50 THE NURSERY-MANUAL 



muslin may be utilized in the same way, although this is apt to adhere to 

 the soil. Pots and small pans can be immersed nearly to their rims in a 

 bucket of water, allowing the liquid to saturate the soil from below upwards. 

 After the sowing and watering are completed, keep the frame or house 

 fairly close until germination has taken place, after which ventilation 

 must be afforded as freely as outside conditions will admit. Give water 

 whenever the soil is at all dry, but avoid overdoing it. Remember, seed- 

 lings in an early stage do not want large quantities of water; but, or. the 

 other hand, they must not be allowed to become dry." 



Sowing spores 



Ferns, lycopodiums and selaginellas are often grown from 

 spores. The general conditions required for the germination 

 of very fine seeds are also suitable for the germination of spores, 

 but extra care must be taken with the drainage. If a pot is 

 used, it should be half or more filled with drainage material, 

 and the soil should be made loose by the addition of bits of 

 brick, charcoal, cinders or other porous materials. The sur- 

 face soil should be fine and uniform. Some persons place a 

 thin layer of brick-dust on the surface, in which the spores are 

 sown. It is a frequent practice to bake the soil to destroy other 

 spores that might cause troublesome growths. 



The spores should be sprinkled on the surface and not covered. 

 The pot should be set in a saucer of water, or in damp moss, 

 and it should be covered by paper or a pane of glass if the sun 

 strikes it or it is in a draughty place. Better results are ob- 

 tained if the pot or pan is placed inside a propagating-frame or 

 under a bell-glass. In place of earth, a block or small cubes of 

 firm peat or sandstone may be employed (Fig. 3 right; Fig. 5). 

 The block is placed in a saucer of water and the spores are 

 sown on its surface. Water should not be applied directly to 

 the spores, as it dislodges them. 



The period of germination varies in different species, but 

 three to six weeks may be considered the ordinary limits. 



Spores are so exceedingly small and light that the greatest 



