FER 



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FEE 



baskets, and upon the blocks. These 

 may be carefully detached as soon as 

 they are large enough, and potted in 

 small pots, placed for a time in a shady 

 place, and they will soon make nice 

 bushy plants. 



Soil. Ferns require a light open 

 soil. A compost of sandy fibrous peat 

 two parts, turfy loam one part, and 

 leaf-mould one part, with a free admix- 

 ture of sand, will suit them well. 



Summer Culture. Temperature, 65 

 minimum, 75 maximum, by day, and 

 60 by night. 



Time of Potting. Early in March, 

 drain well, and give a moderate shift. 

 Small plants may be potted twice, the 

 second time the first week in July 



Watering. Ferns are like heaths, if 

 they once get thoroughly dry they will 

 perish, therefore, keep them constantly 

 well watered, more especially when the 

 pots are full of roots. Should they by 

 any chance appear to be suffering se- 

 verely from drought, take such and let 

 them stand in a vessel of water, that 

 will cover the top of the pot, for an 

 hour or two. This will thoroughly 

 wet every part of the ball, and often 

 recover the plant. If such a conveni- 

 ence is at hand, the smaller ferns, like 

 other stove plants, will be greatly be- 

 nefitted by a few weeks sojourn in the 

 middle of summer in a deep cold pit. 

 Here they should be well supplied with 

 water, and nearly every afternoon, about 

 three o'clock, have a gentle syringing, 

 shutting them up close afterwards. As 

 soon as the nights begin to be cold in 

 September, remove them back again 

 into the stove, and give them an extra 

 supply of water for a short time, till 

 they become used to the drier atmo- 

 sphere. 



Winter Culture. Temperature, 60 

 maximum, and 55 minimum, by day; 

 52 by night. During this season, 

 rather less water will be required. Ee- 

 move all decaying fronds, and give 

 them a top-dressing in December. This 

 will carry them through till the potting 

 season arrives in March. 



Insects. The green fly and thrip 

 will frequently appear on them. Smok- 

 ing frequently with tobacco will destroy 

 them both. 



GEEENHOUSE FEENS. 

 Propagation. The same methods of 

 increase suit the greenhouse varieties, 

 and also the same compost. The only 

 difference is in the temperature. In 

 summer they may be set out of doors 

 with the rest of the greenhouse inha- 

 bitants, and brought into it as soon as 

 there is any danger of frost. The great 

 advantage of growing ferns in a green- 

 house is, that they fill up many a corner 

 where nothing else will grow. 



HARDY TEENS. 



Propagation : by Division. All that 

 produce side shoots may be increased 

 by division. If they are planted out in 

 a bed, or on rockwork, they should be 

 taken up and divided into pieces, with 

 a portion of earth to each. They may 

 be replanted; but a better plan is to 

 pot them, and place them in a cold 

 frame, kept close, and shaded till they 

 make fresh roots and fronds. Scarce 

 kinds may be increased by seed. Even 

 the rare Woo'dsia ilvc'nsis has been in- 

 creased by seed. Something of the 

 same method as that described for stove 

 ferns must be adopted for hardy ones. 

 If some small sand stones be placed 

 in a damp shady place, and the fern 

 seed be scattered upon them, and then 

 be covered with a hand-glass, the seed 

 will germinate, and the stones will be 

 covered with ferns. For the more rare 

 kinds a little more care will be neces- 

 sary. Sow them upon rough pieces of 

 dead turf, place them under a hand- 

 glass, in a situation where they can 

 have a close, warm, moist atmosphere ; 

 a cold frame, kept close in summer, 

 will answer admirably. 



Culture. Hardy ferns are found in 

 various situations, and, consequently, 

 require various modes of treatment. 

 Some grow on rocks in exposed situa- 

 tions ; others in boggy moist ground ; 

 some grow on hedge banks and shady 

 woods, whilst others again grow near 

 waterfalls, where the spray keeps 

 them constantly moist. To succeed in 

 cultivating all these in one place, an 

 approximation must be made to the 

 circumstances in which they are found 

 wild. A low, moist soil, at the foot of a 

 bank of rockwork, will suit those found 



