362 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



To increase certain other varieties, it is necessary to 

 divide the crowns. Among such are Adiantum Farleyense, 

 and Adiantum Croweanum. The crowns are broken into 

 minute pieces and placed in a pan of live sphagnum moss. 

 The pan is covered with glass and kept in a temperature of 

 65 to 70. As soon as the eyes have developed one or 

 two fronds, they are potted and placed in a heavily shaded 

 house. They should be given excellent air circulation, 

 but the atmosphere should be constantly moist and even. 

 Extremes of heat or moisture should never occur. Some 

 species, as Asplenium bulbiferum, produce bulblets on 

 the pinnae of the fronds. These may be separated and 

 placed directly into pans or small pots. 



The many varieties of Nephrolepis reproduce readily 

 from runners, or offsets; and this is the most common 

 method of propagation. As soon as bedding plants or vio- 

 lets are out of the house in the spring, ferns may be planted 

 in the benches or beds. Within a short time, a large num- 

 ber of runners will be formed, and each one will produce 

 a small plant. After they have developed a number of 

 fronds and a good root system, they may be cut from the 

 parent and potted separately. These offsets make a 

 rapid growth, and are desirable plants for fall sale. 



562. Tree ferns. Included in tree ferns are Cyathea, 

 Dicksonia, Cibotium and Alsophila. The characters 

 and culture of these are similar. 



563. Cyathea, botanical classification. Order, Cyath- 

 eacese ; genus, Cyathea (Greek, meaning a cup, alluding 

 to the cup-shaped indusia) ; species : medullaris ; deal- 

 bata ; Burkei ; meridensis. 



564. Cyathea, botanical characters. Cyathea com- 

 prises a family of beautiful ferns of majestic dimensions. 

 They vary much in their character and size, but all have 



