PKOPAGATIOF, DEVELOPMENT, AND CULTURE. 25 



duced, sometimes even earlier, a practised eye can in many 

 cases recognize the species. 



It is from the under side of the prothallus, or germ-scale, 

 at the base of the axis of development, where it comes in 

 contact with the moistened soil, that the roots are protruded. 

 The stem, or caudex, whatever its character, originates in 

 this primary axis. 



Thus we see, that in the first stages of development, 

 young seedling Ferns (that is, Ferns developing from the 

 spores) assume the appearance of a Liverwort, forming a 

 green, semi-transparent, crust-like patch, which is the 

 germ-frond, or prothallus, referred to above. 



In these minute and almost invisible atoms, no less than 

 in the more ponderous materials which surround us, Ave 

 discover the impress of Almighty and Creative power. 

 They teem with life ! No commixture of elementary 

 matter, no electric shock guided by human agency, can 

 originate that. Truly the hand that made them is 

 Divine ! 



The requisite condition to induce the germination of 

 the spores of Ferns, in addition to the degree of heat 

 proper for each particular species, is simply contact with a 

 continually damp surface. Diffused light is favourable to 



