ON THE PROPAGATION OF FOREIGN FERNS. 147 



moisture, and regular heat are equally necessary : the heat from 

 70 to 80 degrees. 



Management. — The first appearance of the young Ferns some- 

 what resembles the Marchantia or Liver-wort ; from this presently 

 springs a small leaf or frond ; at which stage a little air should be 

 admitted, and it is well now, to prick out some of these young 

 plants, lest by any accident the whole of the seedlings should 

 damp oil', become covered with conferva:, and thus destroy them. 

 The last evil is often occasioned by too great moisture, and its 

 not having the means of passing off quickly by drainage : stagnant 

 water on the surface should especially be guarded against ; water 

 passing through limestone strata I have found injurious, and now 

 use only soft, or rain water. 



The time from sowing the seed, to the appearance of young 

 fronds, varies considerably : the cotyledons have appeared with 

 me under a good heat, in from three to six weeks, but I have an 

 instance, where the young fronds are only about three-quarters 

 of an inch high, from seeds sown in February 1834 ; nor was there 

 any appearance of a frond from the cotyledon until this year ; it 

 is the Darca sicentaria. 



< 'a potting out the young Ferns, it is advisable in addition to 

 the preparation of the pots and soil in the manner directed for 

 sowing the seeds, to use some small pieces of bog-earth (or of 

 tul a or any porous material) amongst the soil, which induce the 

 roots to shoot more freely. 



Shade is very essential to the Ferns, both while young and 

 v. hen advanced to maturity. 



I fear your readers may think I have mentioned so many cliffi- 

 . allies ;is to deter them from attempting the growth of this beauti- 

 ful claw, but I thought it better to state the obstacles, as well as 

 the besl means of overcoming them : and though some of the 

 1 urns certainly are difficult to cultivate, others; as the Pteris ser- 

 rulate, Pteris longifolia, Asplcnium ebeneum, &c, sow their seed 

 and grow without further trouble. Many of tin: foreign species will 

 1": found sufficiently hardy to bear our winters, without any other 

 protection than what the fallen haves will afford them. I am now 

 tryit red oris on a spot prepared purposely for them, and 



shall !»■• glad to acquaint yon with my plans, and the species I find 

 I the ■ under tin' treatment. 

 PappUwiok, June 2, 1836. .1. R. 



