FERN 



FERN 



577 



time, in most cases, they will be sufficiently dry to have 

 spores removed from them by rubbing the frond in a 

 sieve which has about 20 meshes to the inch. When 

 thus separated from fronds the spores should be put up 

 in small seed-bags and placed in air-tight jars until re- 

 quired for sowing. Cared for in this manner, perfect 

 success has been invariably secured, even after keeping 

 spores for years. 



Propagation by Other Means. Some Ferns form 

 little plants at the ends of pinnae and of fronds, which 

 upon attaining to sufficient size may be detached from 

 parent plants, planted into shallow, well-drained seed- 

 pans, and for a week or two left in the propagating 

 frame, where they will soon form roots, when they can 

 be potted. Among such are Adiantum caudatum, A. 

 JEdgeworthii, A. lunulatum, var. dolabri forme, Asple- 

 nium Belangerii, A. bulbiferum, A. salici folium, Gym- 

 nogramma schizopJiylla, var. gloriosa, Polystichum 

 angulare, var. prolifernm, and many more. 



A very useful decorative Fern is Neplirolepis daval- 

 lioides, var. furcans, and it will make a beautiful speci- 

 men plant in a comparatively short time. To grow large 

 quantities, the old plants should be cut back to within 

 6 inches of surface of soil and placed in a house where a 

 bottom heat of 90 F. may be secured, when they will 

 soon form a large number of short, strong fronds. At 

 this time they may be divided into a number of small 

 plants, potted off and placed in the same position as the 

 parent plants. A somewhat slower method is to plant 

 out a number of plants on a bench into 5 inches of soil, 

 in which soil the rhizomes, running over the surface, 

 will form a number of small plants, which may be de- 

 tached and grown on. 



A beautiful Fern is Adiantum Farleyense, and it de- 

 servedly ranks as the greatest favorite among Fern- 

 lovers. It is best propagated by division. From old 

 plants, cut off all fronds down to the rhizomes, wash off 

 soil, cut rhizomes into pieces %-inch long, insert same 

 into well-drained Fern boxes about %-inch apart, in 

 l/^ inches of clean, sharp propagating sand. Place same 

 in propagating frame in a temperature of 70 F. In this 

 position each little fragment of rhizome will form two 

 or three little fronds in about 15 or 20 days, when they 

 may be potted off singly into 2-inch pots 'and kept in a 

 temperature of 70 F. The soil best adapted to A . Far- 

 leyense is finely chopped sod which has been piled for 

 about six months, with one-fifth well decomposed cow 

 manure added. To attain perfection in growth and col- 

 oring, A. Farleyense should be kept in a light, airy and 

 sunny house, in which every condition of moisture and 

 atmosphere can be kept under absolute control. In a 

 house of this kind, the greatly 

 admired and beautifully pinkish 

 tint may be easily obtained and 

 fronds will be hardy and of good 

 substance. A temperature of 70 

 F. is at all times desirable. 



General Remarks on Fern- 

 growing. To grow Ferns such 

 as are used for jardinieres and 

 decorative work (Fig. 812), and 

 mentioned in the two j receding 

 lists, a temperature of no less 

 than 55 F. should be maintained 

 at all times at night in coldest 

 weather, with a rise of temperature in the daytime of 10 

 or 15. To keep Ferns in a healthy and growing condi- 

 tion, to prevent and to kill insect pests and diseases, a 

 proper condition of atmosphere should be carefully main- 

 tained at all times. Extremes in heat, moisture or dry- 

 ness should never be allowed. On a warm, dry, sunny 

 day, when a great deal of air has to be admitted, much of 

 the moisture of the house is consequently carried off; it 

 will be of great benefit then to syringe the Ferns once 

 or twice a day, also to occasionally dampen floor of 

 houses. An excessively dry atmosphere induces the de- 

 velopment of the very troublesome pests, thrips and 

 red spider. On damp and rainy days a saturated at- 

 mosphere should be prevented by supplying a little ar- 

 tificial heat, even if some air has to be admitted at the 

 same time. This slight expense of heating on damp 

 days will abundantly pay for itself by causing the 

 growth of strong, thrifty plants. An excessively moist 



812. A good specimen. 



atmosphere causes parts of fronds of a great many 

 plants to turn black and to rot off, besides inducing the 

 development of almost incurable fungoid diseases. 



In the selection and growing of stock plants, the care- 

 ful grower should always be on the watch for types 

 which are most perfect in shape, in character of indi- 

 vidual fronds, in coloring, freedom of producing spores, 

 and exemption from the attacks of insects and fungous 

 diseases. In a large number of Ferns a great difference 

 between the different plants of the same species will be 

 apparent to the careful observer. Some plants of same 

 species have beautifully developed fronds, but are 

 carried on long, weak stems, which makes them unfit 

 for general use. Others may be of compact, sturdy 



813. A home-made Fern case. 



habit of growth, but with poorly shaped individual 

 fronds. In some individuals the coloring will be greatly 

 superior. By closely studying all these points and by 

 continually selecting only the most perfect types of 

 Ferns from the young plants, we can in a few years 

 work up a very desirable and superior stock. The same 

 stock plants of the rapid-growing varieties of Ferns 

 should not be carried over for more than three or four 

 years, but young and more desirable plants should con- 

 tinually be selected and grown to take their places. 



The stock should be shifted into larger pots when- 

 ever necessary, and placed in a light, airy house, in 

 which all necessary conditions are under perfect con- 

 trol, and in which a temperature in coldest weather of 

 55 F. at night, with a rise of 10 or 15 in daytime, can 

 always be maintained. The house should be shaded 

 just enough to prevent fronds from turning yellow. 

 Proper attention to atmospheric conditions of stock- 

 house should never be neglected. Stock plants should 

 not be permitted to remain pot-bound for too long a 

 period of time, except with a few varieties, such, for 

 instance, as Alsophilas, Dicksonias, Cyatheas, Cibo- 

 tiums, Pteris Tremula, P. argyrecKa, some Davallias, 

 Polystichum coriaceum,etc., which, if given too much 

 nourishment, will often be very slow in setting spores. 



Insects which are most troublesome to Ferns are 

 thrips, red spider, scale and mealy bug. They are 

 mainly present in a too dry atmosphere. Thrips, red 

 spider and mealy bug are easily prevented by a prop- 

 erly moistened atmosphere, also by spraying of foliage 

 once a week with tobacco water. As tobacco greatly 

 varies in strength, every grower will have to determine 

 to his own satisfaction how strong to make his solution. 

 The preparation known as "Rose-leaf tobacco extract," 

 has proved very efficient in destroying these insect 

 pests. To 50 gallons of water add one quart of the ex- 

 tract, and apply with some good insecticide sprayer and 

 a force pump. Fifty gallons of this solution will be 

 enough to spray 100,000 Ferns in 2%-inch pots. 



Bearing in mind the foregoing advice, the amateur 

 Fern-grower may determine the proper way in which to 

 raise his plants. He may not have a Fern house, but he 

 can have a tight glass box or Wardian case (Fig. 813). 



