172 HARDY FEBNS. 



to the heath mould some pieces of sandstone about the size 

 of swan shot. This keeps the soil open both to the influences 

 of the air and the water. After potting all off, replace them 

 in the frame, and keep them close for a month ; then gradually 

 inure them to bear the open air, and when large enough plant 

 them out in the fernery. 



This may appear a tedious process, but the results, when 

 successful, will repay all the trouble. The owner may if he 

 chooses dispose of his surplus stock to some nurseryman ; or 

 he may exchange with other growers that have not the means 

 of raising seedlings. 



Another rougher mode of propagating hardy Ferns from 

 spores is to place some small pieces of sandstone, or even 

 bricks, on the soil, in a shady moist place ; then sprinkle the 

 spores upon them and cover the whole with a hand-glass. 

 Many good kinds of Ferns have been raised in great numbers 

 by this method. 



Mr. Glover, of Smedley House, near Manchester, an 



enthusiastic admirer of plants in general, but more particularly 



of Ferns, adopts the following mode of raising seedlings: 



In the house where the seed-pots are placed there is such a 



moist air kept up that even the outsides of the pots are thickly 



covered with young Ferns. He does not sow the spores in 



pans, but in pots about 5 inches wide, and mixes the compost 



with old bricks, broken very small, instead of sandstone, as we 



recommend. The seed-pots are placed in saucers, and they 



are kept full of water, the moisture from which, ascending 



through the drainage and compost, and confined by bell-glasses 



set within the pots, causes a regular moisture just the thing 



to encourage the spores to grow. The success of this mode 



is very great. Some species, however, even baffled him, 



especially the Asplenium marinum; but, determined not to 



be beaten, he shed some of its spores on the earth border, 



under the front platform, and on the front wall inside ; and, 



curious enough, there they germinated freely. 



