342 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



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 

 sand passed through a sieve with a quarter of an inch mesh, 

 and pressed down moderately firm and smooth. As a moss- 

 like growth frequently makes its appearance on the surface 

 of the soil and chokes the spores as they commence to grow, 

 if possible bake the soil before it is used, or saturate it 

 with boiling water, and thus destroy all germs of vegetable 

 life. Having thus prepared the pots water them thoroughly 

 through a fine rose, and while the surface is still wet 

 sprinkle on the spores as thinly as possible. Then cover 

 with a pane of glass, and stand each pot in a shallow 

 pan of water, which will serve to keep the soil moist 

 without overhead watering, as, however carefully done, this 

 is apt to wash the spores away. In time (a few weeks in 

 many cases) a dense moss-lfke growth will overspread the 

 soil. This usually consists of growing spores packed closely 

 together, too closely in fact to allow of their development. 

 They must then be pricked off, and this is carried out by 

 preparing some pots as for sowing the spores, except that the 

 soil must be very lightly pressed down. Then with a pointed 

 stick pick up a tiny tuft of the growing spores, place it on the 

 surface of the soil, and press into position gently with the 

 finger. Water through a fine rose, keep in a humid atmosphere, 

 and give careful attention to shading, &c.; they will continue 

 to grow, and in time push up fronds. When large enough they 

 must be potted off singly into small pots. February and 

 March are the best months for sowing the spores, as there is 

 a long growing season before winter. Although the raising 

 of Fern spores is extremely interesting, and large quantities 

 are obtained in this way in nurseries, it is a method that can 

 scarcely be recommended to quite a beginner, as a consider- 

 able amount of care and knowledge is necessary to bring it to 

 a successful issue. Still, in a Fern house where the atmosphere 

 is always kept moist, naturally sown plants will spring up in 

 all directions, the Maidenhair and some kinds of Pteris being 

 as a rule conspicuous. 



Propagation by Division. The second method of propagat- 

 ing Ferns is by division, and is best carried out in the spring. 



