CHAPTER X. 



FERNS. 



For greenhouse or house decoration, or for supply- 

 ing florists with "green," ferns, and Adiantums in par- 

 ticular, are very useful. While many species are easiest 

 propagated by the division of the plants, others are com- 

 monly grown from spores, which should be sown at 

 once, although the spores from some species can be kept 

 for some time. They should be sown either in pans or 

 pots, or on beds, using garden loam, over which half an 

 inch of fine sphagnum should be placed. Moisten this 

 thoroughly and scatter the spores evenly over it, and 

 after sprinkling cover with glass. Water only when 

 they show they are dry. Keep covered until the seedlings 

 have started. It will be best to prick out the young 

 seedlings into flats, from which they should later be 

 transferred to pots. Pot them in soil one-half leaf 

 mold and the remainder of loam and sand. For propa- 

 gating on a large scale, a box covered with a glass sash, 

 of suitable size, will answer. The seed bed can be pre- 

 pared upon the bench itself. Ferns for dwellings should 

 be grown at 55 to 60 degrees, as they will then be firm 

 and well hardened, and will thrive far better than soft, 

 spindling plants, in the dry atmosphere of the living 

 room. For small fern pans, two or three plants will be 

 enough. Fern pans can be filled to advantage by using 

 some erect growing kind in the center, with fine Adian- 

 tums, Selaginellas or similar kinds, around it. 



Many varieties are readily increased by dividing the 

 crowns. To increase them rapidly, they should be 

 bedded out where they can be kept well moistened at a 



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