338 FERNS I BRITISH AND FOREIGN. 



It should always be soft, or, if hard, should be aerated 

 in open tanks ; rain-water is best, but if collected 

 from the roofs of hothouses, care must be taken that it 

 does not become impure by the decomposition of the 

 paint and putty, which is of frequent occurrence, and 

 in time it so impregnates the water as to cover the 

 foliage of the plants, when often syringed, with a thin 

 film, that gives them a dull look ; care should also 

 be taken that the temperature of the water should not 

 be less than 50, especially in winter. Syringing is 

 made an operation of great importance in guide- 

 books on cultivation, and is readily accepted by the 

 unskilled amateur as necessary, and being amusing, 

 is often carried out in the extreme, to the injury of 

 the plants. An amateur remarked not long ago, 

 " Now we have got such a nice lady's syringe, it is 

 quite a delight to use it." Another remarked, " I 

 every day regularly water, syringe, and sponge my pet 

 Adiantums, but with all my attention they are getting 

 of a brown colour, surely your plants (at Kew) must 

 have great attention to keep them so green." The 

 lady syringer is told that many of the plants before her 

 have been in the same pots for several years, and that 

 they get water when dry, and are never syringed 

 or sponged, unless for removing insects when they 

 appear. 



From what has now been stated, an amateur's 

 successful cultivation of Ferns simply depends on 

 proper soil and potting, careful watering, placing in a 

 quiet, moist atmosphere, keeping down temperature in 

 summer by shading, and to avoid currents of dry air, 

 and in winter to maintain the proper temperature, 

 according to the nature of the plants, by means of 



