THE GARDEN WEEK BY WEEK 



March Perhaps the Fern speciaHst will not fall into line here ; 

 1-15 he may consider that his favourites are being treated 

 as " supers " where they should be " principals," and 

 object to any suggestion that the primary use of Ferns 

 is to serve as a foil for flowers. Need he be thus sensi- 

 tive ? I think not. Ferns are beautiful, and well worth 

 growing for themselves, but provided they are not kept 

 long in draughty or ill-ventilated places they will not 

 suffer from association with flowers. 



Fern interest bounds into active life in spring, because 

 then new growth is beginning. The old fronds may be 

 a little rusty or tarnished, but there are small, brownish- 

 green balls at the base, slowly unfolding under the in- 

 fluence of warmth, and reminding us that the fresh 

 green fronds will soon furnish the plant, and give it new 

 life. It is whengrowth is starting that Ferns can be 

 best divided, and division is a ready means of propaga- 

 tion which amateurs need not hesitate to avail themselves 

 of. The Adiantums (Maidenhair included) are easily 

 increased in this way. They should be turned out of 

 their pots and a knife passed right through the ball from 

 top to bottom, dividing it into two or more portions, 

 which may then be potted afresh. Equal parts of peat 

 and fibrous loam, with a liberal admixture of coarse 

 sand, suit Ferns well. The compost should be pressed 

 firmly round the balls. 



That popular room Fern, Asplenium Bulbiferum, 

 forms tiny plantlets on its fronds. The juveniles form 

 near the tips, and consist of a little dark ball from which 

 a tuft of small fronds spring. It is interesting to note 

 the tiny new fronds beginning to uncoil at the base. 

 They may be seen at mid-winter. The plantlets will 

 grow if set in soil like seedlings. 



If it is desired to merely repot Ferns, without 

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