82 THE BOOK OF THE GREENHOUSE 



tions of the potting soil, pressing this flat, watering well, and 

 then shaking over the surface a few fronds of the desired 

 varieties which have ripe spores, i.e., the brown powdery 

 substance found round the edges or spotted over the 

 under sides of the fronds. The pans should then be placed 

 in a damp and shady corner of the greenhouse and covered 

 with sheets of glass. They may be watered by partly 

 immersing the pan, taking care not to let the water rise 

 to the level of the surface ; or perhaps a better way is 

 to stand the pan, as soon as sown, in another pan which 

 will hold water, and to keep this partly filled so that 

 absorption is constantly going on, but if this method is 

 adopted see that the water is kept sweet by constant 

 renewal. Rhizomatous ferns may be increased by 

 securing a lump of soil to the rhizome near the end 

 and severing this portion when roots have formed. A 

 few ferns form young plants on the old fronds. Such 

 may be easily detached and potted up in the usual way. 



Palms. Next to ferns, the palms are perhaps the most 

 desired of ornamental foliage plants, and many of these 

 may be grown in quite a moderate temperature, provided 

 other conditions are favourable. Few plants are happier 

 under deep shade and in a very humid atmosphere dur- 

 ing at least eight months of the year. Plants grown 

 under these conditions require very small pots in propor- 

 tion to their size, very seldom need repotting, and do 

 not need nearly so large a quantity of water at the 

 root as is generally given, provided that they get a 

 good amount of overhead syringing. I do not mean to 

 infer by this that the roots should ever be allowed 

 to get dry, as this would be harmful, but would 

 insist that the moisture shall be ever present in the 

 atmosphere and on the externals of the plants, rather 

 than poured in large bodies through the soil. When 

 potting is necessary, it should be carried out in spring, 

 and the soil used should be similar to that recommended 



