72 THE BOOK OF FERN CULTURE 



treatment, but though a little frost may do no harm, it is 

 safer to keep the temperature above freezing-point. In 

 dividing plants up to increase the stock they require very 

 careful handling. Young plants may be divided into 

 two or three, by cutting the rhizomes and then pulling 

 the roots apart. Or with larger plants the rhizomes 

 may be left to spread over the rims of the pots, and 

 rooted into small pots before severing from the parent. 

 It is curious that although they prove so troublesome to 

 some growers, with others they grow as freely as weeds. 

 It is remarkable that we have no garden varieties, the 

 few variations we have are introductions. Being pro- 

 pagated from divisions may account for the absence of 

 varieties ; it is very rarely that they are propagated from 

 spores. All the known species are worthy of attention, 

 but in a limited collection. G. dicarpa longipinnata, G. Men- 

 delli, G. semivestita, G. rupestris, and G. rupestris glaucescens 

 should be included. 



DAVALLIAS 



In this genus we have numerous distinct species, and 

 many pretty garden varieties. With few exceptions they 

 have fleshy, spreading rhizomes, most of which are 

 covered with hairy scales, which vary in colour from 

 silvery-white to nut-brown. In many, the rhizomes are 

 a most attractive feature. As they spread freely, shallow 

 pots or pans are most suitable for their culture ; they 

 also succeed well in baskets suspended from the roof, 

 and are among the prettiest Ferns for the Rockery. 



When raised from spores they make more compact 

 plants, and in quite a small state are very pretty, but 

 most of them are rather slow to make a start. They 

 may be readily increased by the divisions of the rhizomes. 

 The compost most suitable consists of fibrous loam, peat, 

 coarse sand, and good drainage, and some rubble or small 

 crocks may be mixed with the compost. Charcoal may 

 also be used. 



