PEOPJGATION. 171 



any weeds that will spring up from the spores. We have 

 prevented this by baking, not burning, the soil on a flue, or 

 in an oven, till all the seeds in it were effectually destroyed. 

 This fiery process also kills the eggs and larva of insects. The 

 soil, when sufficiently baked, may be moistened gradually by 

 laying upon a moist cloth and covered with another cloth : 

 gardener like, we always used a bast mat for that purpose. 

 It will take several days to moisten it sufficiently. We prefer 

 this gradual moistening to the more ready one of wetting it 

 by means of the water-pot. 



Supposing all these points have been strictly attended to, 

 and everything gone on well, the Ferns will soon make their 

 appearance. The soil and stones will appear as if covered 

 with green scales, from the base of which the first tiny frond 

 will, spring. It is very curious and exceedingly interesting 

 to watch the progress of the germination and development of 

 these young Ferns. Be very careful, however, to keep the 

 soil moderately moist, and keep the glasses constantly on, to 

 keep up an internal moist atmosphere. It has often been to 

 us a matter of surprise how Fern-spores germinate and grow in 

 their native localities. It can only be accounted for by the 

 immense number of spores each plant produces. Thousands 

 and tens of thousands must perish for want of a proper 

 pabulum and of circumstances favourable to their growth ; 

 but the profusion of spores renders the entire loss of any 

 species impossible. 



To return to our seedlings. Under our careful manage- 

 ment, as soon as the third frond appears, it will be time to 

 think about potting them off a most delicate operation. 

 Take off the glass and examine the small stones first ; there 

 is no difficulty with them. Take up each stone that has a 

 Fern on it, and plunge the stone just within the soil in the 

 tiny pot you have prepared for it, leaving the frond just above 

 the soil. For such delicate rock-loving species as Woodsia 

 hyperlorea, a native of the Scotch mountains, we have added 



