FERNS 261 



hawkers. The fact that these plants, when after a short 

 period in a greenhouse or living room, quickly lose their 

 freshness is in many cases accepted as proof of their delicate 

 constitution, whereas the fault is in the way they have been 

 treated. This also applies to many plants other than Ferns, 

 the object of the market grower being to get a saleable 

 plant in as short a time as possible. With regard to newly- 

 purchased Ferns, when the conditions under which they 

 have been growing are unknown, it is better to assume that 

 they have been treated as above described, and harden them 

 off when first obtained. Thus they should be kept away 

 from draughts and bright sunshine ; indeed, Ferns always 

 require shading from the full rays of the sun. The above 

 directions are given with regard to Ferns purchased from 

 dealers, but to the amateur with a greenhouse there is another 

 way of obtaining them and that is, given a few to start with, 

 they may be readily propagated from. There are three ways 

 of increasing Ferns, firstly by spores, secondly by division, 

 and thirdly some kinds produce small plants on the tips of 

 the fronds, and it is only necessary to peg them down on a 

 pot or pan of soil, when, if kept watered, these tiny plants will 

 form roots of their own, and in time may be potted singly 

 into small pots. 



Propagation by Spores. The spores which in Ferns are 

 equivalent to the seeds of flowering plants are usually arranged 

 on the under sides of the fronds in dots or lines ; but there 

 are exceptions to this, as in a few cases the spore-bearing 

 frond is quite distinct from the others. Myriads of spores 

 are contained on a single frond. They are covered with what 

 is known as spore cases that is, enclosed within a kind of 

 scale. When ripe these cases burst, and the contents are 

 then scattered. The spores are so light that they float hither 

 and thither till they finally rest, and if the spot is favourable 

 to their development they commence to grow. In gathering 

 spores for sowing care should be taken to see that the spore 

 cases are not already opened, and the spores themselves dis- 

 charged, which is apt to happen unless special attention is 

 directed to the matter. To secure the spores cut off the 

 frond or fronds just as a few of the earliest spore cases 

 commence to burst and discharge their contents. Then fold 

 them up in a sheet of white paper and place in a dry spot. 

 In a few days the spores will be found loose in the paper, 

 like a pinch of the finest dust. For sowing the spores five- 

 inch pots are suitable. They must be prepared by putting 

 two inches of broken crocks in the bottom, and filled to 

 within a inch of the rim with a mixture of loam, peat, and 



