Observations on the Germination of Ferns. 335 



Before describing the process of germination minutely, it may be 

 as well to give a few practical directions, the result of some atten- 

 tion to the culture of ferns, for the guidance of any one who may 

 feel inclined to verify these observations. 



In the early stage of vegetation ferns are so exceedingly delicate 

 in structure, and so liable, from the simple nature of their organiza- 

 tion, to be affected by atmospheric changes, that it has been found 

 necessary, even in a hot-house, in order to preserve a uniformly 

 moist atmosphere, to keep the seed-pots under hand-glasses, until 

 the seedlings have acquired strength enough to bear exposure with- 

 out injury : by this simple contrivance, plants which could not be 

 propagated by any other means are now increased to any extent. 



The sporules will vegetate on almost any kind of soil when treat- 

 ed in this way : I have had them vegetate on the surface of a piece 

 of glass made to fit on the stage of a microscope, for the purpose of 

 observation, and this is by far the best method of observing them in 

 the act of germination. But if the object is to continue the obser- 

 vations until a gyrate frond is developed, attention must be paid to 

 the nature of the soil on which the seed is to be sown. 



Perhaps the best soil to use would be a mixture of peat (in 

 which there is a natural admixture of sharp sand) and a small 

 quantity of loam ; and if this cannot be procured, such a mixture as 

 the following will be found to answer very well, namely, three parts 

 of peat, two of sand, one of loam, and one of finely pounded pots- 

 herds, the whole mixed and passed through a fine sieve. 



About a third of the pot in which it is intended to sow the seeds 

 should be filled with potsherds for draining, and the rest, to within 

 a quarter of an inch of the brim, is filled with the mould, pressed 

 down a little, and watered several times with a very fine rose, until 

 the surface is perfectly smooth, and the soil saturated with water. 



The seed is then sown, and the pot placed under a hand-glass. 

 Some cultivators place the seed-pots in pans filled with water, but 

 where the soil is apt to generate minute algae, such a practice is better 

 avoided. I prefer having a hand-glass large enough entirely to co- 

 ver the pot, under which there is a uniformly moist atmosphere, 

 and the soil not being so thoroughly soaked with wet, is much less 

 subject to be overspread with Conferva vaginata, Palmellae, &c. 

 which are so destructive to the seedling ferns. If the glass is kept 

 close, which it should be for a time, very little water will be requir- 

 ed, but when it becomes necessary, it should be given from a pot 

 with a very fine rose, (the holes of which should not be larger than 

 just to admit the point of a very small pin) with great care, and 



