FERN GROWING 137 



sperms from three distinct varieties to produce the characters 

 of four parents, sperms from three varieties might be deposited 

 in three separate cells, and assimilation produce the same result. 



A few words must be said with respect to the best 

 method of sowing spores. There are many ideas on this 

 subject. The late Mr. John Smith of the Royal Gardens, 

 Kew, had a rough and ready plan, always available at a 

 moment's notice. He had a short plank of wood, coated with 

 an inch of a moist stiff clay, which he kept in a damp 

 frame. His plan was to scatter spores in this frame, saying 

 a sufficient quantity would settle on the board to produce a 

 crop. This plan, however, is not adapted for isolated sowings. 

 Mr. G. B. Wollaston of Bishop's Well, Chislehurst, furnished 

 Mr. Fox of Brislington with the following recipe : " Leaf 

 mould or well-rotted dung from an old cucumber bed (three 

 years old), one part ; top spit or healthy loam, one part ; heath 

 mould (not bog earth), one part. Mix well together, adding 

 enough silver sand to make the whole thoroughly friable. 

 Brickbat pulverised is an excellent addition to the sand, 

 or even road dust (avoid lime rubble in any form). The 

 above compost suits Ferns of all ages, and forms a good top 

 dressing." Mr. Wollaston advises early pricking out from 

 spore-pans, as of great importance — not singly, but in small 

 patches at first, so as to give room for development. Mr. 

 E. F. Fox described his method : " Procure a good-sized bell- 

 glass, also a large pan without any drainage holes at the 

 bottom, in which the bell-glass may fit easily ; procure a 

 number of small pots sufficient to fill up the area enclosed 

 by the glass when it is placed on the said pan. Make up 

 a soil for the pots consisting of a little loam, sand, and leaf 

 mould, with a trifle of good peat and some crushed-up old 

 brick. Fill the small pots one-third full with drainage- 

 crocks ; place a little moss on the top of the crocks ; then fill 



