-burnt 

 cinders, and some sphagnum or bog moss. This drainage is 

 very material ; for, whenever the upper soil is not sufficiently 

 drained, the surface becomes covered with conferva?, which 

 speedily destroy the seedlings ; T then fill up about one third more 

 with the soil mixed as above. 



Seed. — It is requisite to be careful regarding the seed of Ferns ; 

 persons occasionally mistaking the capsules, which in some species, 

 as Aspidium Atomarium, are extremely small, for the seed itself, 

 or not being aware when the capsules are burst and the seed shed : 

 this latter mistake is easily made, for the Todea Africana sheds its 

 seed in a few hours after it is ripe ; and without examination, it is 

 probable chaff only may be sown. Some of the Anemias havt 

 been found very difficult to propagate, on account of the seed being 

 shed before it becomes sufficiently ripe to vegetate. In some of . 

 the Gymnogrammas (a most beautiful genus), the powdered ap- 

 pearance which covers the under surface of the frond is frequently 

 mistaken for the seed itself. I have found wrapping part of the 

 frond in paper before the capsules become quite ripe, and allowing 

 them to burst of themselves, to be the preferable method of ob- 

 taining good seed, which is in some species so minute, that, with- 

 out a magnifying-glass is used, persons will at first suspect there 

 is none. 



Moisture and Heat. — The soil being previously moistened, a 

 very small quantity of seed is sufficient to be sown, which must be 

 shaken lightly on the surface, and then covered closely with a bell 

 ^lass, which keeps under it a more even degree of temperature as 

 well as of moisture. Xo water ought afterwards to be poured on 

 the surface of the soil, which must be kept sufficiently moist, In- 

 having water put into the stand in which the pot is placed. When 

 considerable heat can be given, as on the Hue of a pine stove, a 

 flat piece of glass placed over the pot will be sufficient. Regular 



