NEPHROLEPIS NUTRITION 43 
noted here The main stem axis does not produce 
roots. These are all developed as outgrowths of the 
stolons, one of which is given off in connection with 
each leaf on the main axis. These stolons spread later- 
ally and tend to penetrate the soil. In moist conditions, 
they give off fibrous roots, and, through these, obtain 
for the plant necessary water and dissolved mineral 
matter. In addition, they may also develop buds and 
new stem axes, and so give rise to new plants. In fact, 
this is the regular method of reproduction. 
To those of us who like to keep a plant of the Boston 
fern as a house pet,—and it is the commonest house 
plant in the country,—there is a practical application. 
Ordinarily, it is necessary to repot Boston ferns rather 
frequently, preferably in the spring, In a vigorously 
growing plant, each repotting means a larger pot, and 
the limit of house culture is reached rather soon. If, 
however, a source of water can be supplied without 
standing the pot in the water, it should be possible to 
maintain a Boston fern plant more or less indefinitely 
in a smaller pot, by allowing the stolons to reach into 
a constant supply of water. The simplest method of 
arranging for this is perhaps to support the pot some 
inches above the bottom of a fairly deep jardiniere, and 
to keep the bottom of the jardiniere filled with water. 
This will not entirely do away with the need of repotting, 
as the leaf bearing axis tends to grow continually up- 
ward and out of the soil, so that occasionally, it would 
be necessary to reset this main axis into a new pot of 
the same size as before. At any rate this should ob- 
viate the necessity of the very frequent watering ferns 
often require in the dry air of our steam-heated houses. 
Brooktyn Boranic GARDEN. 
