126 



THE AQUAKIUM, JULY, 1894. 



margins of its leaves. These spores are 

 seen as brown dust like patches, round, 

 oval or in lines. Tliey are arranged 

 with great regularity, and upon their 

 arrangement, form and covering, botan- 

 ists base their division and classification 

 into the different genera and species. 

 The development of a fern leaf also dif- 

 fers from that of most other plants : in 

 the bud it is usually rolled up from the 

 point to the base. To this rule, how- 

 ever, there are some exceptions. There 

 are two hundred genera and two thou- 

 sand species of ferns described by botan- 

 ists. Of the species there are many 

 varieties depending upon differences of 

 climate, soil and other causes. These 

 varieties also are constantly increasing 

 in number by hybridization under cul- 

 tivation in green and hot houses. They 

 are distributed over the whole surface 

 of the earth, from the equator to the 

 cold regions of the north and south, 

 and always flourish best, whether in 

 temperate or troj^ical zones, in moist, 

 shady places. 



The stems of this plant are usually 

 creeping, but sometimes, as in the case 

 of the tree ferns of the tropics, they are 

 erect. The creeping stems are under 

 ground and the leaves or fronds are the 

 only part of the plant which shows 

 above the surface. In height they vary 

 from two inches, and even less, to a few 

 feet ; but the tree ferns of the tropics 

 often attain an altitude of fifty feet and 

 even much more. Indeed, they are said 

 to rival the majestic palms. 



We will say nothing about the botan- 

 ical divisions of ferns, but, for the pur- 

 poses of this paper, will divide them 

 only into two great classes, the Decidu- 

 ous and Evergreen. They first develop 

 their fronds, mature the spores, and, 

 upon the approach of frost, the foliage 

 dies, and the stem and roots lie dormant 



in the ground until the next season of 

 growth. The evergreen ferns throw up 

 their fronds and there they remain 

 bright and green until their successors 

 appear. In the tropics, of course they 

 continue to grow during the winter 

 months, only approaching a condition 

 of rest during the dry season. Under 

 protection, with moisture and heat sup- 

 plied, they grow luxuriantly during the 

 whole year. The evergreen ferns of the 

 colder climate do not, of course, con- 

 tinue their growth during the winter 

 season, but the fronds remain erect and 

 preserve tlieir fresh, bright green color 

 lantil the new ones appear in the spring. 

 It is with the evergreen ferns that we 

 have most to do, as they will serve to 

 cheer us in the winter when all of the 

 deciduous ones are asleep out of sight. 

 Many of the deciduous ferns will grow 

 very well m pots, and make very pretty 

 summer ornaments, but the most favor- 

 able conditions of heat and moisture 

 will not coax them to make a winter 

 growth. If you have, during your 

 summer excursions, brought home and 

 potted a collection of these beauties, 

 you need not be discouraged when you 

 see them wither and die uj^on the ap- 

 proach of winter. Put them away in 

 some place just warm enough to keep 

 the pots from being broken and de- 

 stroyed by frequent freezing and thaw- 

 ing. Do not let them get too dry and 

 they will renew their beauty in the 

 spring and gladden you all summer. 



But it is best to confine yourself to 

 the evergreen ones for cultivation, and 

 the list to select from is indeed a long 

 one. You can get young plants from 

 the florist, or, if you choose to take the 

 time and trouble you may grow them 

 from the spores. This is the natural 

 way in which ferns are propagated just 

 as flowering plants are grown from seed. 



