FERN GROWING 127 



and watchfulness, in order to be successful. If the divisions 

 are not made with a sharp penknife, the soil kept at a proper 

 moisture, and any confervoid grown on the surface removed, 

 as well as the bell-glass kept clean, disappointment may result ; 

 in short, in the earlier stages a day's neglect might prove 

 fatal. 



A prothallus that had been divided into four parts in 

 January 1888, and which, on October 15, 1893 (nearly six 

 years afterwards), had developed a frondlet, after having for 

 all this long period remained in the prothalloid state, was 

 treated in a different manner ; that portion of the prothallus 

 on which the frondlet was formed was immediately cut off 

 with a sharp knife and replanted, and this is growing vigo- 

 rously. The remainder of the prothallus after this separation 

 at once considerably increased its size and strength, so much 

 so that in January 1894 several portions were cut off, and the 

 divisions replanted, and they are now growing. It is still a 

 question as to how long life can be sustained in the prothalloid 

 state. It is now seven years since this prothallus was divided 

 into four portions : two of these developed fronds several years 

 ago ; the other two are still in the prothalloid state, though one 

 had produced a frondlet, as before mentioned, on one portion 

 which had been severed from it. 



It requires the greatest attention to keep a small prothallus 

 in health : if neglected, and the soil became dry, it would die in 

 a few hours, and if confervoid growth were allowed to grow on 

 the surface of the soil, this would soon destroy it. Having to 

 be kept damp under a bell-glass, conferva will continually 

 appear, unless the surface is moved (with the point of a knife) 

 every few days ; then again, young worms get under the glass 

 and throw up mounds of earth, and when this is the case the 

 prothallus has to be repotted in fresh soil that has been 

 previously placed in boiling water, in order to destroy all 

 animal and vegetable life. 



