NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 169 



Procuring Fern Spores. In selecting spores for 

 sowing, the aid of a pocket microscope is necessary to see 

 that the seed vessels have not all opened, in which case the 

 spores will have escaped. The spore cases should be plump, 

 and brown in colour, portions of the frond secured in this con- 

 dition and folded in paper till required for sowing, will be in 

 the best possible condition for sowing for reproduction. 



Filmy Ferns. These exquisitely beautiful plants are 

 considered by many persons difficult to cultivate. An im- 

 pression that no doubt originates in the failure to grow them 

 in a warm, dry atmosphere ; but they are just as easy to 

 manage as the generality of other ferns, when treated in 

 accordance with their requirements. Exposure of the delicate 

 pellucid fronds to the sun or dry air is certain destruction. 

 Those who wish to grow these delicate ferns should devote 

 .a special house to them. The house must be entirely shaded 

 from the sun, and, above all, protected from hot winds. The 

 walls may be of brick, concrete, or wood the two former 

 .are best and the roof must be glass painted green ; canvas 

 does not answer so well. A humid, still atmosphere is requisite. 

 If these conditions are not regularly maintained, failure will 

 follow. As we have just said, a house must be set apart for 

 these gems of the fern world. Tricihomanes and Todeas 

 will also thrive best under the same conditions. 



Many of the filmy ferns will grow best on decomposing 

 rocks, or on the stems of tree ferns, while others delight to 

 grow in a mixture of fibrous peat and sphagnum moss. 

 There are about fifteen species of filmy ferns in New Zealand. 

 Hymenophyllum,dilatatum,pulcherrimum,and scabrum, with 

 their delicate, transparent fronds, from twelve to eighteen 

 inches long, are, perhaps, the finest of the genus ; while 

 Hymenophyllum Armstrongii is the smallest. Any of the 

 filmy ferns will grow and thrive in pits, under bell glasses, 

 or anywhere so long as the sun is not allowed to reach them. 



Potting. Ferns, like other plants, require to be re- 

 potted occasionally. The best time to do this will be in 

 August, before new fronds make their appearance. Moisture 

 must be regularly supplied, but water must not be allowed 

 to stagnate about the roots. A mistake often made by 

 growers of ferns is keeping them in too high a temperature. 

 New Zealand ferns simply require shade and moisture. Ferns 



