16 HOW TO KNOW THE FERNS 



The best thing that can happen to 

 the spore is that it should settle upon some 

 moist soil. Here it may be mentioned a most 

 instructive experiment is the sowing of a few 

 fern spores. This may be carried out in 

 ordinary garden soil, although it is wise to 

 sterilize it before use. All soil contains the 

 germs of such organisms as mould which, in 

 cultivation at any rate, is especially destructive 

 to developing spores. The plan is to bake the 

 mould in an oven until it is so hot that one 

 cannot bear to touch it. We shall get any 

 number of spores from the fertile leaf of a 

 Male Fern by just tapping the frond whilst 

 holding it over the surface of the soil. Do 

 not scatter the spores too thickly, or it will 

 be difficult to examine the stages of develop- 

 ment, and remember also that the soil should 

 be moist at the start. The results of this 

 spore culture are always more satisfactory if 

 the soil is covered with a bell-glass an ordinary 

 tumbler would do if nothing better is avail- 

 able. Water must be given as necessary, 

 though do not swamp the soil ; the best plan 

 is to let the liquid in a few drops at a time. 



In the case of the Male Fern the germination 

 of the spore will start in about eight days, 

 but in other species the period varies. Many 

 of the succeeding stages cannot be intelligently 

 followed except with the aid of a microscope. 

 The first thing which happens to the germinating 

 spore is the development of a root hair which 

 helps in fixing the process to the soil. A 

 system of cell division now commences in the 

 other portion of the spore which results in the 

 formation of a green filament, every cell of 

 which is capable of producing root hairs. 

 This filament is the beginning of the body, 



