146 PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



cuttings are taken any time between February and July, though April 

 is the ideal month. The earlier they are taken the more shifts the 

 plants will require in order that they shall not become woody. Late 

 propagation gives dwarf plants. The cuttings are treated as soft wood 

 cuttings and should be potted as soon as roots start. The plants may 

 be set deeply in the pots hi order that they may not appear spindling. 

 Use little or no manure at this time. 



Stock plants. After flowering, the blooming stems are cut down and 

 the plants are shifted to an out-of-the-way bench and planted closer 

 together where they may be kept cool (40 degrees), but also in good 

 condition until cuttings are required. The plants should not be placed 

 under the benches or in any place where they will not receive good light 

 nor have a good circulation of air. At the beginning of March more 

 heat and moisture should be supplied. 



FERNS 



Life history. Ferns bear spores, flowering plants produce seeds. 

 Fern spores are not embryo plants, but single cells. When placed in 

 a favorable soil for growth, they produce small, heart-shaped plants, 

 usually about the size of the end of a lead pencil. This young Fern 

 stage is known as the prothallus (see fig. 8 1 3 ). Male and female organs 

 are produced on this prothallus. 



When the male elements are ripe, they lash themselves about with 

 their tiny tails, and enter the female portions of the plant. As soon 

 as the union has taken place, a tiny frond is produced which gradually 

 develops roots and other fronds until it becomes a mature fern. 



Upon maturing, a definite portion of the frond develops spore- 

 bearing apparatus. These are known as spore cases or sporangia (see 

 figs. 82 1 and 82 2 ). They become miniature sling-shots when ripe and, 

 bursting, scatter the spores a great distance. Most Ferns have these 

 sporangia associated together in small clumps, called sori, which appear 

 as brown spots on the fronds (see figs. 81 1 , 81*, 82 3 , 82 4 , 82 5 and 82 6 ). 



In many Ferns, certain fronds only produce the spores; these are 

 known as fertile fronds and usually differ in form from the sterile fronds. 



In the Osmunda regalis, or Royal Fern, the tips of the fronds alone 



are so changed as to be devoted to spore bearing (see fig. 81 2 ). Certain 



of the Adiantums, or Maidenhair Ferns, and many of the Boston Fern 



ports have transformed their fronds to such an extent that no spore 



areas are found, all fronds being sterile. 



FERN PROPAGATION BY SPORES 



Collecting. As soon as the Fern fronds are seen to be maturing 

 their powdery spores, the whole frond should be picked and placed in 

 a paper bag to save them. The ripening stage can best be ascertained 

 by the use of a hand-lens. They should remain in the bag for several 

 weeks before sowing. 



Soil for Fern spores. The proper soil for sowing spores is one com- 

 posed of leafmold, sand and well decayed sod loam. The sand will 

 furnish good drainage. The soil must be carefully sifted through a 

 fine sieve, and sterilized by having boiling water poured through it, or 

 by being baked. 



