CULTIVATION OF FERNS. 35 



barren. In fa£l, it seems as if the increased foliage was developed at the expense of 

 the spore-producing properties of the plant. It has lately been discovered, however, 

 that as the sterility increases, a capability of reproduction in some other way is 

 developed. In some cases, the crowns part to an abnormal extent ; and in others the 

 ferns become capable of being grown from pieces of the cresting itself, and are being 

 largely propagated in this manner. 



The fern-grower's greatest troubles are inseft pests. Slugs and snails are very 

 destructive to ferns, particularly to some kinds which seem to attraft them greatly. 

 For instance, it is difficult to grow Asplenium Colensoi ; for if there is a slug anywhere 

 near the plant it is sure to find it out and devour the young fronds and buds. They 

 are great pests in outdoor ferneries and in glazed cases. If one finds its way into the 

 latter, it will often do much mischief before its presence is detected. Beetles, crickets, 

 and wood-lice are also very troublesome. The last have a trick of getting down into 

 the crowns, during the winter and early spring, and gnawing the young buds, with the 

 result that when the fronds expand they are imperfeft or mis-shapen. All the above 

 conceal themselves during the day but come out and commit their depredations by 

 night. They are therefore most easily found and caught by candlelight. Pieces of 

 apple, turnip, carrot, or even potatoes, hollowed out and laid among the plants make 

 good traps for these insefts, but are apt to attract rats and mice, which will do 

 mischief by burrowing among and into the pots. Thrips, small narrow insects like 

 lice, white when young, but grey or black afterwards, are very destructive. They are 

 only about a tenth of an inch long, or less, and the first indication of their presence is 

 that the fronds turn grey or brown, from all the surface being eaten away or poisoned, 

 for it seems impossible that such tiny things can eat such large surfaces. Syringeing 

 with warm water is the best remedy. Scale insects both black and white are also 

 destructive. A solution of soft soap, two ounces to a gallon of water, is the best 

 remedy for these. Fumigation with tobacco is also good for them, as well as for green 

 fly in greenhouses ; but it must not be done too much or too often, as it Is apt to 

 injure the young fronds ; and the same may be said of sulphur-vapour for some ferns. 

 An old gardener, writing of inseft pests, remarks, "once caught, various ways of 

 destroying them will naturally suggest themselves." 



